Latest news

TB down in past decade; universal health coverage key to faster progress

WHO/Y. Shimizu

Tuberculosis (TB) screening activities at Yos Vinei pagoda in Pteas village. Cambodia.

MANILA, 23 March 2018 - New estimates show a 14% reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region over the past decade, but with 1.8 million people newly infected in the Region each year, more needs to be done. On the eve of World Tuberculosis Day, WHO calls on governments to provide all citizens access to TB testing and treatment as part of universal health coverage.

• Read the media release

• Pacific leadership in NCDs
• Emergency health team in PNG
• International Women's Day

Pacific leadership in new WHO global commission on noncommunicable diseases

WHO/Y. Setoya

Tongan community health workers completing the NCD health surveillance (STEPS) survey.

SUVA, Fiji, 13 March 2018 - Globally communities are struggling to cope with the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers. In another step forward in combatting this epidemic, WHO has established an Independent Global High-level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases, where the Tongan Minister of Health and Public Enterprises, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, has been appointed as one of the commissioners who will help raise awareness of the issues and experiences of NCDs in the Pacific.

• Read the media release

Emergency health team deployed to earthquake-affected provinces of Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY, 08 March 2018 — As aftershocks continue to rattle the Hela and Southern Highlands provinces of Papua New Guinea, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Department of Health (NDOH) are working together to send support to the worst-affected communities. A devastating 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Southern Highlands and Hela Provinces on 26 February, triggering landslides that are reported to have wiped out villages, contaminated drinking water and disrupted rivers.

• Read the media release

International Women's Day 2018: Celebrating women's leadership in health

8 March 2018 — How can we achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls? What does it mean to do so? What lessons have we learnt that can support progress towards this ambitious goal (Sustainable Development Goal 5) that nations of the world signed up to? On International Women's Day 2018, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific approached women from different communities, age groups, occupations and positions throughout the Region and asked them to share their experiences and stories of leadership and inspiration.

• See the photo story
• Top 5 lessons from Asia Pacific’s women leaders in health

Countries in focus

• Lao PDR: Preventing leprosy-related disabilities in children
  February 2018
  The Ministry of Health conducted a review meeting to discuss the results from an intensified leprosy case findings activity that took place in Xiengkhuang Province in December last year. This review activity coincides with the World Leprosy Day that was marked on the last Sunday of January.
• WHO Assistant Director-General advocates for universal health coverage towards Health for All in Cambodia
  February 2018
  WHO Assistant Director-General Dr. Naoko Yamamoto led a high-level visit to understand Cambodia’s progress and challenges towards universal health coverage from 2-4 February 2018.
• Kiribati Butiraoi ferry disaster
  January 2018
  The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) send their deepest condolences to the people of Kiribati following the recent Butiraoi ferry disaster. This is a tragic event for the country of Kiribati, and we extend our thoughts to those affected families and communities. WHO and UNICEF are closely coordinating with the Government of Kiribati to support the emergency response.
• Mongolia: Investing in NCD prevention has significant economic impact
  January 2018
  Scaling up heart disease and tobacco control and reducing consumption of alcohol and salt are areas requiring increased investment in Mongolia to address noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), according to results from a review led by the United Nations Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) on NCDs.
• Q&A on dengue vaccine
  December 2017
  We know there are still many concerns about the dengue vaccine, and we have received many questions following our post earlier this week. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.