Honorable Ms Tamila Barkalaia, Deputy Minister,
We have been informed by Unicef that they provide certain technical assistance to the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs.
To be able to provide technical assistance in the area of disability, Unicef also needs an engagement of the World Health Organization. One of the functions of WHO is also normative work, that crucially contributes to development of some basic principles, as in this case in the area of determining disability (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - ICF).
While our colleagues in the Regional Office and at Headquarters are willing to provide further support, they would need a kind of formal request from the ministry.
For that reason I kindly ask you to send a short letter in which you indicate, that the ministry works on the reform of the current system of disability, that the work is assisted by Unicef and that certain technical assistance from WHO is also needed. You can add more details or you can indicate that details can be discussed at a later stage.
The letter can be addressed to me and I will forward the request to my colleagues.
In principle collaboration between WHO and Georgia is framed by the Biannual Collaborative Agreement (2018-2019) and Ms Sopo Belkania has been designated by the ministry as a National Counterpart for Strategic Collaboration with WHO (this is the reason for cc Ms Belkania). We can understand however, that sometimes there is also a need for additional assistance that goes beyond the signed BCA.
Sincerely yours,
Marijan Ivanusa
WHO Representative
Head of WHO Country Office Georgia
Office location: 81 Vasil Barnov Street, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
Mailing address: UN House, 9 Rapiel Eristavi Street, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia
Mobile 1: +995 599 305 207
Mobile 2/EU/private: +386 40 528 639
Email: ivanusam@who.int
Skype: who-ivanusam
GPN: 74211
Web: www.euro.who.int