The 77th Session of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee

Current Context: The 77th Session of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee took place from October 7 to 9, 2024, in New Delhi, India. The meeting was chaired by India’s Health Minister, JP Nadda.

• Key Details:
• Participants: Representatives from all 11 member states of the WHO South-East Asia Region, which include Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
• Theme: “Building Resilient Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security”.
• Agenda Highlights:
• Adolescent-responsive health systems
• Programme Budget Performance Assessment 2022–2023 and implementation of the Programme Budget 2024–2025
• Sustainable financing and the WHO Investment Round
• Expansion of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF)
• Monitoring progress on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• This session aimed to unify the region’s efforts in addressing these critical health issues and to develop a cohesive roadmap for future health progress.

Question:

1 Who chaired the 77th Session of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Committee in 2024?

• A) Dr. Harsh Vardhan
• B) JP Nadda
• C) Mansukh Mandaviya
• D) Nirmala Sitharaman

Answer: B) JP Nadda, India’s Health Minister, chaired the session, demonstrating India's leadership in addressing health issues in the region.