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The World Health Organization today felicitated Bhutan for achieving interim targets for cervical cancer elimination; India for eliminating trachoma; Timor-Leste for eliminating lymphatic filariasis; Maldives and Sri Lanka for Hepatitis B control in children; and six countries for achieving SDG and global targets for reducing under five mortality and still birth rates.
“The progress being made is the Region is heartening. I congratulate countries for their achievements which demonstrates their commitment to health and wellbeing of people. I look forward to together building on this momentum to further accelerate efforts for equitable access to health services for all in our Region in the coming years,” said Saima Wazed, Regional Director WHO South-East Asia, at ‘Public Health Awards’ event at the Seventy Seventh Regional Committee Session being held here. She presented a plaque and citation to each Member State for their achievements.
Bhutan was recognized for reaching the 2030 interim targets towards elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, the first country in the Region to achieve this significant public health milestone. The interim 90-70-90 targets are 90% girls fully vaccinated against Human papillomavirus (HPV vaccine) by 15 years of age; 70% women screened with a high-performance test by 35 years of age and again by 45 years of age; and 90% women identified with cervical disease provided treatment.
“The success of the Royal Government of Bhutan is driven by strong leadership, favourable health policies, organized health systems, well-defined country priorities, motivated health workforce, and efficient coordination by the Ministry of Health. Active community participation and collaboration with partners have also contributed significantly. The achievement is especially commendable considering that the major part of the capacity building was carried out when COVID-19 was at its peak,” the Regional Director said.
India was felicitated for elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. India is the third country in the Region after Nepal and Myanmar to achieve this feat.
“India’s success is due to the strong leadership of its government and the commitment of ophthalmologists and other cadres of health-care workers. They worked together with partners to ensure effective surveillance, diagnosis and management of active trachoma, provision of surgical services for trichiasis, and promotion of water, sanitation and hygiene, particularly facial cleanliness, among communities,” the Regional Director said.
Timor-Leste was awarded for elimination of lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.
“Timor-Leste’s achievement is driven by the strong leadership of its government, dedication of health-care workers, and active participation of the community in collaboration with partners. Together, they have ensured high-quality mass drug administration campaigns, effective surveillance, management of cases with chronic lymphatic filariasis, and promoted community engagement to stop transmission and support those affected by the disease,” Wazed said. Timor-Leste is the fifth country in the Region to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.
Lauding Maldives and Sri Lanka for achieving hepatitis B control, the Regional Director said, preventing hepatitis B infection in children substantially reduces chronic infections and cases of liver cancer and cirrhosis in adulthood.
Bhutan was also recognized for achieving the SDG and global 2030 targets of reducing under 5 mortality and stillbirth rates.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand were awarded for achieving the SDG and global targets for reduction of under-5 mortality, neonatal mortality and stillbirth rates.
The SDG target 3.2 for under-5 mortality rate is to reduce to 25 or less per 1000 live births and for neonatal mortality rate is to reduce to 12 or less per 1000 live births by 2030. The 2030 still birth rate reduction target is 12 or fewer still births per 1000 births.
