The Work of WHO in the Western Pacific Region : Report of the Regional Director 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2003

This report reviews the work of the WHO in the Western Pacific region during the period July 2002-June 2003, a challenging year which saw serious outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a previously unknown disease, in several member states. The report discusses the response of the WHO to the outbreak, as well as its work to combat other communicable diseases in the region; new initiatives to improve access to safe and affordable medicines, strengthen the training of health workers and implement national health accounts; the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control; health promotion policies and the extension of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness strategy.