This week, our Regional Manager for Asia, Ma-Anne Rosales, attended the Fifth Regional Meeting of WHO Collaborating Centres in Manila — a powerful gathering that reinforced the vital role these centres play as the backbone of WHO’s work in the region.
Our McCabe Centre was there as the WHO Collaborating Centre on Law and Noncommunicable Disease, alongside 105 other WHOCCs who flew to Manila from across the region.
We heard from global health leaders including Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala (WPRO Regional Director), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO Director-General), and Dr Shin Young-Soo (RD Emeritus), who all underscored that collaborating centres are truly the extended family of WHO.
Some highlights:
- In today’s climate, we must do more with less — and that means deeper collaboration and innovation.
- On NCD best buys, we need to accelerate action and adapt them to diverse contexts, including the ethical integration of AI in health.
- Laws and policies are key to driving NCD progress — but we must also protect policymaking from industry interference.
This meeting was a timely reminder of the power of partnership in achieving the highest attainable standard of health for all. WPRO and the WPRO CCs have committed to:
- Enhance coordination and synergy between WHO and CCs.
- Link research to policy and practice.
- Support member states in building resilient, people-centred and equitable health systems.
- Sustain knowledge exchange, continuous engagement and follow up mechanisms from the forum.
We are energised and ready to move forward stronger with the full force of the WHO CCs to do our part in ensuring the highest standard of health for all.