OPENING CEREMONY

African Children's Choir performs special composition by internationally-known children's song balladeer, Raffi: song entitled "Every Child".

Art Hister, Vancouver physician, writer and broadcaster, MCs Opening Ceremony: Just incredible, how can anybody not be hopeful about the state of the world when we get it off to such arousal wonderful start. Thank you very much to all the members of the African Children's chorus for having started this Congress on such a wonderful high spirited note. My name is Dr. Art Hister. My great honor and privilege on behalf of Dr. Wah Jun Tze and all the organizers of the Child Health 2000 2nd world Congress, to welcome you all to our beautiful city Vancouver and especially to thank you for taking the time out from your very busy lives to be with us today. Your attendance at this historic event will help shape the future of children's health and welfare around the world.

There are literally hundreds of subjects to be covered this week and I am delighted to tell you that their are more than 60 countries represented at the Congress. We are also very honored to have 14 ministers speaking here This week. They come from Azerbedjiam, Benin, Canada, China, Egypt, Mexico, Mozambique, The Netherlands Antilles, The Philippines, Russia, The United States, Thailand, and South Africa. And the executive secretary for the Gulf Council for health ministers is also here. We shall also be joined by three Nobel laureates Dr. Joseph E. Murray, Dr. Susumu Tonegawa, and Dr. Frederick C. Robbins, and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Polio vaccine, were delighted that the inventor himself Dr. Jonas Salk, will also be taking part in the Congress.

On a very sad note however, there is one very special person who can not be with us in spite of all his work and advice to make this Congress a success. That person is the later James Grant former Director General of UNICEF. Although Mr. Grant is not able to be here in person anyone who ever met him knows that he is certainly here and every where people meet to help children, in sprit.

And now it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you a man who has always been a great ally and a firm supporter of the Congress and his goal to help the children here in British Columbia and around the world the premier of the province of the Province of British Columbia the Honorable Mike Harcourt.

Honorable Diane Marleau, Minister of Health, Canada; previously held municipal and regional posts in the Province of Ontario

Raffi: Good morning everyone, the song we are going to sing is called "Every Child".

Art Hister - Introduction of Congress Organizing Chair, Dr. Wah Jun Tze, international health authority: And now I have the very great pleasure of introducing to you Dr. Wah Jun Tze but that task is not as easy as it may seem because what can I say about Dr. Tze that hasn't already been said. So let me just summarize this man's contributions by saying without Dr. Tze's tireless efforts and organizing abilities, as well as the fact that he just really doesn't understand the meaning of the word no. At least he never understands it when I way it to him and I don't think he understands it when anyone says it to him. There simple would be no Child Health 2000 without him. Dr. Tze's commitment to improving the health, welfare and human rights of children around the globe, his mobilizing for a child friendly world as he puts it, has had a profound impact in many ways and many places and on a great many children. It is a distinct pleasure to welcome Dr. Wah Jun Tze.

Dr. Wah Jun Tze

Art Hister: Now it's a singular privilege to introduce to you the man who is going to chair the rest of this mornings plenary one of Canada's most well known and internationally respected citizens, the former Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honorable Joe Clark.

The Right Honorable Joe Clark, former Prime Minister of Canada

Mrs. Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, USA

Sound track from video documentary on the life on Jim Grant , produced by UNICEF

Comment on video by Rt. Hon. Joe Clark: That is a powerful video but it is in many ways less a tribute than it is a lesson because in these times when it easy to take a pessimistic view and to see glasses as half empty and empty, Jim Grant's example demonstrates the powerful change that a committed individual can accomplish. He did it from an executive position that allowed him to touch lives around the world, but his example can be found in communities and human hearts everywhere in the world. I think that we would all agree that the surest way we can honor the extraordinary contribution of Jim Grant is to regard it as something that is within our own grasp if we are prepared to show the kind of imagination and commitment that he did.

I want now to call upon Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima the Director General of the World Health Organization which plays such a fundamental role in coordinating and keeping track of and encouraging health developments around the world.

Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima, health official from Japan, re-elected head of WHO in 1994

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