Cabinet approves International Health Regulations

Cape Town - The Department of Health will implement these regulations with immediate effect.

Government's spokesperson Themba Maseko said: “These regulations provide the legal framework for the global community to improve the management of acute health risks which could spread internationally and to help contain them at the source.”

The designation of National IHR Focal Points has made an important contribution to the process of developing the IHR (2005) and they are to play an equally important role in implementing the regulations at national level.

The National IHR Focal Point is charged with maintaining a continuous official communication channel between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other states.

Cabinet has also noted the Development Indicators Mid Term Review will play a part in establishing a government-wide monitoring and evaluation system.

“The indicators show an overall picture of progress together with some major challenges.

“It was agreed the indicators should be made widely available in an accessible form as part of government's commitment to transparency and democratic accountability,” said Maseko.

The meeting further noted that the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund will be unveiled during the African Union summit in Ghana.

“The fund, which has a head office in South Africa, has raised $625 million to invest in infrastructure in Africa.

“With a target of $1 billion the fund will be the largest infrastructure fund ever established on the continent. It will help dismiss notions that Africa is a high risk investment destination.”

In the context of recent incidents in the Western Cape, Cabinet reiterated the urgency of police action in dealing with the scourge of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The meeting urged communities not to take the law into their own hands but to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in implementing government's program to deal with this growing problem.

Maseko added the meeting had received progress reports from Cabinet Committees on the implementing Government's Program of Action.

Cluster media briefings will be held next week to inform the public of progress in the implementation of the program.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews