JP Nadda – Chairperson of 77th WHO South-East Asia Session

October 7, 2024

India’s Minister of Health, JP Nadda, has been elected as the Chairperson for the 77th Session (RC77) of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region. This meeting is an annual event where health ministers and other important officials come together to talk about major health issues that affect over two billion people in this region.

What is the WHO South-East Asia Region?

This region of the WHO includes 11 countries, such as India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. It is one of the largest regions in the world, with more than 25% of the global population living here. Due to its size and diversity, it faces unique health challenges that need to be addressed.

What are the goals of the RC77 session?

The RC77 session is focused on identifying key health priorities and improving healthcare access for all. The representatives will work together to come up with plans to solve emerging health problems and strengthen healthcare systems in their countries.

What challenges does the region face?

Razia Pendse, the WHO Chef de Cabinet, outlined several major health challenges in the region, including:

The rise of non-communicable diseases, like heart disease and diabetes, as well as mental health problems.
High rates of newborn and child mortality (children under 5 years of age).
The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (when bacteria and viruses no longer respond to medicines).
The ongoing crisis of tuberculosis, a disease that still affects many in this region.

What is JP Nadda’s vision?

In his opening speech, JP Nadda emphasized the importance of working together across countries to improve health. He said that “health transcends borders,” meaning that countries should share knowledge and experiences to build better health systems for everyone.

What is the regional roadmap?

Saima Wazed, the WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, talked about the need for a shared plan that all countries in the region can follow. She stressed that the roadmap should focus on protecting the most vulnerable people, like children and older adults.

What are the key initiatives for the region?

Under Wazed’s leadership, the region will focus on several important areas:

Being better prepared to respond to emergencies, such as pandemics.
Finding ways to gather more resources (money, supplies, etc.) to improve health services.
Addressing the impact of climate change on health.
Ensuring that everyone has access to healthcare, a concept known as Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Nadda encouraged everyone at the meeting to work together and come up with new ideas to improve the health situation in Southeast Asia. He urged them to take action to build a healthier future for the people of this region.

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