M'SIA TO HOST 61ST WHO REGIONAL COMMITTEE MEETING

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will host the 61st Session of the World
Health Organisatian (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific Region
meeting.

The five-day meeting is scheduled to begin on Oct 11, at the Putrajaya
Convention Centre.

Health Director-General Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said Prime Minister Najib Abdul
Razak would open the meeting where 16 papers would be presented.

"This is the third time after a lapse of 16 years, that Malaysia is hosting the
meeting, having previously hosted the 21st session in 1974, and the 45th session
in 1994.

"To date, 33 member countries of the Western Pacific Region, including Malaysia,
have confirmed participation in the meeting," he told reporters at the press
conference here Friday.

He said the Malaysian team, comprising nine delegates and seven observers, would
be headed by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

Dr Mohd Ismail said among the papers for presentation during the meeting would
include 'Regional Strategy of Health Systems Strengthening and Primary Health
Care', 'Dengue Fever Climate Change', 'Women Health' and 'Healthy Settings'.

At the sidelines of the meeting, he said there would be bilateral meetings with
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong and Singapore.
-- BERNAMA