9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air

A new WHO Report titled Air Pollution And Child Health: Prescribing Clean Air found that around 7 million people worldwide die every year due to exposure to polluted air. More than 90% of air pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The highest ambient air pollution levels are found in South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with annual mean levels often exceeding more than 5 times WHO limit.

Major Earthquake Hits Sulawesi, Indonesia, 28 September 2018

Earthquake and tsunami hit Sulawesi, Indonesia

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Donggala District Central Sulawesi, Indonesia on 28 September 2018. A tsunami hit Palu City, the provincial capital of Central Sulawesi, around fifteen minutes after the quake. The twin disaster affected over 500,000 people, damaging homes, leaving 70,000 homeless and causing loss of over 1500 lives.

The Government of Indonesia is spearheading the emergency response with exhaustive search and rescue operations, and healthcare efforts. WHO is closely monitoring the public health needs of the affected while supporting the national authorities in coordination of the health sector response.

WHO South-East Asia Region to intensify efforts to control dengue, eliminate malaria

WHO-SEARO

Countries in WHO South-East Asia resolved to accelerate efforts to control dengue which threatens nearly 1.3 billion people with frequent and largescale outbreaks, and control malaria, that continues to be endemic in the Region.

The 11-Member countries of the Region which accounts for one-fourth of the global population, a disproportionate 58% of the global burden of Plasmodium vivax malaria, and is at increasing risk of dengue and other vector borne diseases in view of the increasing urbanization and climate change, adopted a resolution to prioritize dengue control and malaria elimination at the Seventy-first Regional Committee session held from 3 – 7 September 2018 in New Delhi.

WHO urges SEAR countries to strengthen emergency medical teams

WHO

World Health Organization has called upon countries in its South-East Asia Region to strengthen emergency medical teams, to be better prepared to respond to public health emergencies.

Strengthening national and regional-level emergency medical teams is a high-impact investment in reducing deaths, diseases and disabilities due to disasters, outbreaks and other emergencies. Emergency medical teams contribute to life-saving critical interventions.

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh unanimously nominated for second term as Regional Director WHO South-East Asia

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh was today nominated for a second five-year term as Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia.

Dr Khetrapal Singh’s candidature was unopposed, as the 11 Member countries of WHO South-East Asia Region met at the ongoing Regional Committee session to elect the next Regional Director.

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About WHO South-East Asia

Home to a quarter of the world population, WHO SEARO provides leadership on health matters, articulates evidence-based policy options, provides technical support to countries and monitors health trends.

WHO South-East Asia Countries

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Highlights

Regional Director's Flagship Programmes » Bangladesh/Myanmar » Emergencies and disasters » Surveillance and outbreak alert » WHO reform » No More Polio »

Regional Director

Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh

Regional Director's page »

Press releases

Emergency and humanitarian action

Emergency and humanitarian action » Rohingya crisis » Indonesia earthquake & tsunami »

Success Stories from SEAR Member States

Stories from the Region »

World Health Day 2018:
Universal Health Coverage

World Health Day is celebrated on 7 April to mark the founding of WHO.

The World Health Day this year focuses on
‘Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere’.

More information »

Building for Change

70 years of WHO in the Region

Governance

The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (the APO) is a collaborative partnership of interested governments, international agencies, foundations, and researchers that promotes evidence-informed health systems policy regionally and in all countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Polio-free certification of the WHO South-East Asia Region

Tweets from WHO SEARO