Country Representative of World Health Organization (WHO) to Maldives, Dr. Arvind Mathur stated Maldivian authorities need to give particular attention on improving the resilience of health system to be able to respond to climate change. The Country Representative made the remarks while speaking on Talk Maldives TV programme aired on PSM News.
The South East Asia Regional Committee Meeting to be hosted by Maldives would see major discussions held on improving the resilience of health system to be able to respond to climate change, Dr. Arvind Mathur noted during the programme. While the country has gained momentum in the health sector but there are areas in which all authorities of the country can work together to address, said Dr. Mathur. The WHO Country Representative said this includes improving the resilience of health system to be able to respond to climate change and health. The issues faced by Maldives, as well as countries in the South East Asia region will be addressed during the South East Asia Regional Committee Meeting which will be hosted by Maldives in September this year, he added.
"The areas where we think we need to do a lot more, and the challenges remain, are areas which includes for example climate change and resilience and I think that's an area that is complex and we may need to work with many number of stakeholders, ministries, particularly improving the resilience of health system to be able to respond to climate change. In the month of September, we are having the regional committee of WHO South East Asia region which is our governing body meeting. 11 countries will be participating. This regional committee meeting will be hosted by the government of Maldives. In fact on the request of the Minister of Health of Maldives the health ministerial roundtable held during the event will be held on the topic of improving the resilience of health system to be able to respond to climate change and health,” Dr. Mathur said.
Through this meeting the regional countries hopes to get more substantive ideas on strengthening the health sector, noted Dr. Mathur. WHO will give particular attention to assisting Maldives and continue emergency preparedness and response, he said. Emergency preparedness and response is a huge priority for an island nation like Maldives, said the WHO Representative.
Dr. Mathur went on to note that WHO will continue to assist Maldives in sustaining the gains which have been made in the health sector, such as maintaining elimination status of measles, malaria, filaria and polio. Maldives has a higher immunization coverage than any other regional country, and that access to medicine and national health coverage is also more robust than regional countries, he reiterated. He further stated that WHO has to work with Maldivian authorities to strengthen surveillance and improve commitment on international health regulations.