REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was attended by the spokesperson for the World Health Organization.

Measles and rubella elimination in Europe

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), announced the press briefing on the measles and rubella elimination tomorrow, 28 August at 11 a.m. in Room III, with the participation of an expert from the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

The briefing – which was under the embargo - would mainly focus on the European figures and the conclusions of the annual meeting of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination. It would reveal the measles and rubella elimination status of countries in the European region and there would be an opportunity to discuss global measles and rubella vaccination coverage and progress.

“What happens at these meetings normally is to confirm the measles-free status and talk about countries which may have lost their measles-free status”, Mr. Lindmeier said.

Health impact of the Amazon fires

Asked about the fires raging in the Amazon, Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), reaffirmed the great concern about the impact on the environment and the health of the populations. The WHO expert, Dr. Maria Neira, had been giving statements and interviews on this matter.

Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), answering journalists’ questions, reaffirmed there had been no new Ebola cases and no new transmissions in Goma for 21 days. “To declare it Ebola-free, two times incubation period of 21 days, i.e. 42 days, were needed”, he clarified.

The ongoing response had shown how effective tracing and vaccination efforts had been and how important it was to have early detection and early treatment to limit cases to the minimum possible.

In other parts of the country, the response was ongoing and in some regions it had to be beefed up. The insecurity - the biggest challenge in most regions - continued and the WHO and its partners were “literally fighting on the ground” to reach people and identify cases as early as possible.

It was important that people got the new treatment within the first few days of being symptomatic. It was also key to reach their contacts for vaccination as soon as possible.

“Only then we can be on a good path to end this outbreak”, emphasized Mr. Lindmeier.

Geneva announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that 29 August was the International Day against Nuclear Tests and that in his message on the occasion, the Secretary-General reminded that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, a central pillar of international efforts to permanently end nuclear testing, had not yet entered into force, more than 20 years after its adoption.

The Secretary-General reiterated his call for all States that have not yet done so, to sign and ratify the Treaty, especially those whose ratification was needed for the Treaty’s entry into force. “In a world of rising tensions and divisions, our collective security depends on it.”

Ms. Vellucci reminded that the United Nations Refugee Agency’s Refugee Education Report would be presented tomorrow, 28 August at 9 a.m. in Press Room I by Melissa Fleming, Head of the Global Communications Service and Spokesperson for the High Commissioner, United Nations Refugee Agency. This would be Ms. Fleming’s last press encounter in her current capacity before starting the new position as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications on 1 September.

She also recalled that Tatiana Valovaya, new Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, will hold a semi-formal press briefing on Thursday 29 August at 9.15 a.m. in Press Room I.

Press conferences

Wednesday, 28 August 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in Press Room 1

UNHCR

UNHCR’S 2019 Refugee Education Report

Under strict embargo until Friday, 30 August 2019, 05:00 GMT

Speaker: Melissa Fleming, Head of the Global Communications Service and Spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Wednesday, 28 August 2019 at 11:00 a.m. in Room III

WHO

Embargoed until 04:00 GMT (06:00 CEST) – Thursday, 29 August 2019

Measles and rubella elimination briefing, which will be webcast after the embargo on http://webtv.un.org/

Speakers: Dr. Siddhartha Datta, Programme Manager, Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization, WHO Regional Office for Europe and Dr. Kate O’Brien, Director, Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, WHO

Thursday, 29 August 2019 at 9:15 a.m. in Press Room 1

UN Geneva

Semi-informal press briefing with the new UN Geneva Director-General, Tatiana Valovaya (only the first part of the encounter will be on the record)

Thursday, 29 August 2019 at 4:15 p.m. in Press Room 1

UNCTAD

Publication of the Digital Economy Report 2019 – Value Creation and Capture: Implications for Developing Countries

Embargoed until 4 September 2019 at 5 p.m. GMT

Speakers: Mukhisa Kituyi, UNCTAD Secretary-General and Shamika Sirimanne, UNCTAD, Director, Division on Technology and Logistics