[afro-nets] WHO sponsored Commission on Social Determinants of Health

General afro-nets
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WHO sponsored Commission on Social Determinants of Health
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Public invitation to nominate Commissioners

Throughout the world, poor people and those from socially disad-
vantaged groups get sicker and die sooner than people in more
privileged social positions. Income poverty is a powerful pre-
dictor of health outcomes, but other social factors such as nu-
trition and diet, housing, education, working conditions, rural
vs. urban habitat and gender and ethnic discrimination also de-
termine people's chances to be healthy. Indeed, science shows
that social factors account for the bulk of the global burden of
disease and of health inequalities between and within countries.

To respond, WHO will launch a high-level Commission on Social
Determinants of Health which will assemble relevant evidence
and, most important, spearhead a political process to drive
change. The Commission's overarching goal is to increase vulner-
able people's chances for a healthy life.

It will achieve this by identifying and promoting implementation
of effective policies on the social determinants of health in
countries, at WHO, and among global health actors. The Commis-
sion will emphasize turning public health knowledge into politi-
cal action.

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WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2)
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So where would these nominations go?
There was neither web nor contact addresses in the message.

Dr. Johanne Sundby
Professor, Section for International Health
University of Oslo, Institute of Community Medicine
Post box 1130 Blindern, N-0318 Oslo, Norway
Tel. +47-22-85-05-98
Fax: +47-22-85-05-90
mobil: +47-90558704
mailto:johanne.sundby@medisin.uio.no
http://www.med.uio.no/ism/inthel/

[From the Moderator: following an excerpt from the "Call for
Nominations"]:

The Commission will comprise approximately 16 members selected
by the Director-General. In order to ensure that the widest
range of potentially interested and qualified persons are con-
sidered for membership on the Commission the Director-General
invites proposals for, or expressions of interest by persons in-
terested in being, members of the Commission.

Prospective Commissioners should:
* have a record of distinguished achievement and/or exceptional
future promise in fields which include but are not limited to:
public health; medicine; governance and public policy; economics
and finance; movements for social change; education; labour;
housing and habitat; agriculture and food policy; advocacy, com-
munication and arts;

* show demonstrated ability and willingness to engage in strate-
gic advocacy for the translation of scientific knowledge into
public policy;

* be prepared to attend four meetings per year from early 2005
to early 2008 and to contribute actively to all aspects of the
Commission's work, including production of reports and other
documents;

* be prepared to attend four meetings per year from early 2005
to early 2008 and to contribute actively to all aspects of the
Commission's work, including production of reports and other
documents;

* be qualified and prepared to play a substantive advocacy role
vis-a-vis national policymakers and other political actors;

* be connected to social networks and institutions (governance
institutions, social movements and organizations, academic com-
munity, economy and finance, media and communications, etc.)
which will be valuable in securing broad dissemination and
strong impact for the Commission's key messages.

Selection factors will include the need for appropriate geo-
graphical and gender balance.

Proposals and expressions of interest for prospective Commis-
sioners may be submitted by anyone. Submissions should include:
* full name, professional title and nationality of the proposed
member;

* complete contact information, preferably including e-mail ad-
dress, telephone number(s),
physical mailing address and fax number;

* a brief statement (maximum 300 words) indicating how the per-
son would contribute distinctively to the Commission;

* name and contact information of the person submitting (lie
proposal, if not the person expressing interest in being a mem-
ber of the Commission.

Nominations may be submitted by e-mail (preferred) to the fol-
lowing address:
mailto:csdh@.who.int

Submissions may also be sent by conventional mail to the follow-
ing address:
Secretariat of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Attn: Laura Pearson
ADGO/EIP, Office 3181
World Health Organization
20, Avenue Appia
CH-1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland

Submissions can be sent until close of business on 15 November
2004. Due to the volume of correspondence expected, it will not
be possible to acknowledge receipt of individual submissions.
Decisions regarding appointments to the Commission will be made
by the Director-General and may or may not include any person
proposed or having submitted an expression of interest pursuant
to this announcement. The composition of the Commission will be
announced before 28 February 2005.