New Leader Takes Over WHO's Western Pacific Region

MANILA, Dr Shin Young-soo of the Republic of Korea today took over as the new Regional Director of the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region, based in Manila, the Philippines. Dr Shin, 65, succeeds Dr Shigeru Omi of Japan, who has stepped down after serving two consecutive five-year terms.

Dr Shin, until recently Professor of Health Policy and Management at the College of Medicine, Seoul National University, has longstanding connections with WHO, having undertaken more than 30 assignments with the Organization as an adviser and consultant, and having on a number of occasions served on its Executive Board as the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Dr Shin said he was taking over at a time when public health faced unprecedented challenges. He said the global financial crisis was likely to limit resources for health work; wars and terrorist activities were raging on multiple fronts; the health of populations around the world was threatened by climate change; newly emerging and re-emerging diseases were proving to be a constant danger; and noncommunicable diseases were becoming a growing problem.

In addition, he said, the public health arena had become crowded, with many competing stakeholders and the attendant risks of competing agendas and duplication of effort and resources.

Dr Shin outlined four priority areas of health work in the Western Pacific Region.

* First, WHO must continue to help its Member States respond to public health emergencies and risks, including newly emerging and re-emerging diseases, pandemics and the threat from climate change.

* Secondly, it must accelerate progress towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals by strengthening health infrastructure at country level, particularly in terms of primary health care and health workforces.

* Thirdly, it must work to improve health within the overall context of social development. Health is only one part of the equation, but its reach can be extended through increased access to services. …/  Finally, it needed to ensure through its efforts that its leading role in public health is recognized by its partners, and that its work is carried out efficiently, effectively and in a well coordinated manner.

Dr Shin, who was nominated for the position of Regional Director at WHO's Regional Committee Meeting last September and then confirmed by the Organization's Executive Board in Geneva on 20 January 2009, is the first Western Pacific Regional Director to be appointed from outside WHO. As such, he said, he would bring a new approach to the Organization's traditional culture and management style.

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