New Delhi: Health Ministers and experts from WHO’s South-East Asia Region will meet in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 4 to 7 September to discuss key health issues in the Region.
The 30th Meeting of Health Ministers of the Region on 4 September is a forum for exchange of national experiences and strategies relating to the political, social and economic dimensions of health.
This will be followed by the 65th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia. The Regional Committee is a statutory body comprising the Member States and meets once a year to review progress and regional implications of the World Health Assembly resolutions.
Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, will be present at both meetings.
What: 30th Meeting of Ministers of Health of countries of South-East Asia Region
Sixty-fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia
When: 4-7 September 2012
Where: Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Some of the key issues up for discussion at the Regional Committee Meeting are:
Challenges in Polio Eradication:
India was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries on 25 February 2012. It was the only
country in WHO’s South-East Asia Region that had endemic transmission of wild poliovirus
(WPV) in 2011. India’s last case of polio was 13 January 2011. The next most recent case in the
Region was in Nepal on 30 August 2010. All other countries in the Region have been polio free
for more than 5 years. However, all countries in the Region remain susceptible to importation
while there is wild poliovirus circulating anywhere in the world. Provided that there is continued
progress, the Region is on track to be certified polio-free in January 2014.
Pandemic influenza preparedness:
WHO recommends establishing an international stockpile of Influenza A (H5N1) vaccine and
preparing for eventual distribution of the vaccines during a potential pandemic. In order to
implement the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework at a national level, Member States
should continue to share influenza viruses with pandemic potential with a WHO reference
laboratory of their choice.
Since 1957, influenza viruses have been shared by Member States through the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response Network (GISRS). However, in 2007 issues were raised about how this might be linked to access to vaccines and other benefits. The following Member States have reported human cases of avian influenza A/H5N1: Bangladesh (6); Indonesia (129); Myanmar (1); and Thailand (25). Several countries are developing capacity to produce influenza vaccine and might therefore anticipate being the beneficiaries of technology transfer. WHO encourages countries to develop their own pandemic influenza preparedness plans, while working with the international community to ensure a fast and unified response in the event of a pandemic.
Year of Intensification of Routine Immunization:
Countries of WHO’s South-East Asia Region have developed an immunization intensification
plan with the focus on low-performing areas. These include hard-to-reach rural areas,
marginalized populations in urban areas and other communities that have not achieved a higher
coverage for various reasons. Each country set a target to achieve high routine immunization
coverage in 2012 and beyond. Member States will review progress in implementation at this
year’s Regional Committee Meeting.
Implementation of the International Health Regulations:
The International Health Regulations (IHR) require States to detect, assess and report potential
health threats. Member States in WHO’s South-East Asia region either have, or are anticipated
to request an extension to meet the15 June 2012 deadline for creating capacity for IHR
reporting.
In 2011 the overall (average) level of IHR implementation for the South-East Asia Region was 63%; levels of IHR implementation varied from 40 to 91% among SEA Region Member States. WHO and Member States continue to work collectively to strengthen IHR core capacities based on identified gaps and priorities.
Role of WHO in managing emergencies:
With 46% of all deaths due to disasters from 2001 to 2010 occurring in WHO’s South-East Asia
Region, it is clear that disasters are a priority impacting public health and need to be addressed
in a comprehensive manner. Countries of the Region are working to strengthen their risk
management in the health sector, with Member countries increasing investments and building
capacities that are required for all phases in disasters: risk reduction, preparedness, response
and recovery. Countries are also building systems to address the larger challenge of improving
coordination with other sectors. WHO is working to develop this capacity with Member States.
WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) assists countries by
providing funding within 24 hours of a funding request during an emergency. SEARHEF funds
have been utilized in 13 different emergencies throughout the Region since its inception in
2008. This is a unique cooperation between countries that provides a mechanism for solidarity
in times of urgent need.
Health workforce training and education in support of universal health coverage:
Six out of 11 countries of WHO’s South-East Asia Region have fewer than 23 health workers
(doctors, nurses and midwives) per 10 000 population. A competent and motivated health
workforce forms the core of a high-quality and efficient health system. To achieve universal
health coverage countries need health workers trained in adequate numbers with the
appropriate mix of skills.
Community-based health workers need to be given special attention. Their training and education is crucial to strengthening primary health care. An effective community-based health workforce ensures that essential health interventions reach the “unreached”. WHO recommends that Member States review their national health policies to increase the quality of the health workforce by assessing their training and education. Policies need to increase resources to support all health workers including those based in the community.
Strengthening noncommunicable disease policies to promote active ageing:
Noncommunicable diseases are emerging as an important global challenge for the post-2015
era while also threatening the achievement of various internationally agreed development goals
including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). An estimated 36 million of the 57 million
deaths in the world in 2008 were due to noncommunicable diseases; nearly 80% of those
deaths occurred in developing countries. Most were largely caused by four common risk factors,
namely tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity.
The proportion of the world’s population over 60 years of age is expected to rise to about 1200
million in 2025. The ageing of populations has public health and economic implications,
including rising rates of noncommunicable diseases. There is also the need for lifelong health
promotion and disease-prevention activities that can prevent or delay the onset and severity of
noncommunicable diseases and promote healthy ageing. WHO urges Member States to take
measures that ensure the highest attainable standard of health and well-being for the rapidly
growing numbers of older persons in both developed and developing countries.