Dr Paul Bosawai, the Solomon Islands' designated official to the executive board of the World Health Assembly, standing with Regional Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Permanent Secretary of Health, Pauline McNeil. Photo: Ministry of Health & Medical Services Solomon Islands - Facebook
Solomon Islands has become an official member of the executive board of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
At the WHO's general committee meeting last week, the list of the 12 new member countries was drawn up and transmitted to the Health Assembly for its official adoption and approval.
Solomon Islands was nominated as a board member representing the Western Pacific Regional Office at a meeting last year.
Health Minister Dr Paul Bosawai and his Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil will attend their first executive board meeting this week, following the closure of the 78th World Health Assembly meeting on 27 May in Geneva, Switzerland.
In Geneva, Dr Bosawai spoke at a side event called "Tuberculosis in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings: A Call to Action."
He highlighted the challenges faced by Solomon Islands, including climate vulnerability, socio-economic fragility, and the rising threat of TB-HIV co-infection.
"We just cannot afford another public health emergency like TB," he said.
"Our children and our beautiful island nations must not be left behind in global conversations. We owe it to them to act now."
Another side event for the Solomon Islands delegation was the GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance) South East Asia Regional Office and Western Pacific Regional Office Constituency meeting.
Permanent Secretary McNeil acknowledged the event chair, Indonesia health minister Budi Gunadi, for representing the region's priorities and for the role he played in advocating for Solomon Islands to be granted a four-year extension of GAVI support, which was approved in December 2024.
The World Health Assembly executive board comprises 34 members technically qualified in the field of health.
The board plays a central role in shaping global health governance and also reviews the work of the WHO, oversees the implementation of health strategies, and manages the organisation's budget.
The main meetings are held in January of each year, at which the agenda for the forthcoming Health Assembly is agreed upon and resolutions for forwarding to the Health Assembly are adopted.
There is a second shorter meeting in May, immediately after the annual World Health Assembly, for more administrative matters.
Eleven other new members have also been added - Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Haiti, Japan, Nepal, Panama, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Spain.
