Joint Inaugural Session of the 24th Meeting of Ministers of Health and the 59th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, Address, 20 August 2006, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Address By Dr Samlee Plianbangchang Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia At Joint Inaugural Session of the 24th Meeting of Ministers of Health and the 59th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Dhaka, Bangladesh, 20 August 2006 Joint Inaugural Session of the 24th Meeting of Ministers of Health and the 59th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia 20 August 2006 Dhaka, Bangladesh Address By DR SAMLEE PLIANBANGCHANG REGIONAL DIRECTOR, WHO S OUTH-EAST ASIA Your Excellency, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia; Honourable Health Ministers; Excellencies; Ladies and Gentlemen; With great pleasure, I welcome you all to these important meetings. We are deeply honoured that Her Excellency, Begum Khaleda Zia, Hon’ble Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is inaugurating the meetings. Honourable Prime Minister, your presence reflects the high priority that you and your government accord to health of the people in this Region. This is indeed most inspiring. I also extend my greetings to the Honourable Health Ministers, distinguished representatives and esteemed invitees. I very much appreciate that the Ministers have 2 made it possible to attend the meetings. This is in spite of their busy schedule and important commitments at home. Honourable Ministers, your presence here is the indication of your firm commitment to the regional solidarity. We look forward to your advice and guidance on the issues of our common concerns. Ladies and gentlemen, For so graciously hosting these meetings; May I place on record our grateful thanks to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; and especially to H.E. Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare; Excellencies, During the recent past, we have witnessed significant changes in many spheres of health development. Lifestyle-related health problems are increasing and causing growing concern. A longer life span reflects the success of health development efforts. On the other hand, this situation contributes significantly to the increasing disease burden. 3 The daunting health challenges facing us today have evolved over time. Let me single out one of the most current concerns. That is Avian influenza, which has now spread throughout the world. Efforts to control it cannot be made in isolation, without cooperation of neighbouring countries and international community. Available data show that the total number of human deaths due to Avian Influenza this year upto now is more than that of the entire last year. Therefore, we should remain fully vigilant to every hint and sign that the virus may be mutating and changing its behaviour, that can lead to a pandemic. Distinguished representatives, In the light of many difficult health challenges, we have to courageously address them simultaneously. If not, the MDGs and poverty reduction will remain an illusion. To reach the targets of these goals, we need to really link health care services with actions in various areas of social and economic development. These are such as poverty reduction, women’s education and empowerment, and social harmonization. The question that we need to urgently address is how can we meet these challenges together in the most efficient and effective manner? And, in the face of numerous constraints, how can we best protect and promote health of all our citizens? 4 Strengthening public health infrastructure constitutes one of the core strategies for addressing these complex issues in health. This involves, among many others, the production of a balanced health workforce; with due attention to health promotion, and disease prevention and control. As much as possible, the emphasis of work in health must be placed on the services to be provided at the grassroots level. We have to ensure reaching the unreached, the poor, the marginalized and the underprivileged. Excellencies, I am confident that the meeting of Health Ministers and the Regional Committee session this time will further enhance the regional cooperation in WHO South-East Asia. Health development efforts in the Region will be further intensified to safeguard and promote health of all people. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish the meetings all success. Thank you.