Journey of a vaccine: from vaccine store to immunized child
8 January 2014 — On October 2013, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the island of Bohol in the Philippines. The island saw the loss of an estimated 200 lives and damages to more than 70 000 structures including health services across the region. The following month, these services were further affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which caused the interruption of their power supply coming from Samar, a region directly hit by the storm.
Pacific year in review
27 December 2013 – Several significant events shaped the public health landscape in the Pacific island countries and territories during 2013. Progress was made through post-disaster outbreak monitoring, health systems strengthening through primary care, and expanding noncommunicable disease prevention and control efforts. Pacific health ministers adopted recommendations to scale-up the response to the epidemic of the noncommunicable diseases and contributed towards shaping the post-2015 development agenda.
Christmas in Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
23 December 2013 -- The impact of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) is still widely felt in Tacloban, as residents try to gear-up for Christmas. A Christmas tree stands about 15 meters tall in front of the city hall. This year the holiday tree is made of used plastic bottles and iron pipes. The tree may look simple but it gives hope to the community. As the recovery phase continues there are both signs of progress and challenges that remain.
Rebuilding health system is key to typhoon recovery
MANILA, 20 December 2013 — For the World Health Organization (WHO), rebuilding the health system is going to be part and parcel of rebuilding lives and livelihoods in the central Philippines. Thousands of health facilities were damaged when Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the country in November, and health services were largely disrupted.
Road safety
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Situation report
WHO works to prevent the road injuries that kill more than 900 people each day in the Western Pacific Region.
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Statistical background
By measuring road traffic injuries and major risk factors, WHO gives countries baselines against which to measure progress.
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Infographics
Road accidents are the number one cause of death among those aged 14 to 44 in the Western Pacific Region.
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Protecting pedestrians
WHO in the Western Pacific Region urges targeted action to protect the most vulnerable of all road users: pedestrians.
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Key facts
Most road injuries can be prevented by focusing on five key risk factors.
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Drink-driving
Drinking alcohol and driving increases the risk of a road injury, according to this 30-second video by WHO Viet Nam.
Highlights from the Region
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November 2013
Using social media to inform about the response to Typhoon Haiyan
The WHO Representative Office in the Philippines has started using social media to inform about the health response to Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda), which devastated the central part of the country on 8 and 9 November. WHO is working closely with the Philippine Department of Health and other partners to coordinate the response, to provide emergency care and to ensure that the peoples' longer-term needs are met.
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November 2013
Controlling hepatitis B
In the WHO Western Pacific Region, the virus that causes hepatitis B is being brought under control, thanks to a vaccine that protects babies against infection. Three doses: That's all it takes to protect an infant for life, to prevent the liver cancer and cirrhosis that commonly result from hepatitis B, to allow every child to grow into healthy adulthood, to put hepatitis B in its place—permanently.
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Octoberr 2013
WHO fighters against malaria in the Western Pacific
In the WHO Western Pacific Region, malaria is in retreat. Over the last two decades, in the 10 countries where it remains endemic, cases have decreased by more than 71%, and deaths by nearly 86%. Nine of these countries have vowed to achieve the previously unimaginable—eliminate the disease. In May 2013, malaria experts from across the Region, and beyond, assembled at the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific in Manila to take stock and to plot ways forward. Among them were regional malaria advisers going back to 1990, and one for pharmaceuticals. An 11-minute video tells their story of malaria control in the Western Pacific.
