World Diabetes Day 2024

Breaking barriers, bridging gaps

WHO / Federica Maurizio

About WHO South-East Asia

One of the six WHO Regions, WHO South-East Asia is home to over a quarter of the world’s population.

Committed to building a better, healthier future for the nearly two billion people in the Region, WHO is working with the 11 Member States to address persisting and emerging epidemiological and demographic challenges.

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World Health Day

A family being visited by health care providers during the second round of implementation of Saude na Familia – the flagship primary health care programme.

World Health Day 2024

My Health, My Right

Regional Director

Saima Wazed

WHO

News and feature stories

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28 October 2024

News release

Regional Director’s Opening Address at the 21st Meeting of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Leprosy

World Polio Day

World Mental Health Day

Sample being taken from a person with mpox

Health emergencies:

A bridge to Thae Chaung IDP camp that was destroyed by Cyclone Mocha. Sittwe, Rakhine

Outbreaks & emergencies

COVID-19

SEAR Epidemiological bulletin

SEAR Health Emergency Fund

Featured publications

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The WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, assumed office on 1 February 2024. Within 100 days, Ms Wazed has rolled out a defining vision...

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WHO South-East Asia Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience (‎ROADMAP)‎: the shared strategic framework towards a healthier Region

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WHO SEAR 22nd Epidemiological Bulletin 2024

This epidemiological bulletin aims to provide the situation of key infectious diseases in the WHO South-East Asia region to inform risk assessments...

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Regional Committee

Featured activities

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Tripartite and US CDC supported One Health Zoonotic Diseases Prioritization Workshop in Sri Lanka

Regional workshop on scaling up services for cancer and implementing South-East Asia Cancer Grid

Integrating One Health approach to surveillance, prevention and control of Dengue fever in Bangladesh

Tripartite supported National Workshops on One Health Zoonotic Diseases Prioritization and Joint Risk Assessment under Pandemic Fund in Bhutan

Outbreaks and emergencies

Emergencies

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Saima Wazed appointed Regional Director WHO South-East Asia at #EB154

23 January 2024

Ms Saima Wazed appointed Regional Director WHO South-East Asia at EB154 - acceptance speech

Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

The Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (the APO) is a collaborative partnership of interested governments, international agencies, foundations, and researchers that promotes evidence-informed health systems policy regionally and in all countries in the Asia Pacific region.

APO Website | Publications

Global Leprosy Programme

The Global Leprosy Programme (GLP) of the World Health Organization is housed in the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia (and not in the Organization’s headquarters in Geneva). It is the Organization’s designated programme for addressing leprosy worldwide. Being classified as one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), the unit works in close collaboration with the Department of Control of NTDs in HQ, designated focal points in all regions, national leprosy programmes and partners.

Global Leprosy Programme Website

Evaluation Reports

Click here to view Evaluation reports

Polio-free certification of the WHO South-East Asia Region

28 August 2012

Polio - the journey to eradication in South-East Asia

Meet S.A.R.A.H - A Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health

Regional Director, Saima Wazed’s visit to Maldives focused on strengthening health and well-being initiatives and advancing collaboration on national health priorities

Regional Director, Saima Wazed visited the Maldives from 15 to 19 October, engaging with health officials, senior political leaders, and community members. This was her first visit to Maldives since assuming office on 1 February this year.

WHO Maldives

To strengthen Thalassaemia prevention, management and control, Regional Director Saima Wazed, H.E. Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef, Vice President of Maldives and Mr Abdulla Nazim, Minister of Health, launched National Master Plan for Thalassaemia (2024–2034).

President’s Office, Maldives

Regional Director Saima Wazed visited the Home for People with Special Needs on K Guraidhoo Island, Maldives, to explore ways to enhance support and learn from caregivers' efforts to improve well-being of individuals with special mental or physical needs.

WHO Maldives

Regional Director, Saima Wazed, together with the Maldives' Health Minister and WHO country representative, launched the Maldives-WHO Country Cooperation Strategy. Setting future goals for health equity and primary care.

WHO Maldives

Regional Director Saima Wazed, met with Mr Abdulla Nazim, Minister of Health, Maldives and discussed collaboration on key initiatives, such as tobacco control, capacity building for healthcare professionals, and enhancing urban primary healthcare systems.

WHO Maldives

Regional Director, Saima Wazed, visited the Faafu Atoll PHC Demonstration Site, emphasizing Maldives’ innovative PHC transformation and commitment to health equity by decentralizing essential services and making health care more accessible to communities.

WHO Maldives

Regional Director, Saima Wazed met Maldives' Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel to explore collaboration focused on strengthening healthcare delivery. Their discussions aimed at enhancing health systems and addressing key health priorities in Maldives.

WHO Maldives

Regional Director, Saima Wazed met WHO country staff and discussed strengthening health and well-being initiatives. Discussions focused on enhancing programmes, tackling health challenges, and aligning with national priorities for better health outcomes.

WHO Maldives

Regional Director, Saima Wazed visited Magoodhoo Health Center to observe reoriented PHC services and patient care pathways. The visit showcased Maldives' efforts to enhance integrated, community-based care and improve access to essential health services.

WHO Maldives