South-East Asia Health Ministers to meet in Colombo

69th WHO Regional Committee meeting will see a series of discussions

69th WHO Regional Committee meeting will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka where health ministers from 11 member countries of WHO South-East Asia region will meet. The meet will be held from September 5-9, 2016, which will accelerate improvements in health in the era of sustainable development goals, with a focus on the most vulnerable.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, Sri Lanka, will inaugurate the meeting. Dr Margaret Chan, Director General, WHO; Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, South-East Asia Regional Director, WHO and other WHO experts and senior officials from health ministries of member countries will participate in the meeting.

With the region having eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus and individual countries witnessing major wins such as elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis by Thailand despite an ongoing HIV epidemic; elimination of lymphatic filariasis by Maldives and Sri Lanka; yaws by India; and malaria by Maldives, there will be a greater push for time-bound elimination of diseases.

Tackling anti-microbial resistance (AMR) as a priority with a multi-sectoral approach involving food, agriculture and animal sectors, in addition to the health sector, will be deliberated at the meeting.

Ending preventable maternal and child mortality, addressing the double burden of malnutrition and health of migrant populations will also be discussed and focussed upon at the meeting.

WHO’s recent emergency reforms and further strengthening of core capacities by countries under the International Health Regulations for responding to health emergencies will be other key areas to be discussed and emphasised upon.

EH News Bureau