Transcript
Takeshi Kasai says the WHO is working with its member states to address key threats to human health.
He's identified four broad themes needing urgent attention, with the first being health security.
"Including antimicrobial resistance. And the second is non-communicable diseases, together with the ageing. And third is the health impacts of climate change and environmental health. And the fourth is 'reach and reach', there are still populations our services haven't reached, and still afflicted by so-called communicable diseases. Or still recording high maternal and child mortality."
Dr Kasai says the Western Pacific Region is so dynamic that responding to the challenges of today would be too late.
Therefore, he wants the WHO to move ahead of the trends.
He says protecting children from the harmful impact of food marketing is a priority because sugary drinks and processed foods are often cheaper and easier to get than healthy meals.
"In some parts of the region more than 90 per cent of all food and drinks marketed to children are high in saturated fats, trans-fats, free sugar or salt. And marketing of the infant formula is also wide-spread and this undermines breastfeeding. Around 7.2 million children in our regions are already overweight or obese by the time they turn five."
Dr Kasai says things get worse as children grow older - with about 84 million people aged between five and 19 in the Asia Pacific region being overweight or obese, worse than any other region.
He says the obesity burden is not shared equitably, with the poorest children exposed to more advertising for unhealthy food and drink, and eating more low quality food.
A third focus for Dr Kasai's new policy is promoting well-being into old age and addressing non-communicable diseases.
He says compared to rates in Europe, the Pacific Region is aging rapidly.
"And not just getting old. The pace of getting old is very fast. As people get older many can have chronic conditions such as blood pressure or dementia. But the good news is if countries prepare early and work hard, those people can continue to be healthier. And then that makes the entire society benefit. But to make that happen, obviously we have to transform our system. And earlier the better."
Dr Kasai says tobacco control is also a priority because of the burden of smoking related diseases.
"One third of all cigarettes are smoked in our region. And every minute five people die from tobacco related illness in our region. And obviously our region takes this very seriously. And this is the only region all the Member States already ratified Framework Conventions of Tobacco Control. But still we fall short."
Action to fight antimicrobial resistance is increasingly being recognised on the global agenda and Dr Kasai says Western Pacific nations need to step up.
"Unfortunately our region is known as a 'hot spot' for over use or misuse of antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics and also the emergence of those bacteria or bug that has a resistance to those antimicrobials, which is more difficult and sometimes impossible to treat."
Dr Kasai says antimicrobial resistance could reverse gains made in the battles against tuberculosis, malaria and HIV.
He says without direct action an estimated 10 million people globally could die from infections by 2050 with 4.5 million of those being in the Asia Pacific.
