TO : Representatives of Governments and Administrations Routine Distribution No. : 04/10
FILE : CONF 3/8/1 DATE : 7 June 2004
SUBJECT : THE FIRST MEETING ON ALCOHOL AND HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC
1. Governments and Administrations are advised that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in collaboration with the World Health Organization is convening a First Meeting on Alcohol and Health in the Pacific to take place in Noumea, New Caledonia from the 28th to the 30th September 2004. Senior health and government officials are particularly encouraged to attend, as this is the First Pacific Regional Meeting on Alcohol Issues.
INTRODUCTION
2. This meeting is aimed at enhancing the theme of “Healthy Islands” and has been developed with the intention of progressing current knowledge of the abuse and impact of alcohol into healthy action. Alcohol use has increased in the Pacific particularly over the last 50 years. Currently, alcohol represents one of the most significant risks to health globally. The 2002 World Health Report showed alcohol as the leading risk in low mortality countries in the developing world accounting for 6.2% of all health risks and 9.2% in the developed countries.
3. In 2003 the SPC established a section in their Public Health Programme to ensure the development of effective practice for alcohol policies, prevention and education. It is anticipated that this First Meeting will be a pivotal opportunity for Member States to review policy, identify plans and outline some concrete actions to address the impact from alcohol.
4. At the conclusion of this meeting participants will have:
• Reviewed current knowledge of alcohol use and patterns of change and development within the Pacific; • Identified current policy, plans, regulation or legislation in regard to alcohol within Member States and the Region; • Considered and recommended options for national and/or Pacific regional strategy; and • Produce a summary report for governments.
5. The World Health Organization has made commitments to reducing the morbidity and mortality from alcohol misuse, and strengthening global action in response to alcohol-related harm. Other regions and countries have taken action in comprehensive ways. In Europe the European Alcohol Action Plan was developed in the early 1990’s, and the 2000-2005 Plan of Action aims to prevent and reduce the harm from alcohol misuse through the Region. Policy developments of interest to the Pacific have also taken place in the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. In addition, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance has recently been developed to promote good practice globally and to share and network resources for the benefit of individual countries. SPC and WHO are keen to share some of these developments and build on these for the benefit of the Pacific. SPC and WHO plan to collaborate with countries on future plans in this area.
NOMINATIONS
6. It is anticipated that the meeting will be of interest to Governments and Administrations and we invite you to send the name of your nominated candidate by facsimile or e-mail no later than Monday 16 August 2004. The nomination should be sent to:
Dr Harley Stanton Health Promotion Adviser - Tobacco and Alcohol SPC Public Health Programme B.P. D5 98848, NOUMEA CEDEX New Caledonia Fax: (687) 26 38 18 E-mail: harleys@spc.int <mailto:harleys@spc.int>
Early nominations will be appreciated.
Countries wishing to send more than one participant are encouraged to do so, on the understanding that air fares, accommodation and other expenses for their participation will be their responsibility.
7. In order to facilitate the exchange of information and with your concurrence, the meeting organiser will communicate directly with the nominated candidate. Unless advised otherwise, it will be assumed this arrangement is acceptable.
8. On the first day of the meeting, your participant will be asked to make a brief country report on alcohol policy, legislation and use. In that regard it is requested that you prepare a 3-minute oral presentation with not more than three Powerpoint slides. It would be helpful if this included any information on recent surveillance of alcohol use or other research; current or draft legislation, regulation or other government decisions pertaining to alcohol. At a minimum the Powerpoint slides should if at all possible include the following information:
National prevalence of alcohol use including gender/age levels of use; Youth alcohol use and percent of use by gender and age at first use; Trends in use of alcohol Past and present budgets for dealing with alcohol programmes and issues with sources of funding and plans; Information on national plans of action with a summary of components and agencies.
8. SPC and WHO will support the travel and accommodation of the nominated candidate in line with regular policy arrangements.
9. For travel and accommodation, please contact Odile Rolland, Secretary to the Public Health Programme Odiler@spc.int.
AGENDA
10. The meeting topics and issues are provided in Annex 1.
LANGUAGE
11. The meeting will be conducted in English and French. Simultaneous interpretation and translation services will be available.
VENUE
12. The venue will be the Jacques Iekawé Conference Room at SPC's Headquarters in Noumea.
TRAVEL AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
13. SPC and WHO funded participants will be provided with return economy class air fare to Noumea, New Caledonia, by the most direct route. If participants choose to fly by an alternative routing to that provided by SPC and WHO, the participant or their Government or Administration will be responsible for any additional cost.
14. Daily subsistence allowances for any necessary stopovers and for the duration of the stay in Noumea will be paid at Headquarters.
ACCOMMODATION IN NOUMEA
15. The Secretariat will make necessary hotel reservations at Hotel Le Pacifique, Anse-Vata, Noumea.
16. Upon arrival at Tontouta airport in Noumea, transfer will be arranged to hotel.
VISA
17. A visa to enter New Caledonia is compulsory except for citizens from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand (and all New Zealand passport holders), USA (and all US passport holders), and European Union countries.
18. Participants should make their own arrangements to obtain a visa if they require one to enter New Caledonia. The Secretariat will provide the necessary supporting documentation.
19. French Embassies/Consulates are situated in Australia (Sydney and Canberra), Fiji (Suva), New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington), Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby), and Vanuatu (Port Vila). It would be appreciated if delegates from those countries and nearby countries could obtain a visa prior to departure.
20. Participants are advised to make their own arrangements if they need to obtain visas for countries visited in transit to Noumea. The Secretariat can assist in making these arrangements.
21. For delegates from the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu, the SPC will arrange for a visa to be issued on arrival in Nouméa providing that the Secretariat is advised of the delegate’s name, flight number and dates of arrival/departure at least two weeks prior to arrival. Delegates are therefore advised to send by fax passport details to the Conference Travel Officer at SPC on fax number + 687 26 38 18.
INSURANCE
22. It should be noted that the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and WHO do not insure participants either during their stay or during travel to or from the meeting and declines any financial responsibility in the event of disease, injury, disability or death.
FURTHER INFORMATION
23. Enquiries for further information on arrangements should be addressed to Odile Rolland - odiler@spc.int or by phone on + 687 26 01 67. Information will also be available on the SPC website at http://www.spc.int/health
COUNTRY INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS
24. In addition to the brief Powerpoint presentation by participating countries, countries may provide an in-depth report to SPC at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Such a report would be made available as part of the meeting record. This would cover the areas listed in the agenda for Annex 1 including the following:
Current alcohol consumption within countries including where possible data on production, imports and exports, and levels of excise or taxation applied to the varying products; Age, gender and group differences in consumption with areas of high risk consumption or binge drinking with information on non-drinking population; Social context of consumption; Health and social impacts of current alcohol use; Economic considerations related to alcohol; Any national policy or legislation on alcohol; Current levels of marketing and availability; Current information on regulations on drink driving and motor vehicle trauma or crashes; Current treatment and intervention for alcohol problems Information on any surveillance and research.
Lourdes T. Pangelinan Director-General
Attachs.
Original text : English
SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMME - HEALTH PROMOTION, TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL
FIRST MEETING ON ALCOHOL AND HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC (Noumea, New Caledonia, 28 to 30 September 2004)
NOMINATION FOR ____________________________(COUNTRY)
Family name or Surname (as on passport):
First name(s) (as on passport):
Passport number:
Expiry date:
Date and place of issue:
Nationality:
Job Title:
Department/Ministry:
Work fax number:
Work phone number:
E-mail address:
Address:
Please return the completed form to Ms Odile Rolland, Secretary, by fax (687) 263818 or by email to: Odiler@spc.int
ANNEX 1
SECRETARIAT OF THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY
ALCOHOL AND HEALTH IN THE PACIFIC A MEETING FOR GOVERNMENTS TO PLAN ALCOHOL STRATEGIES FOR TODAY’S NEEDS AND TOMORROW’S THREATS
Dates: 28-30 September 2004
Topics and issues to be covered include:
History of alcohol use in the Pacific Current patterns of alcohol consumption Areas of high risk consumption Age, gender and group differences in consumption Social context of consumption Health and social consequences of current alcohol use Economic considerations related to alcohol Development of national policy on alcohol and considerations for the Pacific covering the following: o Information and education for decision makers and the community o Prevention for at-risk groups or individuals o Improving effectiveness of regulatory or legislative programs o Issues on marketing and availability o Development of safer drinking environments o Drink driving issues o Treatment and intervention for alcohol problems o Surveillance and research.
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