The Work of
WHOin the South-East Asia Region
Biennial Report of the Regional Director1 January 2008 - 31 December 2009
The Work of
WHOin the South-East Asia Region
Collaborative work continued to address many health problems prevalent in the Region
South-East Asia
Malaria
Resistance to artemisinin has emerged as a big challengeEnvironmental management needs further attention
Leprosy
Leprosy control activities 2006-2010 adapted and implemented in all endemic countries globally
Kala-azar
Kala-azar elimination programme expanded in Bangladesh, India, and NepalElimination of lymphatic filariasis and kala-azar targeted for 2015
Diarrhoea and Pneumonia
Regional Strategic Framework to combat diarrhoea and respiratory infections developed
Zoonoses
75% of new human pathogens can be traced to animals
Regional Strategic Framework for Zoonoses developed
Antimicrobial resistance
Regional strategy for antimicrobial resistance developedAntimicrobial resistance will be the theme of World Health Day 2011
Noncommunicable diseases
Cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes account for 54% of all deaths
Member States adopted a strategic framework to strengthen response to the health needs of adolescents
Vaccines
Regional strategic framework for improving and sustaining immunization coverage draftedTen Member States established national advisory committees for immunization practices
Technical assistance to respond to the impact of climate change on food production and consumption provided to six Member States
Healthy ageing
Regional consultation on developing a strategic framework for active and healthy ageing
Climate change
Generic research protocols developed to assess the impact of climate change on several diseases
Occupational health
Capacity to implement the Global Strategy for Occupational Health for All and the Global Plan of Action for Workers’ Health assessed
Natural disasters
Support provided through the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency FundSouth-East Asia Disaster Health Information Network established
Essential drugs and medicines
Regional meetings organized on medicine pricing, the patent pool and pharmacovigilance
In addition to US$ 322 million from voluntary contributions US$ 3.7 billion were received by Member States from the Global Fund