ANKARA - Health Minister Recep Akdag left on Sunday for Vienna, Austria to attend the 53rd Meeting of Regional Committee for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Prior to his departure, Akdag told reporters that the main issue of this year's meeting which would take place between September 8 and 11 would be mental health, children and adolescents' health in the WHO European Region, the methodology for the update of the regional health for all (HFA) policy framework, the Regional Office's country strategy, and the strategic orientations of the Regional Office's work with geographically dispersed organizational entities, including country offices.
Akdag said that they attached great importance to mental health in Turkey and that they had launched initiatives to take up the mental health within the scope of family doctor practice.
Fifty-two countries, including Turkey were member to WHO, Akdag noted.
Akdag stated that there were Balkan countries, Turkish republics and countries in the Caucasus with which Turkey had historical and cultural ties among WHO members.
He would have the opportunity to meet with his colleagues from not only those countries but also European countries during the meeting, Akdag pointed out.
Akdag added that he would also meet with his Austrian counterpart.
Health Minister Akdag, who is accompanied by Health Ministry Undersecretary Necdet Unuvar and Deputy Undersecretary Sabahattin Aydin, will return to Turkey on September 11.
(BRC) 07.09.2003