BUILDING; PRESIDENT ARRIVES; DELEGATES ARRIVE; PRESIDENT WITH DR. QUENUM AND DR. CANDAU; AUDIENCE; ZUVICH SPEAKS; DR. QUENUM SPEAKS; DR. TSHISHIMBI SPEAKS; DELEGATES; DR. CANDAU SPEAKS; PRESIDENT SPEAKS; PRESIDENT DECORATES OFFICIALS.




Initials GHB/VS/JF/MJB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PRESIDENT ALPHONSE MASSAMBA-DEBAT, OF CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE, ON SATURDAY (SEPTEMBER 23) OPENED A NEW GBP486,000 STERLING AFRICAN REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION AT DJOUE, ABOUT SEVEN MILES (12 KILOMETRES) FROM THE CONGOLESE CAPITAL.

AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE PRESIDENT CONFERRED CONGOLESE HONOURS ON WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION DIRECTOR-GENERAL, DR. MARCOLINO CANDAU OF BRAZIL AND THE AFRICAN DIRECTOR, DR. ALFRED QUENUM OF DAHOMEY. THE DECORATIONS WERE AWARDED FOR THE DEVOTION OF THE TWO MEN TO AFRICA.

THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTION OF GBP357,000 STERLING TOWARDS THE COST OF THE NEW THREE-STOREY BUILDING CAME FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION. THE REMAINDER CAME FROM THE 29 MEMBER STATES OF THE ORGANISATION'S AFRICAN REGION.

MANY OF THE AFRICAN HEALTH MINISTERS WHO TODAY (MONDAY) ATTENDED THE OPENING OF THE 17TH SESSION OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR AFRICA WERE PRESENT AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW CENTRE.