Minister of Health Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala elected to WHO Executive Board Featured
Minister of Health Saia Piukala
27 May, 2019. Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Honourable Minister for Health and Public Enterprises has been appointed to the WHO Executive Board, for the next three years during the 72nd World Health Organisation
Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland last week.
“This opportunity provides a chance for Tonga to ensure our health issues, and those we share with other Pacific island countries, are heard and addressed,” said Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala, the Minister for Health. “The health challenges we face are real and action is needed. Working with the WHO in this way will ensure healthier lives for those in the Pacific.”
The appointment, in which Tonga was joining other members from WHO’s Western Pacific Region like Australia, China, Japan and Singapore, will build on regional health leadership by Tonga, including the role of the Minister as a commissioner on the WHO’s Independent Global High level Commission on Non-communicable Diseases, and his advocacy efforts for safe and affordable surgery.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of WHO, attended by senior health leaders from all WHO Member States and focused on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board.
The Executive Board is composed of 34 individuals technically qualified in the field of health, each one designated by a WHO Member State for a term of 3 years each.
The main functions of the World Health Assembly is to determine the policies and priorities of WHO, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed budget.
The appointment of the Minister of Health, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, to be amongst the 34-strong board, the Pacific will retain a strong voice in WHO’s work, and ensure on-going advocacy on critical Pacific health issues like non-communicable diseases and the health impacts of climate change.
Following the World Health Assembly, Hon Minister Dr Saia Piukala will remain in Geneva for the 145th session of the Executive Board from the 29th – 30th May, 2019.
