WHO Southeast Asia countries to discuss priority health issues in Delhi

Intensifying action to eliminate malaria, addressing the increasing threat of dengue, to improving access to essential medicines, member countries of WHO Southeast Asia Region are meeting in Delhi from 3 to 7 September to discuss priority health issues in the Region, home to one-fourth of the world’s population.

Health ministers and senior officials from the 11 member countries are expected to participate in the 71st session of the Regional Committee of WHO Southeast Asia Region, the highest policy making body of WHO in the Region.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Southeast Asia Regional Director Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, and WHO Deputy Director General Jane Elizabeth Ellison will be participating in the meeting, along with representatives of a number of partner organisations and civil society.

The meeting will deliberate on the existing and new opportunities for improving access to essential medicines, vaccines and medical products both within WHO Southeast Asia Region and beyond, as one of the key initiatives towards universal health coverage.

With the Region prone to disasters and public health emergencies, WHO and Member countries will discuss strengthening of emergency medical teams, an important initiative to fortify response capacities.

To address the significant increase in dengue cases in recent years, health experts will discuss measures against all vector-borne diseases including chikungunya and zika.

Building on the momentum created in the Region in recent years to eliminate malaria, the Member countries will review key action points for further intensifying efforts to reduce its disease burden.

The progress being made by countries to reduce new-born, under-5 and maternal mortalities and the efforts to strengthen health workforce in the Region are among the other key issues to be discussed in the five-day meeting.

In addition, progress reports on promoting physical activity, intensifying routine immunisation, improving civil registration and vital statistics and expanding the scope of the Southeast Asia Regional Emergency Fund, would be made at the meeting.

The Regional Committee session is held annually and is hosted by one of the 11 Member countries in the Region or the WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office. The session this year is being hosted by the WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office.