Despite Challenges South East Asia Has Made Strides In Global Health: WHO Regional Director

The South East Asia region is home to one-fourth of the world's population and therefore is an integral part of global health. NDTV's Snigdha Basu spoke exclusively to Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South East Asia Region, regarding the strides the region has made despite the challenges it faces. Dr Singh is the only woman to head the WHO region - a remarkable achievement by an Indian woman. In 2015, the region was credited with halting and reversing the HIV, TB and Malaria epidemics. Across the region, WHO has actively promoting healthy eating and lifestyle to curb the rise in non-communicable diseases. "NCDs caused the maximum amount of mortalities in this region and I focused on reducing incidences of alcohol, highlight the choices of food and bring about behavioural changes," says Dr Singh. Asked whether the National Health Protection Scheme is a good policy, she adds "the scheme will not only provide an opportunity to go to secondary and tertiary centres but it also stresses on building up primary centres. Combined efforts like these makes it a comprehensive scheme that if implemented well will be a huge step towards universal health coverage."