Health Ministers from South-East Asia highlight challenges to health
Health Ministers from WHO's South-East Asia Region met at the 28th Meeting of Ministers of Health in Bangkok to review health development in the Region, identify challenges and provide policy direction for future action on health issues, says a press release. Health is at the nexus of interrelated trends such as rapid and often unplanned urbanisation, climate change, and a huge burden of injuries from road accidents and other causes. The ministers underscored the need for urgent action to improve urban health; they also adopted the Bangkok Declaration on "Urbanisation and health". WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said, "Urban poverty and squalor are strongly linked to social unrest, mental disorders, crime, violence, and outbreaks of disease associated with crowding and filth." Describing health inequalities as an excellent social accountant, she added, "Poor health, including mental health, is one of the most visible and measurable expressions of urban harm." Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, informed that Thailand has developed a tool guide for furthering the work on community empowerment, which is the essence of Primary Health Care development. The Bangkok Declaration on "Urbanisation and health" was adopted by the health ministers in recognition that unplanned urbanisation has major impacts on public health.
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