WHO Representative to Viet Nam
Dr. Takeshi Kasai, the newly appointed WHO’s Representative to Viet Nam took up his post in Hanoi on 30 March, 2012.
Dr. Kasai has extensive experience in public health and infectious disease, with responsibilities spanning programme planning, monitoring and evaluation, international collaboration, immunization policy and outbreak management.
Dr. Kasai first joined the WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in Manila, Philippines in 2000 to work on the Stop TB programme. He went on to work in the area of infectious disease surveillance, response and control. Before coming to Viet Nam, Dr. Kasai was Director of the Division of Health Security and Emergencies at WHO/WPRO where his main responsibilities were to guide the development of strategic priorities, preparing the 37 countries and areas of the Western Pacific Region to avert or respond to an influenza pandemic and to oversee the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005).
Prior to joining WHO, Dr. Kasai had a long career in Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as an infectious disease advisor during which he was noted for his contributions to the revision of the National Infectious Diseases Control Law, the National Immunization Law and the development of the National Surveillance System for Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Kasai holds a Medical Degree from Keio University School of Medicine in Japan as well as a Master of Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom. He is married with three children.