Communicable and non-communicable diseases continue to impact people in the Western Pacific. Beyond illness and death, people also have to contend with socioeconomic hardships and psychological distress born of these conditions, such as loss of employment or high medical costs.
In the Division of Programmes for Disease Control, we work towards ending infectious diseases such as vaccine preventable diseases, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria, and better managing non-communicable diseases, chief of which are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as mental health conditions.
Working with our network of WHO country offices, we focus on three key areas :
- Ending communicable diseases like Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and eliminating Malaria, other vector borne diseases and Neglected Tropical Diseases;
- Eradicating and eliminating vaccine preventable diseases and reducing the number of new infections, e.g. by improving access to immunizations; and
- Treating people affected by, and managing infectious diseases, non - communicable diseases and mental health.
Through our regional efforts, we have maintained poliomyelitis-free status, eliminated leprosy as a public health problem, and are close to eliminating measles, maternal and neonatal tetanus, malaria, lymphatic filariasis and blinding trachoma regionally. While many communicable diseases are in retreat, they have not yet been vanquished. Significant risks remain, and the re-emergence of these diseases are stark reminders that diseases can and do return quickly if control efforts are not sustained.
At the same time, NCDs are now the leading causes of death and disability in the Western Pacific Region and responsible for 80% of all deaths. Of concern is the number of premature deaths (deaths before 70 years of age) that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries.
More than ever, WHO in the Western Pacific Region is fully engaged in the fight against these diseases. We are working closely with other Divisions and Country Offices in the Region to implement For the Future: Toward the Healthiest and Safest Region.
