GENEVA, May 19: Insufficient food, climate change and pandemic flu are global crises which could unravel progress in public health, the World Health Organisation’s director-general said on Monday.

“These three critical events, these clear threats to international security, have the potential to undo much hard-won progress in public health,” WHO director-general Margaret Chan told delegates from 193 member states at the WHO’s annual general assembly.

Two of the three are beyond the control of the health sector, but human health “will bear the brunt” for all three, she said.

WHO has already identified 21 hot spots around the world which are experiencing high levels of acute and chronic under-nutrition, said Chan.

Likewise in climate change, the hardest-hit would be the poorest, she said.

Meanwhile, Chan noted it was in pandemic flu that the health sector could act directly to shape policies on readiness.

She also urged the international community not to be complacent about the issue.

“The threat has by no means receded, and we would be very unwise to let down our guard, or slacken our preparedness measures,” she said.—AFP