Background and Objectives.

________________________________________________ Twenty-sixth Meeting of Ministers of Health New Delhi, India: 8–9 September 2008 SEA/HMM/Meet.26/1.1 21 May 2008 Background and objectives 1. Since 1981, the meetings of the health ministers of the countries of the WHO South- East Asia Region have provided a forum to discuss important health issues in the Region as well as to forge bilateral and intercountry cooperation and regional solidarity. 2. The host for this Twenty-sixth Meeting of the Ministers of Health is the Government of India. 3. The objectives of the meeting are to review the following topical health issues and have the benefit of the Ministers’ guidance thereon for future action: • Follow-up Actions on the Decisions and Recommendations of the Twenty-fifth Meeting of Ministers of Health • Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) • Climate Change and Health 4. These meetings have immensely contributed to enhancing cooperation, reinforcing political commitment and most importantly, affording an opportunity to Member States to “unitedly tap the potential for ensuring the well-being of people of the WHO South-East Asia Region”.