HANOI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The 63th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific opened in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Monday, drawing representatives from 37 countries and territories in the area.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said that the Western Pacific is emerging as a dynamic region, however, the area is facing a series of challenges including new diseases, traffic accidents and violence among others which have bad effects on human health.
Doan expressed her hope that the meeting will provide effective development strategies, resolutions and action plans, contributing to the health development in the region.
WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr. Shin Young- soo said that the meeting is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among member countries, review achievements in health sector and map out measures to deal with challenges.
Among the 20 agenda items up for discussions at the Regional Committee meeting will be the high prevalence of non-communicable diseases, violence and injury prevention, the neglected tropical diseases, tobacco control, malaria and artemisinin resistance, HIV prevention and treatment, the health-related Millennium Development Goals, the International Health Regulations, health financing, measles elimination and health settings approaches.
At the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien was appointed chairperson of the 63rd meeting session. Five resolutions and five action plans are expected to be approved during the five-day meeting.
The Western Pacific Region comprises 37 countries and areas, and a population of 1.8 billion people. Its regional committee headquartered in Manila, the Philippines, is WHO's governing body in the region.
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