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]

🏆 Congratulations to the recipients of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award 2026 for Public Health Champions!

This year's award recognizes:
🇹🇭 Dr Nittaya Phanuphak for advancing innovative and equitable HIV prevention and service delivery models
🇮🇳 Dr K. Suresh Kumar for pioneering a community-owned model that has transformed community-based palliative care across multiple countries
🇳🇵 Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) for restoring sight to millions through equitable, people-centred eye-care services that have significantly reduced avoidable blindness

Their leadership and innovation continue to improve lives and strengthen public health across the Region.

https://t.co/EIvghDYcyQ

#HealthForAll #PublicHealth #awards

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Diagnosed with high blood pressure?

Here’s how you can control hypertension.

#beatNCDs

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Till we meet again, Dr Catharina! 👋🏾

At @WHOSEARO, we bid farewell to our outgoing Officer-in-Charge Dr Catharina Boehme as she begins a new chapter.

We thank her for the wisdom and leadership she brought to our work and our organization.

As we look ahead, we also warmly welcome Dr Nilesh Buddha, who will take over as Officer-in-Charge. 🌏✨

#WHOSEARO #Leadership #ThankYou #NewChapter

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

⚠️ Uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure is a major cause of premature death in people under 70 years of age.

Regular monitoring of blood pressure, using a clinically validated device will ensure accurate reading for most appropriate treatment.

#Hypertension #HeartHealth #HealthForAll

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

#TimorLeste 🇹🇱 marked its 11th National Health Day, celebrated this year under the theme "My Sea, My Timor, My Health", honouring the dedication of health workers across the country and reinforcing the importance of protecting both people and the environment to achieve a healthier future.

At the event,

👉🏽 three new resources developed with @WHO support were launched
👉🏽 the Ministry of Health handed over a new ambulance to the Viqueque Municipal Authority
👉🏽outstanding health workers and National Health Day Cup champions were recognised for their service

🔗: https://t.co/06aODFevFB

#HealthForAll #publichealth

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

A daily routine can help support your mental health. 🧠💙

Try to keep a regular routine, make time for activities you enjoy, stay connected with others, and explore new things when you can.

#MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Vaccines protect people at every stage of life. 💉

From childhood to adulthood, immunization helps prevent more than 30 serious and potentially deadly diseases.

Let’s make sure everyone, everywhere can benefit from the protection vaccines provide.

#VaccinesWork #ImmunizationForAll

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🧪 More than 200 officials from 10 countries joined #SAPHIRE2026 to test IHR (2005) event communication during a simulated chemical emergency involving pesticide-linked poisoning and environmental contamination.

IHR National Focal Points, Poison Centers, Health Emergency Operations Centres and chemical emergency response agencies worked together to assess risks, test communication protocols, and identify actions for a coordinated response.

Since 2023, SAPHIRE has evolved into a multisectoral platform for strengthening preparedness—helping countries identify gaps before a real emergency occurs.

More information: https://t.co/4etQgKejaG

#SAPHIRE2026 #IHR2005 #HealthEmergencyPreparedness #HealthSecurity

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Vaccines help protect children from serious and vaccine-preventable diseases. 💛

Check your child’s vaccination schedule 📅 and make sure they get vaccinated on time.

#VaccinesWork #Immunization

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Protect your child from #measles with two doses of measles-containing vaccine. 💉

Check your country’s #immunization schedule to make sure your child receives both doses on time.

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Feeling unwell? Don’t self-medicate.

Take medicines only as prescribed by your healthcare provider.

#PhotoSpeak📸

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🌧️ Rainy days can increase the risk of diseases caused by contaminated food and water.

Stay safe by taking simple precautions:

🧼 Wash your hands regularly.
🥬 Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before cooking or eating.
🍲 Know the risks that come with street food.

Rainy days? Stay vigilant. Stay safe.

#FoodSafety #WaterSafety #RainySeason #StaySafe

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Worldwide, more than 10% of pregnant women and women who have just given birth experience depression.

Postpartum depression is common and treatable. 💙 Seeking help is good for you and your baby.

#PostpartumDepression #MaternalMentalHealth #MentalHealth

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🦟 Know the symptoms of #dengue.

Dengue can cause severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting and skin rashes.

If you develop symptoms, seek medical care promptly.

Protect. Prevent. Stop dengue.

#StopDengue

[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

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

This monsoon and beyond, take simple steps to keep mosquitoes away. 🦟

💧 Clear stagnant water
🪣 Empty tanks and coolers weekly
🛏️Use mosquito nets
👕 Wear long sleeves
🦟 Use repellents or mosquito coils
🩺 Seek treatment if you have any symptoms

Protect. Prevent. Stop dengue.

#Dengue #StopDengue #Monsoon

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

Industrially produced trans-fats increase 📈 the risk of cardiovascular disease and other noncommunicable diseases (#NCDs). Eliminating them is a powerful step towards preventing NCDs and protect people's health.

And #SriLanka 🇱🇰 is taking another important step towards a healthier food system and stronger NCD prevention.

As the country moves to implement its Food (Trans-Fat) Regulations, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, together with @WHO, brought laboratory professionals together for a national workshop to strengthen trans-fatty acid (TFA) testing capacity.

Using WHO-recommended analytical methods, these professionals 🧪 are being equipped to accurately detect and measure industrially produced trans fats, supporting effective monitoring and enforcement of the regulations.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/PL6bVaMT2m

#TransFatFree #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #LaboratoryCapacity #beatNCDs

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

#Obesity is a complex & chronic disease.

To prevent obesity,

✅ limit total fat & sugar intake
✅ eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains & nuts
✅ do regular physical activity

Remember, obesity is PREVENTABLE!

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

A healthy workplace supports both physical and mental well-being.

✔️ Learn healthy ways to manage stress.
✔️ Check in with yourself regularly.
✔️ Reach out to someone you trust if you need support.

Every conversation matters.

#MentalHealth #HealthyWorkplaces #Wellbeing

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

#Antibiotics 💊 should be taken...

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🏆 Congratulations to Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), recipient of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award 2026 for Public Health Champions.

NNJS, #Nepal's 🇳🇵largest philanthropic eye-care provider, has worked to eliminate avoidable blindness for nearly 5⃣ decades.

NNJS has restored sight to millions and helped reduce Nepal's blindness prevalence from 0.84% in 1981 to 0.28% in 2020-21, through

👀 extensive nationwide network of eye hospitals and vision centres
👀 innovative outreach programmes
👀 integration of eye care into primary health care

#HealthForAll #PublicHealth #EyeHealth #Awards

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🏆 Congratulations to the recipients of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award 2026 for Public Health Champions!

This year's award recognizes:
🇹🇭 Dr Nittaya Phanuphak for advancing innovative and equitable HIV prevention and service delivery models
🇮🇳 Dr K. Suresh Kumar for pioneering a community-owned model that has transformed community-based palliative care across multiple countries
🇳🇵 Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS) for restoring sight to millions through equitable, people-centred eye-care services that have significantly reduced avoidable blindness

Their leadership and innovation continue to improve lives and strengthen public health across the Region.

https://t.co/EIvghDYcyQ

#HealthForAll #PublicHealth #awards

[World Health Organization South-East Asia @WHOSEARO]

🏆 Congratulations to Dr K. Suresh Kumar of India, recipient of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award 2026 for Public Health Champions.

For more than 3⃣ decades, Dr Kumar has advanced palliative care and pioneered the internationally recognized Kerala Model, a community-owned approach that integrates volunteers, local governments and primary health care to deliver compassionate, affordable and sustainable palliative care. 💙

🌍 The model has contributed to palliative care coverage reaching nearly 60% of Kerala's population, compared with less than 2% nationally, and has been adapted across 7⃣ countries, demonstrating how community participation can expand access to quality palliative care.

Dr Kumar is the founder of the Institute of Palliative Medicine in Kozhikode, #India 🇮🇳.

#HealthForAll #PublicHealth #PalliativeCare #Awards