The Division of Building Healthy Communities and Populations covers broad public health areas and provides leadership and action for the promotion of health and the prevention of premature death and disability by addressing key health-related social, environmental, and behavioural risk factors and determinants.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) continue to be a top priority in the Western Pacific Region, with WHO providing support for implementation of the Western Pacific Regional Action Plan for Noncommunicable Diseases . WHO also is supporting the establishment of policies and integrated national programmes, capacity-building at the national level and enhanced multisectoral interventions for noncommunicable diseases, including a new initiative on salt reduction. The Division has advocated for greater political commitment from governments and the international community to combat noncommunicable diseases and has urged greater action at the country level.
Health promotion has been emphasized as a key component in improving overall population health and as an element of other public health programmes. WHO efforts have continued to focus on strengthening health promoting schools, health promotion foundations and overall national capacity for health promotion.
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