100 strides @ 100 days

strides @ days Progress and achievements 100 Executive summary The WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, assumed office on 1 February 2024. Within 100 days, Ms Wazed has rolled out a defining vision to chart the public health progress in Member States and ensure the health and well-being of the more than 2 billion people of the Region. In line with Ms Wazed’s priorities, these 100 days of her leadership have been punctuated by a series of collaborative successes on the ground, made possible by the WHO Regional Office through the dedicated and meticulous efforts led by Member States and supported by a range of partners – development and UN partners, academia, and implementation partners including civil society and communities. These 100-odd successes achieved in the first 100 days of the Regional Director’s tenure, listed alphabetically by the Member States of the Region, will steer the course of every endeavour and initiative by the Regional Office over the next five years. Bangladesh Telemental health services up and running Fourteen mental health centres established in district hospitals and upazilla health complexes; two hub centres in the National Institute of Mental Health and Sylhet Osmani Medical Hospital provide telemental health consultations Hepatitis surveillance and treatment for refugees Hepatitis C surveillance linked to treatment introduced for better care at Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar with two new treatment centres successfully launched on 6 March 2024 Capacity-building on influenza pandemic preparedness Training on assessment of severity of pandemic influenza conducted to improve capacity for evidence-guided influenza preparedness Finalizing the digital health blueprint Digital health architectural blueprint near finalization; will serve as a unified framework for many digital health initiatives in Bangladesh Training for field epidemiologists Bangladesh’s 10-year-old Field Epidemiology Training Program reviewed by national and external experts with a view to enhancing performance and ensuring sustainability Tobacco Quitline integrated with telemedicine Tobacco cessation services fast-tracked by expanding and installing the quitline service into existing national telemedicine platforms AMR surveillance introduced in Cox’s Bazar Refugee camps at Cox’s Bazar will launch surveillance of AMR systems with workforce training, guidelines and technology in June 2024 Bangladesh Health Workforce Strategy (2023–2041) approved Bangladesh approves Health Workforce Strategy 2023–2041 to support the Government’s Vision 2041 on “SMART Bangladesh” Comprehensive National Health Service standard drafted The national service standard will serve as the national guide for health facility managers and health planners to ensure quality essential health services across the country Last-mile extension for NCD management package In collaboration with Khesar Gyalpo University, district health authorities and MoH, WHO’s Package of essential services for NCDs (PEN) was rolled out in the last six districts. More than 22 000 Bhutanese were newly enlisted for quality NCD management at the PHC level Outdoor gyms scaled up Outdoor gym equipment provided to 43 monastic institutions across the country to promote physical activity among the spiritual community Vaccine programme reviewed Joint assessment of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, vaccine- preventable disease surveillance system, and new vaccine post-introduction evaluations provided valuable inputs for strengthening EPI and the national immunization strategy Intercountry collaboration for ICU care Four nurses from Bhutan benefit from a 6-month nursing specialization fellowship in transplant care with a focus on renal transplant and postoperative renal ICU care at Rajavathi Hospital, Thailand CT scan installed Computed tomography scanner launched at Dewathang Hospital and Samtse Hospital Bhutan Launch of key research enabler MoH introduces newly developed Bhutan Health Research Portal, online platform for ethical approvals and research repositories Palliative care roll-out Care capacity boosted to scale up integrated palliative services in regional referral hospitals and five district hospitals National medical service reviewed Comprehensive review of Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital and National Medical Service conducted as part of the health sector transformation initiative Sorig medicine interventions for physical and mental well-being Traditional medicine providers in all 20 district hospitals trained on Sorig Zhiney (mental well-being) and Luejong (yoga) to enhance mental health and well-being of patients, in sync with traditional wisdom Training in medical emergencies in aviation bolstered Refresher training for 30 Bhutan emergency aeromedical retrieval members and 4 health help centre staff conducted on advanced life-support interventions, critical care during transport, and managing safety and risk factors in aviation operations DPR Korea Vaccination catch up Successfully completed multivaccine catch-up campaigns for BCG, IPV, penta and MR and TB vaccines, thus sustaining measles and rubella elimination status over January–May 2024 Building IHR implementation capacity About 30 government officers benefited from training to strengthen national core capacity for implementing the International Health Regulations, 2005 Essential health products In collaboration with UN agencies, DPR Korea is receiving scheduled deliveries of essential medical and diagnostic supplies for COVID-19 response, surveillance, blood safety and quality diagnosis of hepatitis and HIV from the start of 2024 India AMR surveillance strengthened National Centre for Disease Control joined the WHO GLASS (Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System) for monitoring antimicrobial consumption Training on assistive products WHO launched a training project on assistive products to improve access to assistive technologies as a component of primary health care that will particularly benefit vulnerable populations Innovative screening for comorbidities With support from NORAD, India piloted a programme for cervical cancer screening and management among women living with HIV, using HPV-DNA self-tests Advancing oral health Launch of the surveillance module for potentially malignant oral disorders under the Integrated Health Information Platform, a bold step for early detection, better management and follow up for oral cancer cases Making food safer The new food safety simulation exercise package, which includes a participant guide and facilitator guide, aims to further improve communication and coordination of food safety events Prevention and control of snakebite The Government of India launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in collaboration with multiple stakeholders Renewed focus on elimination of malaria Workshop to promote implementation of the National Strategic Plan for malaria elimination held with state programme officers and regional health and family welfare directors 75 by 25 Roadmap kicked off Project to put 75 million people on treatment for hypertension and diabetes by 2025. The first two months identified 700 000 new NCD cases, the most ambitious NCD treatment programme in the country Rare but not neglected The MoHFW conducted the first- ever National Symposium on Rare Diseases; participants from national and subnational governments across ministries and patient groups collectively identified the way forward Ear and hearing care a reality for all For World Hearing Day 2023, the WHO Country Office collaborated with the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) in conducting hearing screening of 1108 primary school- children from 32 schools in Mysuru Zipping the ZIP To bridge immunization gaps, the Government of India conducted many activities to further boost implementation of the Zero-Dose Children Plan (ZIP), such as the engagement of rapid response teams, microplanning exercises and local taskforce meetings in ZIP districts Health-care waste handled with care The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship developed free e-learning course modules on health-care waste management targeting nursing and paramedic workforces. Over 5500 participants benefited from this free course in the first 100 days Towards ICD-11 The Central Bureau of Health Intelligence of the MoHFW hosted a workshop to announce the initiation of activities in India for transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 to promote the availability, accuracy and timeliness of complete information on population health Enabling women’s access to health Winner of the global WHO Innovation Challenge 2023, India rolled out the “Self- Care Wheel App”, a user-friendly tool to empower and enable vulnerable women to access health-care interventions and connect with health systems digitally Roll-out of new contraceptives In collaboration with AIIMS, two new contraceptives were introduced in Delhi, Karnataka and West Bengal through capacity-building workshops, including the subdermal single rod implant and MPA (injectable) Indonesia Control of AMR Inaugurates the first global human health sector-specific national action plan on AMR, which adapts WHO’s new people- centred core package in addressing AMR in human health to the national context Bolstering medicinal procurement MoH launches new technical guidelines on medicine procurement to address key operative challenges, such as errors in low-resource settings, non-standardized processes and budget uncertainties Addressing zero-dose children MoH calls upon H.E. the President of the Republic, the Home Minister and all provincial and district governments to make concerted efforts to address the vaccination of zero-dose children Integrating vaccine programmes Endorsed technical guidelines for the integration of COVID-19 vaccination into routine immunization Integrating action on HIV and STIs Reinforced capacity to tackle drug- resistant HIV and gonorrhoea – including conducting national surveys and implementing the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme Tackling leptospirosis In collaboration with USAID, comprehensive capacity- building training imparted in Demak Province in response to a leptospirosis outbreak. Marked decline in mortality followed and medications, in a comprehensive effort to sustain the elimination status since 2016 Safe affordable medicines toward UHC Introduced the National Medicines Policy, the latest in a series of steps to ensure equitable access to essential medicines on the Essential Medicines List, with a focus on both availability and affordability of life-saving medications with assured quality, safety and efficacy Maldives Revitalizing PHC Developed a step-by-step implementation guide for revitalization of primary health care, consolidating learnings and tools from the pilot Faafu Atoll demonstration site Keeping filariasis at bay Launched nationwide screening programme for lymphatic filariasis, with WHO support on rapid diagnostic tests Nepal Ensuring essential services in emergencies Medical camp kit set up in Sanibheri Municipality to provide essential health and rehabilitation services for people affected by the 2023 earthquake Improving access to essential health products The MoHP endorsed the National Essential Invitro Diagnostics List, a big step towards achieving UHC Pandemic Fund in action The Government endorsed and launched the implementation of the US$ 25.15 million Pandemic Fund. Initial goals include strengthening national surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory systems, and capacity and preparedness to meet health emergencies Regulating trans-fatty acid levels in national food supply Nepal endorsed the law to eliminate trans-fatty acids from industrially produced food products to prevent and control NCDs, for which trans-fatty acids are a dietary risk factor Better access to cancer treatment Nepal committed to participating in the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. This collaboration ensures reliable access to quality-assured medicines to treat childhood cancer free of cost “Catch-up” campaign Six million children are better protected through nationwide vaccination campaigns, including the “catch-up” campaign on missed routine immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic Updated TB treatment protocol Endorsed the National guidelines for treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The new guidelines include a novel oral drug regimen for better treatment adherence and results Beginning of the end for filariasis Extensive reviews, consultations and all-level meetings kicked off the Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Campaign Reducing postpartum mortality New national comprehensive management package for postpartum haemorrhage announced Sri Lanka Capitalizing technology Sri Lanka became the first country globally to include the e-National Action Plan for Health Security online. This will strengthen, review and monitor progress of the National Action Plan across sectors and stakeholders Digital information for the SDGs The “Transforming local administrative data collection systems for SDG acceleration” project materialized through the Joint SDG Fund. Efforts were made across ministries, with a focus on digitalization of the country’s civil registration and vital statistics system Patient safety for people- centred health systems The “Patient Safety and Well-being Charter” was launched with key contributions from Parliament – a major mechanism to promote patient safety and quality of care e-cigarettes, with participation of WHO in Parliamentary committee and multisectoral stakeholder panels, in preparation for World No-Tobacco Day Healthy heart project In collaboration with the Chiang Mai University, MoPH and Thai Hypertension Society, the HEARTS project was implemented to ensure effective hypertension management at the PHC level in Lampang and Chiang Mai provinces. The expansion phase was kicked off with funding from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Building Regional capacity on mental health MoPH, with support of WHO, developed and organized an international health workforce training on mental health for health workers of SE Asia Member States Healthy Cities With the Department of Health and WHO training on urban governance, eight cities expressed interest in adopting the WHO Healthy Cities Initiative and joining the WHO SE Asia Region Healthy Cities Network Road safety The National Assembly launched a new Parliamentary Advisory Group on Road Safety to bolster the country’s efforts to cut down on its road traffic fatality and injury rates Thailand Global health capacity boosted Thailand conducted the global health diplomacy training for both local and international participants in preparation for the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly Multi-disease elimination HIV and syphilis elimination status submitted for maintenance. New validation of elimination of mother-to- child transmission of hepatitis B is also sought Active and healthy ageing in the digital world WHO and ITU collaborated with the Royal Government to organize an information session on “Healthy ageing in Thailand through information and communication technology” to promote digital inclusion of older persons Universal health & preparedness review As a global pioneer, representatives from Thailand participated in the first Universal Health Preparedness “Global Peer Review” War against e-cigarettes Conducted high-level advocacy and intensified campaigns on Nationwide deworming exercise More than 280 000 students from 1386 schools benefited from a deworming medication campaign, as part of the schools-based primary health care package Policy for integrated health- care quality The Health Minister adopted the National Policy on quality and safety in health systems as a mainframe for multisectoral endeavours to ensure quality, safe, affordable and effective care for the people Tackling vector-borne diseases Development of the national dengue clinical management guidelines, workforce training and nationwide awareness campaign concluded in response to a surge in reported dengue, chikungunya and Zika virus cases Strengthening health information systems MoH launched the national Health Management Information System Strategic Action Plan 2024–2030 Towards a malaria-free Timor- Leste The Government submitted its national malaria elimination report to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Malaria Elimination and Certification, after three consecutive years without indigenous malaria More teeth to control rabies Timor-Leste responded to the national rabies emergency through public awareness campaigns, workforce training, and procurement of human rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins Timor-Leste The first national medical oxygen hub Timor-Leste is installing the first pressure swing absorption oxygen plant at Guido Valadares National Hospital, which will complement and back up other hospitals nationwide Knowing risk–knowing needs National integrated surveys on NCD risk factors and health facility assessment for NCD services to be launched shortly Hepatitis treatment standards Timor-Leste launched the first national clinical management guidelines for hepatitis Effective coverage for NCDs Launched the Timor-Leste Hearts 50x25 Initiative. This project aims to place 50 000 patients with diabetes and hypertension on prevention and control treatment by 2025 Building capacity for emergency care Three simulation-based skills centres established to provide hands-on practical competency- building for emergency, critical and mother–child care for the National University and regional hospitals Eliminating cervical cancer Expanded cervical cancer screening and treatment services, including human papillomavirus testing, to regional hospitals bringing together ministries of health and health professional regulatory authorities PHC Forum case stories of positive practices The SE Asia Region PHC Forum developed a publication on detailed PHC-focused operational case studies from Member States to promote cross-country learning on PHC Promoting access to health technologies Approval of the MoU between WHO and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology on Promoting access to health technologies: announcing collaboration for the WHO Health Technology Access Pool (earlier COVID Technology Access Pool) by the Government of India (18 April 2024) Evaluation of the Regional Decade for HR strengthening Universitas Padjadjaran Indonesia and the Royal Tropical Institute of The Netherlands completed a formative evaluation of the WHO SE Asia Regional Decade for HRH Strengthening 2015–2024 Regional network of health professional regulators initiated The WHO Regional Office convened a regional workshop on umbrella reforms in health practitioner regulations, UHC/ Health Systems Strides at the Regional level in strengthening community-based mental health networks Disability-inclusive WHO The SE Asia Regional Office is the first to set up a Steering Committee and Working Group for the implementation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy, a key mechanism to ensure inclusiveness for persons with disabilities Regional report on illicit tobacco trade In collaboration with the Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, the first-ever report on illicit tobacco trade was developed and published. The Report supports efforts to counter the tobacco industry’s flawed arguments and better inform tobacco control policies in the Region Five countries join RECAP Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand commit to joining the Regulatory Capacity Building Project (RECAP) to build capacity for legislative developments for promoting healthy diets and physical activity Promoting mental health and a productive work environment The Regional Director launches the visionary “SEARO CARES” Initiative that Oral Health action plan implemented Timor-Leste launched their national oral health strategies and plans in alignment with the Action Plan for oral health in South-East Asia 2022–2030 WASH in health facility improvement Toolkit launched on mainstreaming gender equality, disability and social inclusion in water and sanitation in health-care facilities Strengthening mental health care Two reports Community-based mental health services in the WHO South- East Asia Region and Deinstitutionalization of people with mental health conditions in the WHO South-East Asia Region were released to support countries UHC/Healthier Populations and Noncomm- unicable Diseases Administration and Finance aims to make WHO offices safe and enabling entities that protect and promote the well-being of all staff and their families Enhancing procurement efficiencies The Regional Office introduced procurement protocols with a broader pool of suppliers and increased flexibility in procurement modalities. This initiative benefits smaller WHO country offices in reaching out to suppliers outside the country Developing corporate capacity on prevention of and response to sexual misconduct Mapping of survivor support services completed in many offices and workshops held in WHO country offices as a mechanism to make WHO the lead agency in addressing sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment issues Newborn screening tool Universal newborn screening implementation guidelines for hearing impairment, eye abnormalities and neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia released at a regional webinar on “Birth defects: every journey matters” OneWHO Platform The SE Asia Region’s website has been migrated to the OneWHO Intranet and the use of SharePoint championed. These changes are expected to promote streamlined corporate communications on one common global platform Paperless initiative accelerated The Regional Office expanded the integrated common service portal for memo and workflow documents, including for duty travel. This online integration helps to reduce transaction burdens ahead of the upcoming launch of the Business Management System (BMS) for global procurement Regional Report on SRMNCAH policy The Regional Report on sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health policy survey (2022–2023) is under way. The report emphasizes the progress made by countries and offers a comparative analysis Tackling “non-negligible” NTDs The Regional Strategic Framework for sustaining, accelerating and innovating to end neglected tropical diseases in the South-East Asia Region 2024–2030, together with its advocacy video, launched at the Regional Partners’ Forum on NTDs Dengue dashboard The Regional Office introduced the regional dengue reporting mechanism, wherein WHO, governments and partners benefit from monthly updated situation reports UHC/ Family Health UHC/ Communicable Diseases WHO Health Emergencies Programme Toward developing the Regional Framework As part of the Annual Regional Forum on Community Engagement and Resilience, the Regional Office conducted a series of consultations on the Strategic Action Framework for strengthening community engagement and resilience in the WHO South-East Asia Region 2024–2027, a giant leap forward in emergency preparedness and response Advancing OneHealth The Regional Office, as Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Quadripartite on OneHealth, conducted key activities at regional and country levels, including a national workshop on development of the OneHealth joint Plan of Action in Bangladesh, and workshops in Nepal and Bhutan Mobilizing resources and partners WHO, in collaboration with ASEAN, conducted a series of activities to mobilize collaboration and financial support for the OneHealth domain, including from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the European Union, and other UN agencies Field epidemiology capacity-building Drawing on lessons learnt from COVID-19, countries of the Region committed to collectively advance field epidemiology capacities through Member State- led processes and develop the regional action plan to advance field epidemiology capacities Essential services in protracted emergencies The Regional Office conducted a training for health cluster coordinators from governments, NGOs and UN agencies to ensure system capacity to maintain essential health care for displaced persons in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh Advancing AMR in the Region Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka are the latest countries to endorse their revised national action plans on AMR for the next period year; Indonesia launched the National Strategy for adapting a people- centred approach to AMR in the health sector strides @ days100 © World Health Organization 2024 Some rights reserved. 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