South East Asia News - Latest Updates & Headlines
More than a workplace: WHO DG as South-East Asia Regional Office inaugurated in New Delhi
New Delhi, December 19: The newly constructed World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office in New Delhi was inaugurated on Friday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who described the facility as "more than a workplace".
World Aids Day: WHO SEARO highlights achievements of region, calls to transform response with innovation
New Delhi, December 1: On World AIDS Day 2025, Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia highlighted how the region stands united with governments, partners, and communities under the theme "Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response."
Countries chart path forward on interoperable digital health systems at RODHS 2025
New Delhi, November 21: Countries across South-East Asia came together on the second day of the Regional Open Digital Health Summit (RODHS) 2025 in New Delhi to plan the next phase of digital health transformation. Health leaders focused on building connected, standards-based health systems that can work together seamlessly. The discussions, demonstrations, and technical sessions were part of a broader regional effort to make healthcare data exchange safe, open, and interoperable.
World AMR Awareness Week 2025: WHO calls for urgent, unified action as AMR threat intensifies in South-East Asia
New Delhi, November 21: As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) escalates globally and poses a growing threat to public health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia has issued a strong call for coordinated and urgent action. Marking World AMR Awareness Week 2025, Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge for WHO South-East Asia, warned that drug-resistant infections are undermining decades of medical progress and jeopardising essential health services.
WHO South East Asia reminds Act now, eliminate cervical cancer on World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day
New Delhi, November 18: Globally, every 2 minutes, a woman dies from cervical cancer - despite the disease being preventable and curable. In WHO South-East Asia, an estimated 160,000 new cases and 100,000 deaths due to cervical cancer were reported in 2022, representing approximately one-fourth of global disease burden, a statement by Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia said.
'Encouraging gains': WHO lauds India for narrowing TB detection gaps, reducing mortality
New Delhi, Nov 18: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday lauded India for making ‘encouraging gains’ to end tuberculosis (TB), with narrowing detection gaps and reducing mortality.
India renews commitment to healthy ageing at 78th session of WHO Regional Committee of South-East Asia
New Delhi, October 16: Anupriya Singh Patel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, represented India at the Ministerial Roundtable of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Colombo from October 13 to 15, 2025.
WHO South-East Asia nations adopt Colombo declaration to support healthy ageing
Colombo, October 14: The Member States of the WHO South-East Asia Region on Tuesday adopted the Colombo Declaration on 'Healthy ageing through strengthened primary health care, aimed at the health and well-being of its ageing population, which is expected to double by 2050.
WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee session begins in Colombo with focus on equity, resilience, health for all
Colombo, October 13: The 78th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Committee began on Monday in Sri Lanka's Colombo, with health leaders from across the region reaffirming their commitment to building a healthier, more equitable and resilient region amid ongoing global health challenges.
Tobacco use falls fastest in South-East Asia, yet 322 million people still at risk: WHO
New Delhi, October 8: The WHO South-East Asia Region has made the fastest progress globally in reducing tobacco use, according to the latest WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2024 and Projections 2025-2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an official statement on Wednesday.
Heart diseases kill 8 people every minute in South-East Asia: WHO
New Delhi, Sep 27: Heart diseases are the leading cause of deaths in South-East Asia, with the condition claiming the lives of eight people every minute, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday, ahead of World Heart Day.
Malaria ends with us, WHO regional head Saima Wazed urges for political commitment to fight disease
New Delhi, April 24: On World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25, Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, emphasised the need for continued investment and political commitment in the fight against malaria.
South-East Asia recorded 53pc reduction in maternal mortality ratio since 2010: WHO
New Delhi, April 7: The South-East Asia region recorded a 53 per cent reduction in maternal mortality ratio (MMR) since 2010, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on World Health Day on Monday.
Surveillance, vigilance necessary to ensure SE Asia remains polio-free: WHO
New Delhi, March 27: Surveillance and vigilance are necessary to ensure South-East Asia region remains polio-free, said the World Health Organization on the 11th anniversary of being certified polio-free on Thursday.
Saima Wazed highlights achievements of South East Asia, gives call to end TB on the occasion of World TB Day 2025
New Delhi, March 24: Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South East Asia, Saima Wazed expressed confidence towards the commitment to end tuberculosis (TB) on World TB Day 2025.
Saima Wazed brings attention to oral health on World Oral Health Day to be celebrated on March 20
New Delhi, March 19: On the occasion of World Oral Health Day, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia, Saima Wazed brought attention towards the need for prioritising oral health to tackle diseases and bring about positive health outcomes in South-East Asia.
WHO emphasises on rights, equality and empowerment on International Women's Day
New Delhi, March 8: On the occasion of International Women's Day, the World Health Organisation on Saturday called for actions to unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all women and girls.
Birth defects kill about 300 children under 5 daily in South-East Asia: WHO
New Delhi, March 1: Birth defects claim the lives of about 300 children under five years of age, every day in the South-East Asia region, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday, ahead of World Birth Defects Day.
WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund
New Delhi, February 10: The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region on Monday thanked Nepal's Ministry of Health and Populationfor contributing Nepalese Rupees (NRs) 1,500,000, approximately USD 11,000, to the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF), a unique funding mechanism to support Member countries in the Region prepare for and respond to health emergencies, an official statement said.
WHO launches South-East Asia Regional Strategy for comprehensive cancer prevention 2024-2030
New Delhi, January 3: On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted its continued efforts to address the growing cancer burden in the South-East Asia region.