NEW DELHI, May 4, 2024 / — Saima Wazed, the WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, recently addressed the Regional Consultation on the WHO South-East Asia Priority Programme Initiative in New Delhi. This event marks a pivotal moment early in her tenure, following her first three months in office—an interval she characterized as insightful and engaging with Member States and the WHO team.
Developing a Comprehensive Health Strategy
At the consultation, Wazed underscored the importance of a newly developed roadmap for the Priority Programmes, which will steer the strategic health initiatives during her term. These programmes, crafted with inputs from Member States, target significant health challenges within the region, aiming for widespread, lasting benefits. Wazed articulated a comprehensive health vision, placing high priority on the well-being of women, children, and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, and reiterated her commitment to achieving universal health coverage as part of primary healthcare.
Fostering Global and Regional Collaborations
The WHO Regional Director stressed the importance of building robust partnerships that transcend conventional health system limits to tackle broader determinants of health. By engaging with a broader spectrum of collaborators, Wazed believes WHO’s technical leadership can greatly enhance these partnerships.
Strategic Framework and Regional Ownership
The consultation also focused on both technical and non-technical aspects critical to advancing regional health and well-being. Wazed encouraged proactive involvement from countries in adopting and adapting the regional Priority Programme Initiatives. The discussion centered on the draft strategic framework dubbed the Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience, designed to foster resilience and improve community health across the region. This framework aligns with the WHO 14th General Programme of Work and aims to expedite progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) through five strategic actions: Promote, Provide, Protect, Power, and Perform.
A Collective Call to Action
Wazed appealed to all stakeholders to embrace and refine the roadmap, emphasizing collective ownership and the critical role of shared expertise in its success. “The roadmap for these programmes is now in your hands. I urge all of you to take ownership of it. This is not my roadmap – it is ours. Please give it the best of your intuition, experience, and expertise,” she stated.
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The World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia region is dedicated to improving public health, combating diseases, and making healthcare accessible and equitable across its member states. This region faces diverse public health challenges, but under Wazed’s leadership, there’s renewed optimism for innovative and integrative solutions to these issues.
