WHO calls for urgent global action to combat antimicrobial drug resistance
12 October 2011—Amid threats that antibiotics and other essential medicines may lose their power to cure disease, countries in the Western Pacific Region today pledged to support the World Health Organization (WHO) in its efforts to fight drug resistance.
WHO has warned that the world may already be returning to an era when there were no effective drug treatments for many infections. This is the result of the misuse and irrational use of drugs—a major driver of drug resistance.
At this year's annual meeting of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, the Organization's governing body in the Region, meeting in Manila, Member States vowed to take immediate action to improve their response to the increasing problem of drug resistance in areas where action has been inadequate.
WHO increases global momentum to fight noncommunicable diseases
12 October 2011—Countries in the Western Pacific Region, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, today vowed to scale up effective noncommunicable disease prevention and control programmes that should result in concrete progress over the next five years.
The noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease and diabetes – kill an average of 30,000 people per day in the Western Pacific Region. They account for 80% of all deaths in Region.
WHO warned that the death toll could rise unless regional commitments to fight the NCDs are translated into focused efforts and action. A significant percentage of the people who die from the NCDs are younger than 60 years old. This is to say that many of the people who die from an NCD are family breadwinners in the prime of their productive lives.
WHO to reform to meet country needs
10 October 2011— The World Health Organization (WHO) will undertake a comprehensive global reform plan to ensure the Organization stays aligned with its mission and keeps pace with evolving global health needs.
The programme of reform will cover WHO's technical work and the way work is managed, Dr Shin told the Regional Committee, WHO's governing body in the Region. The meeting, on 10 to 14 October, is reviewing WHO's work in the Region.
The new regional reform specifically targets enhancing WHO's performance at country level by focusing on what countries need and how those needs can be addressed in the most effective and efficient manner.
"It means supporting our Member States and partners to better understand the health problems faced in their country, particularly for those people living in the margins of society," Dr Shin said. "It means being able to provide advice on interventions in a way that can easily be transformed in robust national policies and plans."
New Director of Pacific Technical Support/WHO Representative
SUVA, Feburary 2011 - A new Director of Pacific Support/WHO Representative (DPS/WR), Dr Dong-Il-Ahn, has been appointed to the World Health Organization (WHO) South Pacific Office.
Dr Dong-Il-Ahn joined the office in January, based in Suva, fiji and replaced the previous DPS/WR, Dr Chen ken, who has now retired.
Dr Dong-Il-Ahn has been with the World Health Organization for 16 years and most recently served as the WHO Representative in Laos.
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Opening of the WHO Liaison Office for Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands
POHNPEI, 12 August, 2010—Dr Shin Young-soo, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for the Western Pacific, has officially opened the WHO Country Liaison Office for Northern Micronesia, which will serve Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands.
The opening ceremony was attended by the vice president, ambassadors to the Federated States of Micronesia of Australia, Japan and the United States of America, senior staff of the Government and other distinguished guests.
Dr Shin said that the Country Liaison Office will be a "one-stop-shop" for interacting with WHO.
WHO's first Country Liaison Officer will be Dr Boris Pavlin, who has been working in Pohnpei for the past two years on infectious disease outbreak detection and control.
Dr Shin said the new Country Liaison Office will improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which WHO works with the governments of Micronesia, toward achieving their common goal of improving the health of Pacific islanders.
World Blood Donor Day Celebrations
26 June, 2010 – Dr Chen Ken, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in the South Pacific, challenged young people in the Pacific island countries and areas to become blood donors for World Blood Donor Day.
Many Pacific island countries and territories celebrated with local activities on Monday, 14 June while Fiji carried out its celebrations on Saturday, 26 June.
The theme of World Blood Donor Day, 2010, was Young Donors, New blood for the world. Young people were particularly encouraged this year to help prevent blood shortages in hospitals and clinics, particularly in developing countries where quantities are very limited.
Dr Chen Ken said: “Regular blood donations are needed to ensure that safe blood will be available whenever and wherever it is required. Giving blood can save lives, so we urge everyone who is healthy to consider going to their hospital to donate blood today.”
On Monday, 14 June, Nauru organized school outreach programmes, a song competition, and certificates to donors. Tuvalu also celebrated with a week long radio programme. On Saturday, 26 June, Fiji conducted a march through Nausori town to the official opening at Syria Park. Prizes were awarded to the school, business, village and university which has raised the highest number of blood donors.
World No Tobacco Day, 2010 activities in the Pacific island countries and areas (PICs)
…more stories of WNTD Celebration
Pacific Island Countries receive pandemic H1N1 vaccines
25 May, 2010 — The World Health Organization (WHO) continued its support to Pacific Island countries in mobilizing vaccine donation to eleven Pacific Island countries which was made available through the Australian government's vaccine donation to WHO in Geneva.
Nauru was the first to receive the vaccine on Feb 27, followed by Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu on 3 March, Kiribati and Solomon Islands on 4 March 2010. The deliveries to the other five countries will be available shortly.
Dr. Chen, the WHO representative for the South Pacific, said in the history of pandemic this is the first time a batch of pandemic H1N1 vaccine is received and will become a big step forward in our battle against Pandemic H1N1, as we are better prepared in response to Pandemic and protect the vulnerable people before the virus reaches them.
WHO provided technical support and assisted eleven Pacific Island countries in the development of national Pandemic H1N1 vaccine deployment and immunization plans and have been working intensively in making appropriate preparation for vaccination campaigns, including resources mobilization, awareness campaign and staff training. The countries also received syringes and safety boxes to facilitate vaccination. Those supplies are procured with funding support from the New Zealand government.
After receiving the vaccine, the countries will commence vaccination campaigns in March after completing all essential preparation work.
WHO would like to acknowledge partners, especially governments of Pacific island countries, Australia and New Zealand for their continual support.
Additional information is available from the following:
WHO global website: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
The Pacific Public Health Surveillance Network website: http://www.spc.int/phs/PPHSN/Outbreak/Influenza_A_H1N1.htm
CDC H1N1 flu website: http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/
Pandemic (H1N1) vaccines and vaccination Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
As of May 9, 2010, Confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1 influenza ("swine flu") have been reported from WHO South Pacific.
For further information please contact Dr Jacob Kool koolj@wpro.who.int or Jennie Musto mustoj@wpro.who.int at WHO South Pacific on +679 323 4100.