Tobacco remains a leading health threat, causing an estimated 3 million deaths across the Western Pacific Region.
At the seventy-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific #RC77, countries discussed the need for sustained political commitment and regulation of new and emerging products โ such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. #NoTobacco
Weaving the Future of Health - WHO Western Pacific's exhibition at the 77th session of the Regional Committee at the campus in Manila was inaugurated formally by @DrTedros and Western Pacific @RD_WPRO Dr Saia Maโu Piukala.
Step into the future of health.
Onsite at #RC77, our Weaving the Future of Health exhibition reveals how key health priorities โ from artificial intelligence and its impacts to immunization across the life course - will be shaped across the Western Pacific.
What would it take to make #HealthForAll a reality in WHOโs most populous region?
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
My thanks to #Japanโs Health Vice-Minister Yasuhiro Suzuki for ๐ฏ๐ต's continued leadership on universal health coverage, including through the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo that is strengthening health-finance collaboration. We agreed on the importance of @WHO continuing to #StandWithScience to deliver #HealthForAll. My ask to the Minister was to help bring the Pandemic Agreement negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex to a successful conclusion. #RC77
Progress towards immunization in the Western Pacific is slipping, mirroring a pattern seen in other WHO Regions.
But we simply must reach every child, everywhere.
Governments can close immunity gaps and bring vaccination services to those who need it most.
#VaccinesWork
#RC77
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
Validation is not the finish line. Itโs a milestone in an ongoing journey.
Congratulations to Malaysia on its recertification for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, EMTCT.
We were delighted to recognize this triumph at our 77th Western Pacific Regional Committee, happening now in Manila.
Sustaining progress demands continued investment, strong health systems, community engagement and equitable, stigma-free care.
Letโs celebrate this success while renewing our commitment to every mother, every child, every community. #EMTCT #RC77
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
At the ongoing WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee in Manila, we've taken the opportunity to once again congratulate Australia.
They have been certified for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.
This landmark achievement reflects the harmony of many moving parts.
Sustained @ausgov political will.
Strong partnerships.
The leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
And, of course, the tireless work of public health teams and health workers.
It is a powerful reminder that lasting public health progress requires both commitment and communities. #Trachoma #RC77
Strong partnerships are essential to WHOโs work. Thank you to all our partners for being part of #RC77!
Whether championing patient voices, supporting the health workforce or addressing major health challenges such as tobacco use and cardiovascular disease, our partners brought diverse perspectives and valuable expertise to the Regional Committee.
We greatly appreciate this continued engagement and collaboration as we work together to advance health across the Western Pacific Region.
Interested in what our partners had to say?
Read their statements on the RC77 website: who.int/westernpacific/aboutโฆ
๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ด๐ฆ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ด ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต ๐ด๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ญ๐บ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ช๐ต๐บ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ค๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐บ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐๐, ๐ช๐ฏ๐ค๐ญ๐ถ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ช๐ต๐ด ๐๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ค๐ณ๐ฆ๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ต.
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
Met with @Malaysia's Health Minister @DrDzul to discuss the ongoing Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing annex negotiations to conclude the Pandemic Agreement; @WHO's financial reforms and the importance of the increase in assessed contributions by all Member States to ensure the Organization's sustainability and independence to #StandWithScience. #RC77
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
On the sidelines of the @WHOWPRO (Western-Pacific) Regional Committee meeting, I met with Zheng Zhe, #China's Vice Minister of the National Health Commission, to discuss the @WHO-China strategic dialogue, and negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing. I reiterated WHO's commitment to the scientific process on COVID-19 origins, and asked for China's cooperation. #RC77
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
Good meeting with #Mongolia's Health Minister Batshugar Enkhbayar on the countryโs health system reforms. Developments includes digital health transformation, improving access to affordable, quality medicines, and continued cooperation with @WHO on primary health care, workforce development, medicines regulation and the transition to the new national Centre for Disease Control. I thanked the Minister for Mongolia's participation in the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex negotiation. #RC77
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
By 2050, more than two billion people worldwide will be aged 60 or older. As people live longer, it is a global imperative to ensure that those additional years are lived in health, dignity and purpose.ย
ย
The Western Pacific is home to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing older populations. Countries across the Region have been at the forefront of efforts to promote healthy ageing.ย
Under the leadership of @RD_WPRO Saia Maโu Piukala, the Region's shared vision of Weaving Health for All, recognizes that healthy ageing cannot be achieved by the health sector alone. It requires transforming not only health and care systems, but also the communities and environments in which people live.ย
ย
I welcome the forthcoming four-year collaboration between @WHOWPRO and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with support from the Institute of Philanthropy and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.ย This collaboration offers an opportunity to turn evidence into action, adapt solutions to country needs, and learn from what works across the Region.ย #RC77
Hypertension is one of the Regionโs most urgent, silent threats.
1 in 3 adults live with hypertension in the Western Pacific Region. Yet most are unaware of their condition.
The Region has set an ambitious goal: 100 million additional people with controlled hypertension by 2029.
But controlling hypertension requires more than simple diagnosis.
Access to affordable medicines and equipment, supportive care and quality data systems to improve outcomes are crucial.
#RC77
Read the draft Regional Plan for Accelerating Hypertension Control in the Western Pacific Region and other #RC77 session documents here: who.int/westernpacific/aboutโฆ
Artificial intelligence is reshaping health care, public health and decision-making.
It has the potential to transform health systems and peopleโs access to health and care across the Western Pacific Region โ and globally.
#RC77
Read the Draft Guidance for Responsible AI in Health in the Western Pacific Region and other #RC77 session documents here: who.int/westernpacific/aboutโฆ
World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific retweeted
A big thank you to our @WHOPhilippines team for the warm welcome this morning, but more importantly, for a candid discussion about the challenges they face in their work and where they need support most. Their commitment to serving the people of the #Philippines and delivering #HealthForAll is truly inspiring. #ProudToBeWHO
Read the #RC77 daily journal for 21 October: who.int/westernpacific/aboutโฆ




















