The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific today opened its 68th session in Brisbane, Australia. The annual meeting brings together ministers of health and senior officials from 37 countries and areas to decide on issues that affect the health and well-being of the Region’s nearly 1.9 billion people.
This week, regional health leaders will make decisions on: eliminating major communicable diseases, including measles and rubella, as well as mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis; financing of priority public health services; strengthening regulation of medicines and the health workforce; improving food safety; and health promotion for sustainable development. They will also consider a report on protecting children from the harmful impact of food marketing.
“We have a packed agenda this week, full of items that address what the Member States have told us are their key concerns,” said Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “Our top priority is delivering results at the country level, and anticipating what is around the corner—the next outbreak, the next funding crisis, the next big threat to health. Our strength in solidarity is our best defence against whatever the future holds,” he added.
In his address to the Regional Committee, Australian Minister for Health Greg Hunt said, “We are here in Brisbane to learn from our shared experiences, challenges and opportunities to drive change. As leaders in health, we have the power to shape a more productive and healthier community. This power is real. It can change lives and it can save lives. I look forward to our discussions this week as we come together to learn from each other to explore solutions to some complex and difficult issues,” he concluded.
On Thursday, WHO’s new Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will address ministers and senior officials in Brisbane, and seek their input to shape the Organization’s global programme of work.
In addition, progress on the following issues will be discussed at the Regional Committee: health security, noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer), tobacco control, mental health, tuberculosis, hepatitis, traditional medicine, and gender and health.
The Regional Committee sets policies and approves work programmes and budgets of WHO. It will also review the Organization’s work over the past year.
Notes to editors
The 68th session of the Regional Committee can be viewed live on the WHO website (www.wpro.who.int) and updates are being posted on the @WHOWPRO Twitter account with the hashtag #RCM68.
Media who wish to attend the Regional Committee at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre are required to register for accreditation by contacting:
Mr Ruel E. Serrano
Mobile: +63 908 891 4532
Email: serranor@who.int
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency responsible for public health. WHO works with governments and other partners to ensure the highest attainable level of health for all people. Made up of 194 Member States, WHO’s headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland; there are six regional offices, and more than 150 country offices around the world. The Regional Office for the Western Pacific is in Manila, Philippines.
Each of the six WHO regions has its own regional committee—composed of ministers of health and senior officials from Member States—which meets annually. In the Western Pacific Region, the Regional Committee takes place in Manila or in a host country in alternate years.
The 37 countries and areas of the WHO Western Pacific Region are: American Samoa (USA), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (France), Guam (USA), Hong Kong SAR (China), Japan, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, Niue, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (USA), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands (UK), Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and Futuna (France).