Colleagues, representatives, associates and friends, a good morning to you all.
Thank you all for being here. Yesterday was the completion of the first quarter of my first year as Regional Director. This quarter has been a great time of orientation and introduction for me. I have come to know the excellent WHO team that we have in our region and know more about the impressive work that has been done over many years.
During this time, I have also started my country visits to hear directly from our Member States. They have told me their thoughts and ideas about how we can best work with them and support them in meeting our common objectives.
This meeting is an extremely appropriate kick off for the second quarter, because we are now tasked with designing the roadmap for our Priority Programmes that will guide my term. These Programmes have been identified with the input of our Member States.
The Programmes will guide the strategic direction of our Region, targeting specific areas where we can make a difference in the lives of the people in our countries. These are programmes which will have transnational, and multigenerational benefits.
It is now incumbent on us to draft a roadmap which will guide the practical implementation of our ambitious objectives. Therefore, this roadmap must translate our aims and objectives into real and tangible actions.
In the next two days, you will discuss many relevant technical aspects related to this. However, I would like today to start with a few thoughts about the non-technical background which informs these Priority Programmes.
Let me start with my vision for our region.
I would like us to be a region of people who take a holistic approach to health and well-being, and who are physically and mentally empowered to achieve their full potential. I want us to be a region that prioritises the health of women, children, and marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities. I want us to help countries achieve universal health coverage within primary health care.
I think we all know that the complete mental and physical wellbeing of people includes aspects of their lives typically not touched by public health efforts.
Therefore, for us to achieve our vision, we need to rely to strong partnerships and collaborations. We understand that many determinants of health lie outside health systems. Therefore, our working relationships must expand beyond our traditional partners, and be more expansive and inclusive.
In working with a new and expanded range of partners, we should not forget that the health leadership we offer can enrich and benefit everyone we work with.
In an equitable and constructive collaboration, all partners can lead from their area of specialisation. Our expertise is unparalleled technical leadership, drawn from the most expansive network of health professionals on the planet.
I need not remind us that we are all committed to help the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. In global health, collective efforts have led to the adoption of numerous global health and health-related targets during the meetings of WHO Governing bodies.
Unfortunately, at present, evidence indicates a deviation from the targets, particularly related to health and the health-related SDGs.
As we have already agreed-upon technical targets and indicators, we now need to introduce strategic tactical enablers to bring our Region back on track towards achieving its goals.
Later this month, we expect our World Health Assembly to endorse the WHO 14th General Programme of Work. This aims to accelerate progress towards SDG3 through five key action points - the “5Ps”: “Promote, Provide, Protect, Power and Perform”. Our roadmap under discussion today is, of course, synchronised with GPW14.
Today, we are here to discuss the agendas and priorities for achieving the SDGs. We are here to identify challenges, opportunities, and enablers in promoting health and well-being in our region. We are here to promote country engagement and ownership of the regional Priority Programme Initiatives as a tactical strategy.
All of this is informed by the vision I have just laid out. The vision entails a couple of strategic mandates:
1. Strengthening our Member States and WHO to address health gaps within the current context and challenges.
2. Enabling our Member States to devise and implement innovative local solutions for equitable health care.
To realize this vision, the draft strategic framework known as the Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience has been developed.
Through the roadmap, we will prioritize initiatives that drive results, foster collaboration across sectors, promote resilience, and enhance the health and well-being of the communities across the Region.
The Priority Programmes that we have identified can leave a transformational legacy across our region. These programmes will reach into remote corners. They will embrace the ignored. They will combine the experience of proven approaches with the technology of tomorrow. They will showcase the best of South-East Asian innovation and inspiration.
The roadmap for these programmes is now in your hands. I urge all of you to take ownership of it. This is not my roadmap - it is ours. Please give it the best of your intuition, experience, and expertise. Give it your wisdom and guidance. Give it your time and your energy.
Once you have contributed to this, I know we will be proud of the document that will guide our next five years. I know this roadmap will show that South-East Asia leads with local solutions for local problems. I know our Region will usher a new era of health leadership.
I thank you all for being here. Thank you for your dedication to our countries, to our region and to our organization. Thank you for your commitment to the cause of public health. But most of all, thank you for your commitment to our people.
We have a lot of work to do, and I know that we will be proud of all we achieve together in the next five years.
Let’s get to work.