Suva, Fiji and Nuku’alofa, Tonga, 7 April 2023 – The Tongan Ministry of Health, the Pacific Community (SPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are collectively celebrating the seventy fifth anniversary of WHO, marking 75 years of multilateral partnership leading to elevated entry to lifesaving healthcare and improved well being within the Pacific. While celebrating this milestone, the three organizations are calling on international locations and companions to construct on this progress and work collectively to deal with remaining well being challenges within the Pacific.

“We must remember that this is the world’s health organization and WHO’s work is an enormous collaborative effort led by the Organization’s 194 member countries with the support of many partners and individuals across the globe. So all of us have a reason to celebrate WHO’s 75th birthday,” stated the Honourable Health Minister of Tonga, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala. “Let’s take this opportunity to recognize the 75 years of progress made in public health in the Pacific and look at how we can build upon our successes to deliver better health in future.”

Over the previous 75 years, Pacific islands international locations and areas (PICs) have made large progress in well being, in collaboration with WHO, SPC and different companions within the area. Some of those successes embrace:

• The elimination of yaws in all besides three PICs, following intensive management efforts within the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties
• Wiping out endemic poliomyelitis (polio), with the final case of indigenous wild poliovirus within the Pacific reported in 1989
• Signing of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by all PICs by 2006
• The elimination of trachoma in Vanuatu in 2022
• The institution or strengthening of nationwide public well being laboratories in order that, by 2022, all PICs had testing capability for COVID-19 and different ailments
• 15 PICs achieved or surpassed COVID-19 vaccination charges of over 70% of their total populations by finish of March 2023
• An enhance within the complete variety of docs by 119%, nurses by 14% and midwives by 48% within the Pacific over the previous decade

“These are just some of the many public health milestones that we should be proud of as people in the Pacific. These successes are a testament to what we can achieve if we all –leaders, health workers, volunteers, communities, partners and donors – work together towards common health goals,” stated Dr Mark Jacobs, WHO Representative to the South Pacific and Director of WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support.

The Pacific set a strong instance of visionary management and collective spirit via the institution of the ground-breaking Healthy Islands vision in Yanuca, Fiji in 1995. Pacific well being leaders re-affirmed this dedication in 2015. That identical yr, PICs had been among the many 191 United Nations Member States that dedicated to attain 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by yr 2030, together with SDG 3 on good well being and well-being and different cross-cutting objectives that relate and contribute to well being.

While successes have been achieved in essential areas of well being, progress in direction of the belief of the Healthy Islands imaginative and prescient and the SDGs has been uneven within the Pacific. This is especially true for the toughest to achieve populations corresponding to these residing in distant mountain villages or on distant outer islands. In addition, individuals within the area now face the triple burden of noncommunicable ailments, communicable ailments, and the rising well being impacts of local weather change.

This yr’s Pacific Health Ministers Meeting, hosted by Tonga with help from WHO and SPC, will likely be an essential alternative to carry PICs and companions collectively and drive additional motion to attain higher well being. The assembly, attributable to be held in September, will deal with growing well being system resilience, strengthening the well being workforce, upgrading well being data programs, and tackling weight problems.

“On behalf of the Pacific Community, I extend my warmest congratulations to WHO on their 75th anniversary,” stated Dr Paula Vivili, Deputy Director General (Science and Capability) at SPC. “For decades, we have enjoyed a productive partnership with WHO in supporting Pacific Island countries to advance health and well-being in the region. As we look to the future, we remain committed to working hand-in-hand with WHO towards achieving Health for All in the Pacific.”

WHO’s Constitution was adopted throughout the International Health Conference held in New York from 19 June to 22 July 1946. It was signed by 61 Member States on 22 July 1946 and entered into power on 7 April 1948.

In 1956, a WHO workplace was established in Sydney, Australia, to work with international locations and areas within the South Pacific. In 1965, that workplace was relocated to Fiji. In 2010, WHO’s Regional Director for the Western Pacific established the Division of Pacific Technical Support in Suva, Fiji, to coordinate and supply tailor-made and responsive help to 21 Pacific Islands international locations and areas.

“As WHO turns 75, we would like to assure our Member States and partners that we remain steadfast in our commitment to a healthier future for everyone, everywhere in the Pacific,” continued Dr Jacobs.

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Photos showcasing public well being milestones could also be downloaded here.

About WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nation’s specialised company for worldwide public well being. In the Pacific, WHO’s Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) offers tailor-made, well timed help to 21 Pacific island international locations and areas. Our major workplace is in Suva, Fiji, and the Division has six different workplaces throughout the area: The Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

About SPC

The Pacific Community has been supporting sustainable improvement within the Pacific, via science, data, and innovation since 1947. It is the principal intergovernmental organisation within the area, owned and ruled by its 27 member international locations and territories.

Media contacts:

Dr ‘Ofa Tukia

Senior Medical Officer, Tonga Ministry of Health

otukia@gmail.com

Lauren O’Connor

Technical Officer for Communications, Resource Mobilization & External Relations

WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support

Mobile: +679 777 9733

Email: oconnorl@who.int

Evlyn Mani

Communications officer, Public Health Division

Pacific Community (SPC)

Mobile: +679 8010768

Email: evlynm@spc.int