World Health Organization South-East Asia

Home to almost a quarter of the world’s population | Work with 10 Member States | Committed to building a healthier South-East Asia Region

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🌐 Dr Stella Chungong, Director, Health Emergency Preparedness, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, applauded #SriLanka’s 🇱🇰 decision to undertake the Universal Health Preparedness Review (UHPR), highlighting its commitment to strengthening health security and resilience.

“At a time when countries are facing increasingly complex health threats, climate-related emergencies and other crises, Sri Lanka's decision to undertake the UHPR sends a strong signal that health security and resilience remain national priorities.”

Speaking at the inaugural session of the UHPR Sri Lanka High-Level Mission, she emphasized that preparing for future emergencies requires leadership, coordination and collaboration across sectors, society and stakeholders within and across countries.

#UHPR #HealthSecurity #EmergencyPreparedness

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

"Countries such as Sri Lanka have undertaken a range of assessments and reviews of emergency preparedness capacities.

These evaluations have generated valuable evidence and technical recommendations. But the harder task is turning recommendations into coordinated action, backed by sustained political commitment and long-term investment.

That is the role of Universal Health Preparedness Review, or UHPR," said Dr Nilesh Buddha, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia, in his message to the Universal Health Preparedness Review (UHPR) Sri Lanka High-Level Mission 🌐.

#UHPR builds on existing evaluations and elevates preparedness, resilience and health security to the highest level of policy making.

#HealthSecurity #EmergencyPreparedness #SriLanka

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Breast cancer is treatable, especially when detected early.

Talk to a health professional about the care plan that’s right for you.

#BreastCancer #BreastCancerAwareness

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Lead can hide in everyday items like some paints, cosmetics, cookware, toys and spices.

Know where lead hides and how to reduce exposure this #LeadPoisoningPreventionWeek.

https://t.co/T4pfsEP0JY

#FromDetectionToPrevention

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Lead can damage multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys, bones and blood. Children are especially vulnerable, and the harm can last a lifetime.

Detecting exposure early matters, but preventing it matters most.

#FromDetectionToPrevention #LeadPoisoningPreventionWeek

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

🗣️ Preparedness cannot wait for the next emergency.

At the inauguration of Sri Lanka’s UHPR High-Level Mission today, WHO Representative Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav highlighted that today’s health threats increasingly intersect with climate-related risks, natural hazards, human mobility, and animal and environmental health ⚠️

💬 This calls for preparedness that is multisectoral, adaptive and informed by a One Health approach, backed by strong national and subnational capacities, sound governance and sustainable financing.

🇱🇰 For Sri Lanka, UHPR provides an opportunity to embed health security and resilience within the broader health and development agenda, including as the country advances its National Policy on Health and Well-being 2026–2035 📄✅

#UHPR #HealthSecurity #HealthEmergencies #OneHealth #SriLanka

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

[2/2] ➡️ As a country-led process, UHPR brings preparedness into high-level political and policy dialogue, building on existing evidence, national experience and lessons from past public health emergencies to help translate recommendations into action.

🎯 The ambition: Going beyond another assessment, by bringing evidence & experiences into one national dialogue, and turn priorities into political commitment, investment and sustained implementation ✅

#UHPR #HealthSecurity #HealthEmergencies #LKA

[WHO Sri Lanka @WHOSriLanka]

[1/2] Sri Lanka’s UHPR High-Level Mission is underway 🇱🇰🌐

📍Today, the Universal Health and Preparedness Review (UHPR) was officially inaugurated, marking an important milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to strengthen health emergency preparedness, resilience and national health security.

Under the patronage of Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, Hon. Minister of Health and Mass Media, and Dr Anil Jasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Mass Media and with WHO experts, government leaders, WHO experts, UN counterparts and national and international partners, this forum reflects the multisectoral action needed to strengthen preparedness 💪🏽

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Preventing exposure to lead is the best prevention for lead poisoning.

This International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, join us in moving #FromDetectionToPrevention: https://t.co/NMcD6XR02q

#LeadPoisoningPreventionWeek

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Workplace stress can affect mental health. 💙

Safe, supportive and inclusive workplaces help everyone thrive.

#MentalHealth #HealthyWorkplace

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Integrating gender into health policies and programmes is essential to advancing equity for all. 🌍

On 13–14 October 2026, WHO and #SriLanka’s 🇱🇰 Ministry of Health and Mass Media convened a workshop in Colombo to advance Gender Equality and Health Equity and strengthen efforts to Prevent and Respond to Sexual Misconduct.

Led by WHO Representative to Sri Lanka Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, the workshop brought together 40+ senior technical officers from programmes 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾spanning noncommunicable diseases, HIV, leprosy, maternal and child health, nursing, public health and health emergencies.

Through practical exercises and WHO tools, participants explored how to integrate gender considerations across the health programme cycle 📘, while strengthening approaches to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and sexual misconduct.

Participants committed to championing gender-responsive approaches. 💪🏾

WHO will continue to support Sri Lanka in translating these commitments into action — advancing more equitable health systems and safer workplaces for all. 🏥

#GenderEquality #HealthEquity #HealthForAll

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Caught the flu? 🤒

A few simple steps can help you recover faster while protecting your loved ones.

😷 Cover your coughs and sneezes
🏠 Stay home if you're unwell
🛏️Get plenty of rest
💧 Drink lots of fluids
👩🏾‍⚕️ Follow your doctor's advice

#Flu #StayHealthy #HealthForAll

[Hindustan Times @htTweets]

#Opinion | Route mental health care through communities

We think of institutional mental health care as an outdated model. But it is far more than that. It is a human rights issue hiding in plain sight

@anuradisanayake & @DrTedros ✍🏻

Read more about it: https://t.co/oZBaB6BraJ

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

At Trishuli Hospital, nurse inspector Charu Thapa Magar continued caring for patients even as devastating floods swept away her home, and a colleague and neighbors went missing.

“The body is here but the mind is elsewhere,” she says. Despite continuing her work, grief and loss sometimes make it difficult to concentrate. In quieter moments, her thoughts return to those she has lost.

In flood-affected areas of #Nepal 🇳🇵, WHO and partners are supporting mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services, recognizing that those who care for others need care and support too.

Read their stories: https://t.co/CBTu7LNJF9

#MentalHealth #HealthWorkers #Nepalfloods

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

“The real question is whether, when the next health emergency occurs, we are ready to act effectively. That is the standard by which we should measure our progress this week.” - Ms Payden, WHO Representative to Maldives

She highlighted @WHOMaldives's commitment to continue working with the Government, Member States and partners across the Region to translate global and regional commitments into stronger systems, practical action and better protection for populations.

#PandemicPreparedness #HealthSecurity #PIP #PRET

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

📍 Malé, Maldives 🇲🇻

Advancing readiness for future pandemics and emerging health threats, countries across WHO South-East Asia Region are discussing :

✔️ Sustaining preparedness investments: Using Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Partnership Contribution (PIP-PC) resources effectively to build and sustain national capacities.
✔️ Planning for respiratory pandemics: Strengthening integrated, multi-pathogen preparedness and response plans.
✔️ Generating evidence early: Expanding WHO GISRS UNITY Studies to strengthen research preparedness and inform timely public health decisions.

🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 Together, these efforts will help countries turn preparedness into action and build more resilient health systems across the Region.

These priorities are at the heart of the Annual Regional Review Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Partnership Contribution, Preparedness and Resilience for Emerging Threats (PRET), and UNITY Studies Implementation, which began today in Malé.

#PandemicPreparedness #HealthSecurity #PIP #PRET

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

“Preparedness is not simply what we write in our plans. It is what our systems can deliver when a crisis begins.”

Geela Ali, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, #Maldives 🇲🇻, emphasized the importance of translating pandemic preparedness plans into action.

“We cannot predict when or where the next pandemic will emerge. But we have the knowledge, the experience and the partnerships to prepare better.”

#PandemicPreparedness #HealthSecurity #PIP #PRET