WHO South-East Asia Health Ministers Set to Accelerate Public Health Efforts in Key Meeting

New Delhi: Health ministers and officials from WHO South-East Asia Region member states are scheduled to meet next week to focus on accelerating public health efforts in a region that accounts for a quarter of the global population and faces a disproportionately high burden of preventable and treatable diseases.

The 77th Regional Committee Session of WHO South-East Asia, which serves as the annual governing body meeting for the region, will bring together health ministers, officials, and representatives from global and regional partner organizations. The meeting will take place from October 7 to 9, with WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Regional Director Saima Wazed in attendance.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Regional Director Saima Wazed, and other WHO officials will be at the meeting being held from 7 to 9 October.

A ministerial round table at the Regional Committee Session will discuss adolescent-responsive health systems to meet the unique needs of this population group that accounts for 27% of the Region’s population.

Like every year, the Regional Committee will review the progress being made towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and health-related Sustainable Development Goals.

The Regional Committee will also deliberate on expansion of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF). The fund was established in 2008 to support lifesaving response measures in the immediate aftermath of a public health emergency. Till date, it has supported 49 health emergencies in 10 countries. Since 2016, the SEARHEF has also been supporting emergency preparedness.

The meeting will also discuss progress reports on resolutions from the previous Regional Committee sessions. These include traditional medicines; strengthening health workforce education and training; and intensifying activities for dengue control and malaria elimination.

The resolution on decade of action to end viral hepatitis, HIV and STIs; universal access to people centred health care and services; progress and acceleration plan for non-communicable diseases and advancing health emergency preparedness and response in the Region.

During the session, countries will also be felicitated for their recent advancements and achievements in public health.