The 78th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee commenced in Colombo today (13) and will continue until the 15th of October. Sri Lanka is hosting this year’s session.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Dr. Katerina Bohme are among the distinguished participants attending the event. Health ministers from eight member countries and ambassadors representing two other nations, along with WHO experts, are also taking part in the session.
During the conference, member states will formulate the region’s health strategy for the coming years. Key topics of discussion include promoting healthy ageing through stronger primary healthcare systems and intensifying efforts against tobacco use.
Other major priorities on the agenda include expanding the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund and accelerating measures to combat antimicrobial resistance. Health ministers and senior officials are expected to engage in extensive discussions to reach key decisions and policy outcomes.
The session also aims to review the progress of resolutions adopted in previous years and to endorse new recommendations on pressing health issues. A key focus of the discussions will be advancing actions to promote, deliver, and safeguard the health and well-being of all people while revitalizing efforts toward health-related sustainable development goals
