Colombo [Sri Lanka], October 13 (ANI): The 78th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee commenced on Monday in Colombo, bringing together health leaders from across the region to reaffirm their commitment to building a healthier, more equitable, and resilient region amid ongoing global health challenges.
Hosted by Sri Lanka, the three-day session serves as the governing body meeting of WHO in the region. The event was inaugurated by the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Jagath Wickramaratne. Key speakers included WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Mass Media, Nalinda Jayatissa. Ministers of Health and senior officials from member states, along with global health partners, are participating in high-level discussions.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia, highlighted the urgency of strengthening global health security and regional collaboration. She emphasised WHO’s restructuring efforts to become “leaner, more agile and responsive” to evolving health needs, guided by the principle of “health for all, by all.”
“In a world of complex crises, shifting global health dynamics, and tightening fiscal space, WHO is aiming at being more focused, effective, and accountable to the people we serve… We will harness innovation, strengthen leadership, and deliver measurable outcomes,” Dr. Boehme said.
A ministerial roundtable on healthy ageing is a key highlight of the session. With projections that one in five people in the region will be over 60 by 2050, Dr. Boehme described this as “both a triumph of development and a challenge” requiring reimagined health systems, particularly at the primary care level.
The Committee will also tackle the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, focusing on tobacco control. With over 280 million adult smokeless tobacco users and around 11 million adolescent tobacco users in the region, discussions will cover regulatory measures on smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and areca nuts.
Expansion of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) is another priority. Since 2008, the Fund has supported 49 emergencies in 10 Member States, and its mandate now includes emergency preparedness. Antimicrobial resistance will also be a major focus, with Member States expected to align regional policy actions with global strategies to address this growing threat.
“Our systems must be ready—not just to treat illness, but to accompany people through life—with prevention, continuity, and community-based care,” Dr. Boehme said, expressing gratitude to Member States for their ongoing commitment to health promotion, provision, and protection.
The WHO South-East Asia Region comprises ten countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. (ANI)
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