The 76th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the South-East Asia Region has commenced.

The 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia Region kicked off in New Delhi, India on Monday.

The meeting will be attended by health ministers and senior officials from all 11 member states of the region.

The meeting which has been dubbed the highest policy making governing body meeting of WHO for the region, will take place from October 30 to November 2.

Minister of Health Order of the Diginified Rule of Muleege Dynasty Ahmed Naseem is leading a high-level delegation from the Maldives at the meeting.

Director General of WHO, Regional Director for South-East Asia Region and other high-level officials from the WHO Headquarters, Regional Office and the High Commission of the Republic of Maldives to the Republic of India will be participating in the meeting.

Further, officials from partner organizations and the civil society will also be attending the meeting.

On October 31, the Ministerial Roundtable will be held and it will revolve around the topic “Strengthening primary health care as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage”.

Discussions at the roundtable will include services provided to strengthen the primary health care in the region.

After the deliberations conclude, health ministers are scheduled to sign the “Delhi Declaration on strengthening primary health care as a key element towards achieving universal health coverage” to overcome the challenges and work further on primary health care and services.

In addition to this, discussions will also revolve around important areas such as Political Declaration on TB by the UN High-Level meeting, revitalization of the school health program and health promoting schools as well as expanding the scope of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund.

Attendees will also engage in discussions relating to governance matters related to progress of work of the South-East Asia Regional Office new building, Management performance and transformation in the South-East Asia Region, WHO budgetary reports and implementation of work plans.

The high-level delegation from Maldives will meet with high level officials from other countries to discuss bilateral collaborations on strengthening the health workforce and other collaborative areas on the sidelines of the regional committee meeting.