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Health and Development

The Permanent Mission of Sweden represents Sweden in the international organisations working with health in Geneva. Geneva is the world’s health capital. The headquarters of the WHO, UNAIDS, the Global Fund against AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) and the GAVI Alliance are all located in Geneva. Sweden is a large donor and an active Member State in these organisations. The Permanent Mission works to promote Swedish policy priorities as well as an efficient and results based management.

WHO The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948. It is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. The WHO's highest decision-making body is the World Health Assembly which consists of representatives of the 193 Member States. The Assembly's most important task is to approve the programme budget and take important policy decisions. The main objective of the WHO is the attainment of the highest possible level of health for all people. According to the Organization's definition, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The WHO's four main strategic directions are to combat poverty; to develop health and medical systems; to exert an influence on the most important factors behind ill-health; and to emphasise the importance of health issues in development policies. Sweden's cooperation with the WHO focuses on ensuring that its public health programmes are effective and that it combats diseases that affect the most vulnerable groups in society. Sweden also endeavours to ensure that an equality and rights perspective permeates cooperation in all fields.

UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) was established in 1996. Sweden was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the organisation. The main task of UNAIDS is to coordinate the UN system's programmes on HIV/AIDS and it functions as a global platform for combating HIV/AIDS. UNAIDS promotes research into HIV/AIDS, disseminates information on the epidemic, and works to enhance the understanding of its causes and consequences. Furthermore, UNAIDS aims to reduce the vulnerability of HIV-infected individuals and groups through care and support

GFATM The Global Fund against AIDS, TB and Malaria represents a unique global cooperation between governments, civil society, the private sector, and the communities affected by the diseases. The fund was established in 2002 and has grown to become the main source of financing for programs directed at AIDS, TB and Malaria. Since its creation in 2002 the fund has approved funding of US$ 15.6 billion, for more than 572 programs in 140 countries.

GAVI, The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, is based on cooperation between donor countries, recipient countries, the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF, the pharmaceutical industry and private foundations. GAVI works to provide developing countries with rapid assistance to increase and improve the vaccination of children and adults. This is done partly by giving the countries funds for vaccines, and partly by assisting them in constructing health systems and formulating strategies that enables well functioning vaccination programmes.

Swedish priorities
Sweden’s Policy for Global Development sets out that Sweden, together with other countries, shall intensify the struggle against communicable diseases and other health threats. In order to deal with, and reduce, the global and dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, Sweden prioritises health promotion and preventive health programmes, sustainable healthcare systems and early warning systems for communicable diseases. Sweden also seeks to ensure that people receive care and treatment on equal terms. Sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) is a particularly important policy area. Sexual and reproductive ill-health is one of the most common causes of illness and death among women aged 15–44 in developing countries. Despite increasing efforts the maternal mortality rates remain high in many parts of the world.

Well-functioning, results based, transparent and efficient organisations are fundamental to the ability to use the world’s limited resources in the best way possible and achieve the substantial results we aim at. Sweden therefore also attaches great importance to managerial issues. Sweden’s Strategy for Multilateral Development Cooperation establishes that relevance and effectiveness should be the main criteria in assessing and deciding on aid to all multilateral channels.

The introduction of close to a hundred global and vertical health initiatives has expanded resources for certain healthcare initiatives such as AIDS programmes and the supply of vaccines in poor countries. Major challenges however remain in terms of aid effectiveness and coherence between global initiatives and adapting these initiatives to national priorities, plans and programmes. Sweden promotes a coherent multilateral system and an efficient division of labour within the UN.

In matters relating to health and development the Permanent Mission cooperates mainly with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Current events:

New WHO report: “Women and Health: Today’s Evidence Tomorrow’s Agenda