Amitabh Bachchan during World Hepatitis Day meeting |
NEW DELHI: The main focus of the conference will be on climate change
Building health systems resilient to climate change, improving access to vital drugs for all and increasing efforts to end tuberculosis are among key topics that will be discussed at a World Health Organisation (WHO) conference of health ministers of the South-East Asia Region from September 6-10, 2017.
According to a WHO statement, the 70th regional committee conference of WHO South-East Asia Region will be hosted by Maldives.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom and regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh will address the conference which will also be attended by health officials from member countries and delegates of partner institutes.
WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Hepatitis in South-East Asia Region, Amitabh Bachchan, will join the conference to support urgent action against viral hepatitis, an avoidable disease that kills around 410000 in the region annually.
Increasing primary health care and growth towards universal health coverage are among other key issues being addressed at the conference.
"Main focus of the conference will be climate change - on how to make health systems resilient to climate change. A well prepared and responsive health scheme is vital for preventing and minimizing the rising health menaces posed by climate change," the statement said.
The conference will also analyse new progress on key schemes and discuss plans to maintain the health of people in WHO South-East Asia Region.