Overcoming Infectious Diseases
Is Within Reach, U.N. Agencies Say

International public health officials know how to prevent, treat and even cure diseases, but they need the resources and the leadership to take that knowledge to places where it's most badly needed, according to a report released jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF).

In an April 22 press release, the agencies say that the new report, entitled "Coordinates 2002," is the first consolidated look at the three top infectious disease killers -- HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. It examines the combined impact of these conditions and the effectiveness of current response efforts.

"I believe even the world's poorest countries are on the brink of making substantial progress with quality treatment and effective prevention programs," said UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot. "It is up to the international community to redouble our support for their efforts."

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a mechanism established by the international community just last year to help improve disease response in the developing world. A panel of experts meets in New York April 22-24 to distribute the first round of grants to locally-based organizations working to treat and prevent these diseases.

See also: full report

IMF Can Help Fight Terrorism,
Instability, O'Neil Says

Multilateral financial institutions can play an important role in the fight against terrorist financing and money laundering, U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill says.

In an April 20 statement at the spring meeting in Washington of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) policymaking body, O'Neill said the Fund and the World Bank can help to develop, within the limits of their mandates, a "unified, comprehensive and integrated approach" to assessing recommendations on fighting financial crimes.

The IMF plays a key role in promoting economic growth and protecting financial stability, O'Neill said, but member-countries need to equip it better so it does this work effectively. And the IMF itself needs to gain credibility in these areas to ensure that its advice is heeded, he added. Complete Text

See also:
Treasury's O'Neill Hails G-7 Cooperation Against Terrorism
World Bank Education Plan to Require An Added $9,000 Million
Multinational Group Launches Financial Sector Reform Initiative
Communiqu��of the Int'l Monetary and Financial Committee
G-7 Ministers Say Global Economic Prospects Improving
G-7 Issues Action Plan for Sovereign Debt Restructuring
World Bank Official Calls For More Open Trade

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