World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific

World Health Organization @WHO in the Western #Pacific Region, 🏠 to 2.2B in #Asia & #Oceania. See our tweets for health advice. Our Regional Director: @rd_wpro

[WHO Việt Nam @WHOVietnam]

Celebrating a milestone for health security in Viet Nam! 🎉

Viet Nam is the first country in the Western Pacific Region to roll out training on the Strategic Toolkit for Assessing Risks Plus (STAR-Plus), helping strengthen preparedness for health emergencies, disease outbreaks and disasters.

This week, WHO and the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang brought together participants from the health, animal health, environmental health, food safety, disaster management and public security sectors to a training of trainers on using the STAR-Plus tool to build multi-hazard risk profiles at national and subnational levels, including mapping of the right workforce for emergency response.

Building on a successful STAR workshop pilot in Da Nang in 2025, this training will build a national pool of STAR-Plus facilitators who will further strengthen preparedness and emergency readiness.

A special thank you to the Gates Foundation and the Institute of Philanthropy for their generous support, as well as colleagues from the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, WHO Indonesia and our partners from the Peter Doherty Institute in Australia for their collaboration and expertise.

Together, we are helping build a safer, healthier and more resilient Viet Nam.

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Four days. One Region. A shared commitment to better health.

From artificial intelligence and immunization to hypertension and tobacco control, health leaders from across the Western Pacific came together this week at #RC77 to shape the future of health across the Region.

Thank you to our Member States, partners and everyone – including our dedicated WHO colleagues - who made RC77 possible.

See you in #Indonesia for #RC78!

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Tobacco remains a leading health threat, causing an estimated 3 million deaths across the Western Pacific Region.

At the seventy-seventh session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific #RC77, countries discussed the need for sustained political commitment and regulation of new and emerging products – such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. #NoTobacco

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Weaving the Future of Health - WHO Western Pacific's exhibition at the 77th session of the Regional Committee at the campus in Manila was inaugurated formally by @DrTedros and Western Pacific @RD_WPRO Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala.

Step into the future of health.

Onsite at #RC77, our Weaving the Future of Health exhibition reveals how key health priorities – from artificial intelligence and its impacts to immunization across the life course - will be shaped across the Western Pacific.

What would it take to make #HealthForAll a reality in WHO’s most populous region?

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

My thanks to #Japan’s Health Vice-Minister Yasuhiro Suzuki for 🇯🇵's continued leadership on universal health coverage, including through the UHC Knowledge Hub in Tokyo that is strengthening health-finance collaboration. We agreed on the importance of @WHO continuing to #StandWithScience to deliver #HealthForAll. My ask to the Minister was to help bring the Pandemic Agreement negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex to a successful conclusion. #RC77

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Progress towards immunization in the Western Pacific is slipping, mirroring a pattern seen in other WHO Regions.

But we simply must reach every child, everywhere.

Governments can close immunity gaps and bring vaccination services to those who need it most.

#VaccinesWork
#RC77

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

https://t.co/iWgsLhLjko

[Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala @RD_WPRO]

Validation is not the finish line. It’s a milestone in an ongoing journey.

Congratulations to Malaysia on its recertification for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, EMTCT.

We were delighted to recognize this triumph at our 77th Western Pacific Regional Committee, happening now in Manila.

Sustaining progress demands continued investment, strong health systems, community engagement and equitable, stigma-free care.

Let’s celebrate this success while renewing our commitment to every mother, every child, every community. #EMTCT #RC77

[Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala @RD_WPRO]

At the ongoing WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee in Manila, we've taken the opportunity to once again congratulate Australia.

They have been certified for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.

This landmark achievement reflects the harmony of many moving parts.

Sustained @ausgov political will.

Strong partnerships.

The leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

And, of course, the tireless work of public health teams and health workers.

It is a powerful reminder that lasting public health progress requires both commitment and communities. #Trachoma #RC77

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Strong partnerships are essential to WHO’s work. Thank you to all our partners for being part of #RC77!

Whether championing patient voices, supporting the health workforce or addressing major health challenges such as tobacco use and cardiovascular disease, our partners brought diverse perspectives and valuable expertise to the Regional Committee.

We greatly appreciate this continued engagement and collaboration as we work together to advance health across the Western Pacific Region.

Interested in what our partners had to say?

Read their statements on the RC77 website: https://t.co/NpvobvkwdB

𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘏𝘖, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵.

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

Met with @Malaysia's Health Minister @DrDzul to discuss the ongoing Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing annex negotiations to conclude the Pandemic Agreement; @WHO's financial reforms and the importance of the increase in assessed contributions by all Member States to ensure the Organization's sustainability and independence to #StandWithScience. #RC77

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

On the sidelines of the @WHOWPRO (Western-Pacific) Regional Committee meeting, I met with Zheng Zhe, #China's Vice Minister of the National Health Commission, to discuss the @WHO-China strategic dialogue, and negotiations on the Pandemic Agreement annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing. I reiterated WHO's commitment to the scientific process on COVID-19 origins, and asked for China's cooperation. #RC77

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

Good meeting with #Mongolia's Health Minister Batshugar Enkhbayar on the country’s health system reforms. Developments includes digital health transformation, improving access to affordable, quality medicines, and continued cooperation with @WHO on primary health care, workforce development, medicines regulation and the transition to the new national Centre for Disease Control. I thanked the Minister for Mongolia's participation in the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing annex negotiation. #RC77

[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus @DrTedros]

By 2050, more than two billion people worldwide will be aged 60 or older. As people live longer, it is a global imperative to ensure that those additional years are lived in health, dignity and purpose. 

The Western Pacific is home to one of the world's largest and fastest-growing older populations. Countries across the Region have been at the forefront of efforts to promote healthy ageing. 

Under the leadership of @RD_WPRO Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Region's shared vision of Weaving Health for All, recognizes that healthy ageing cannot be achieved by the health sector alone. It requires transforming not only health and care systems, but also the communities and environments in which people live. 

I welcome the forthcoming four-year collaboration between @WHOWPRO and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with support from the Institute of Philanthropy and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. This collaboration offers an opportunity to turn evidence into action, adapt solutions to country needs, and learn from what works across the Region. #RC77

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Read the draft Regional Plan for Accelerating Hypertension Control in the Western Pacific Region and other #RC77 session documents here: https://t.co/W5GOJI8xcd

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Hypertension is one of the Region’s most urgent, silent threats.

1 in 3 adults live with hypertension in the Western Pacific Region. Yet most are unaware of their condition.

The Region has set an ambitious goal: 100 million additional people with controlled hypertension by 2029.

But controlling hypertension requires more than simple diagnosis.

Access to affordable medicines and equipment, supportive care and quality data systems to improve outcomes are crucial.

#RC77

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

https://t.co/uqZnptdjjc

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Read the Draft Guidance for Responsible AI in Health in the Western Pacific Region and other #RC77 session documents here: https://t.co/W5GOJI8xcd

[World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific @WHOWPRO]

Artificial intelligence is reshaping health care, public health and decision-making.

It has the potential to transform health systems and people’s access to health and care across the Western Pacific Region – and globally.

#RC77