Bangkok--16 Jan--WHO 21-26 January 2008 What: The Executive Board ( EB) of the World Health Organization (WHO) opens its twice-yearly session on Monday 21 January 2008. In her report to the EB, the Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan,will highlight recent public health successes and set out some of the threats to global health. The 34-member Board will discuss a range of issues including climate change and health, pandemic influenza preparedness, the eradication of polio, strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, the global immunization strategy and female genital mutilation. The Executive Board is comprised of representatives from 34 Member States, designated for a three-year term. The main functions of the Executive Board are to give effect to the decisions and policies of the World Health Assembly, to advise it and generally facilitate its work, as well as to prepare the agenda of the next Assembly. Dr Balaji Sadasivan, currently Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore, is the chair of the Executive Board. When and where: 21-26 January 2008, Executive Board Room, WHO Headquarters, Geneva. All documents relating to the EB session are available at : http://www,who.int/governance in six languages. Information for journalists wishing to cover the event: For accreditation, journalists are invited to contact the WHO Department of Communications at +41 22 791 2222 or email: [email protected]. For journalists wishing to cover the public meetings of the Executive Board, there is a clearly marked press gallery on level SS1 on the left-hand side of the Executive Board Room. Please note that TV cameras and photographers are not allowed on the main floor during meeting hours.More information: Christine McNab: Acting Director, WHO Communications; Tel: + 41 22 791 46 88; Mob: + 41 79 254 68 15; E-mail: [email protected] Fadela Chaib: Communications Officer; Tel: +41 22 7913228; Mob: +41 79 475 5556; E-mail: [email protected] Chris Black: Multimedia Communications Officer; Tel: +41 22 791 1460; Mob: +79 472 6054; E-mail: [email protected] Jean- Marc Glinz: Multimedia Communications Officer; tel: + 41 22 791 3924; Mob: + 41 79; E-mail: [email protected] Communications assistants:Cecilia Mazuy: tel: + 41 22 791 2108; E-mail: [email protected] Veronica Riemer: tel: + 41 22 791 2747; E-mail: [email protected] All WHO information, fact sheet and news releases are available at www.who.int.