McCabe Centre in Manila with WHO Western Pacific Region leaders
We were very pleased to join health ministers and other leaders recently in Manila, at the annual Regional Committee Meeting for the WHO Western Pacific Region. We engaged in critical health issues like climate resilience, digital health, primary health care, health financing, and oral health, and were reminded of the power and necessity of working together.
Key priorities identified:
- Building climate-resilient health systems
- Urgent action on e-cigarettes
- Strengthening digital health capacities
In an inspiring keynote, Regional Director Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala called on all member states to “weave the mat” of health, fostering stronger community cooperation to achieve our shared goal: a healthier region for all.
As the WHO Collaborating Centre on Law and Noncommunicable Disease, we stand ready to support member states to drive forward actions and do our part in weaving health for all.
The side event on tobacco control hosted by Dr Sandro Demaio of Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) was another highlight, where we heard action from Australia, Cook Islands and Singapore, emphasizing the need to accelerate efforts to implement the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in the region, the only region where all member states are convention parties.
Youth voices were also loud and clear, emphasizing the need for action on e-cigarettes (from the Guam Youth Congress Speaker) and Digital Health, Health Security, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and One Health (the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations).
We congratulate the World Health Organization and all member states and partners for a successful 75th Regional Committee Meeting.
Now, the work begins.
Photo: Our Regional Manager for Asia, Ma-Anne Rosales, is photographed with Dr Tsetsegsaikhan Batmunkh, CEO, National Cancer Council of Mongolia (left) and Carmen Auste, CEO, Cancer Warriors Foundation Philippines (middle), at the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific being held in Manila, Philippines this week.