Right to Health: UN expert launches first mission to Ghana

GENEVA / ACCRA (19 May 2011) – Special Rapporteur Anand Grover will visit Ghana from 23 to 30 May 2011 to assess the country’s endevours to implement the right to health, as well as the measures taken for its successful realization and the obstacles encountered both at the national and international levels.

“I will focus on the enjoyment of the right to health, including access to health care and underlying determinants of health, sexual and reproductive health rights, and on mental and environmental health-related issues,” Mr. Grover said announcing the first visit to Ghana by an independent expert designated by the UN Human Rights Council to report on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

The Special Rapporteur, who visits Ghana at the invitation of the Government, will meet with Government officials as well as with civil society representatives, including non-governmental organizations and academics. He will present a report on his mission to the Human Rights Council in June 2012.

Mr. Grover will share his preliminary conclusions on the visit at a press conference on Monday 30 May at 12:00, at the UNDP Conference Room, Ring Road East, Accra.

The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to help States, and others, promote and protect the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Anand Grover (India) is co-founder and Director of the Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS in India. He sits on the National Advisory Board of International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, is a member of the World Care Council, International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO), and Core Group of NGOs representatives in the National Human Rights Commission of India.

Learn more about the mandate and work of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/health/right/index.htm

OHCHR Country page – Ghana: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/GHIndex.aspx

For press inquiries and additional information during the visit, please contact Dragana Korljan (Tel.: +41 79 201 0124 / email: dkorljan@ohchr.org) or write to srhealth@ohchr.org