Joint Inauguration of the 25th Health Ministers' Meeting and the 60th Session of WHO/SEA Regional Committee, Adress, 31 August, Thimphu, Bhutan.

Address By Dr Samlee Plianbangchang Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia At Joint Inauguration of the 25th Health Ministers’ Meeting and the 60th Session of the WHO/SEA Regional Committee Thimphu, Bhutan 31 August 2007 Joint Inauguration of the 25th Health Ministers’ Meeting and the 60th Session of the WHO/SEA Regional Committee 31 August 2007 Thimphu, Bhutan Address by DR SAMLEE PLIANBANGCHANG REGIONAL DIRECTOR, WHO SOUTH-EAST ASIA Your Excellency, Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji, Prime Minister of the Royal Government of Bhutan, Honorable Health Ministers, Distinguished Country Representatives, Honourable guests, Ladies and gentlemen: It is indeed my privilege to welcome you all to the joint inauguration of the 25th Meeting of Health Ministers of Countries of the WHO South-East Region, and the 60th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia. At the outset, I would like to gratefully thank the Royal Government of Bhutan for hosting the meetings in this beautiful and peaceful city of Thimphu. I sincerely thank His Excellency, Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji, for agreeing to inaugurate this joint session. Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Honourable Health Ministers and Distinguished Representatives for attending this session. We are pleased to be here in Bhutan. Under the guidance of His Majesty the King, the country has made a quantum leap in health development during the past few decades. Bhutan has developed her health infrastructure almost from scratch into a complete and functional health system. The health indices of the Bhutanese population have improved remarkably in almost all aspects, and the Bhutanese people look much healthier today. Bhutan is really a model for health development, from which many countries may learn. 2 During the course of these meetings, the honourable ministers and distinguished representatives will review the progress of health development in the Region; and in particular, consider the work of WHO during the past year. The last year saw another significant step in the progress in health development in South-East Asia. However, many health challenges are still prevailing that call for more enhanced and energetic intercountry collaboration. Polio is yet to be eradicated from the Region. Avian influenza is endemic in several countries, and it really poses a potential for influenza pandemic. HIV infections are still spreading unabatedly. In addition, the Region is facing emerging public health problems due to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. These are some of the ongoing issues which have to be tackled with more concerted effort in the coming year. Serious efforts will also have to continue to ensure reaching all targets of health-related MDGs by all Member States by the year 2015. At the same time, the countries have to prepare to face new health challenges such as global warming. It is the phenomenon that leads to more frequent and more severe natural disasters such as floods and cyclone. Very importantly, to ensure our own collective health security, we have to vigorously implement the International Health Regulations IHR (2005). This effort will contribute to the effective prevention of international spread of infectious pathogens. For all our endeavours, we have to aim towards achieving sustainable development in long term. Strengthening health systems based on the primary health-care approach has to be our key strategy in this regard. In particular, special attention has to be paid to the development of public health infrastructure. This is in order to ensure effective primary prevention, reaching the unreached and universal coverage. As always, WHO on its part will leave no stone unturned in supporting Member States in their efforts towards sustainable development for health of all their people. The bond of collaboration between Member States and WHO will be certainly further 3 strengthened in the years to come. WHO will continue working closely and harmoniously with other international governmental and nongovernmental organizations in ensuring the best support to countries. Finally, I wish the Honourable Ministers and distinguished representatives all success in their deliberations during the course of the meetings. Thank you.