8th Coordination Meeting of World Health Organization Collaborating Centres in Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network, REMPAN (WHO - OMS, 2002, 145 p.): 5. Aims of the 8th Rempan Meeting and Global Strategy

8th Coordination Meeting of World Health Organization Collaborating Centres in Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network, REMPAN (WHO - OMS, 2002, 145 p.)

		(introduction...)
		1. Programme of the 8th WHO/REMPAN Meeting
		2. Summary - Souchkevitch, G.N.
		3. National Radiological Protection Board - History, Structure, Functions of Radiation Protection at National and International Levels - Clarke, R.H.
		4. Second Henri Jammet Memorial Lecture. Radiation Accidents - an Overview and Feedback, 1950 - 2000 - Nénot, J-C.
		5. Aims of the 8th Rempan Meeting and Global Strategy - Repacholi, M.
		6. Reports of REMPAN Collaborating Centres and Liaison Institutions
		7. REMPAN: Overview Since the 7th Meeting - Souchkevitch, G.N.
		8. Agency Programmes
		9. Case Studies in Recent Radiation Accidents
		10. Public Health Aspects of Radiation Accidents
		11. REMPAN Database
		12. Future of REMPAN Session
		Quality practice opportunities
		How to recognize and initially respond to an accidental radiation injury

5. Aims of the 8th Rempan Meeting and Global Strategy - Repacholi, M.

Repacholi, M., Coordinator, Occupational and Environmental Health
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

WHO is a signatory to two legally binding International Conventions that cover Early Warning and Assistance in case of nuclear accidents and radiological emergencies. In respect of the Assistance Convention WHO has made a deposition in respect of its commitments within the framework of these two Conventions, WHO established a network of collaborating centres for radiation emergency medical preparedness and assistance (REMPAN).

The primary objectives of REMPAN are:

· To enhance medical preparedness for radiation accidents among WHO Member States;
· To provide medical advice and assistance in case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency;
· To assist in follow-up studies;

These objectives are fulfilled by:

· Strengthening radiation emergency medical preparedness;
· Providing medical advice and assistance to treat and monitor severely exposed individuals
· Improving public health advice to reduce the long-term effects of exposure to low and protracted doses to populations living in territories affected by radioactive contamination
· Analysing radiation emergencies and developing recommendations for the treatment of casualties;
· Analysing the long-term follow-up studies of radiation medical consequences.

The 8^th meeting of REMPAN is an extremely important one because there is a need to redefine the objectives and to develop mechanisms to make the responses of REMPAN more effective. REMPAN also must fit into an overall global strategy that WHO is developing to operate as "One WHO" and to provide a programme on prevention of radiation health effects that falls within WHO'S overall objectives.