The World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region today celebrated major public health achievements by Member States, highlighting important milestones in disease elimination, maternal, newborn and child health, immunization, and the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases.
The awards were presented by the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to Ministers of Health or Heads of Delegation during the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia.
Three major disease elimination milestones were celebrated. Timor-Leste was felicitated for achieving WHO validation for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. With Timor-Leste’s achievement, the South-East Asia Region has achieved the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.
Bhutan achieved a historic milestone with the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies as a public health problem. Bhutan is the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region and only the second country globally, after Mexico, to achieve this milestone. The achievement reflects Bhutan’s strong One Health approach, intersectoral collaboration and the dedication of its health workforce and partners, including mass dog vaccination, dog population management, universal access to cost-free post-exposure prophylaxis, and integrated human and animal surveillance.
Thailand marked another important milestone with the verification of rubella elimination. It is the seventh country in the Region to achieve this milestone, reflecting sustained commitment to immunization, surveillance and elimination efforts.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste have sustained the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus for a decade since validation. This collective achievement reflects strong national commitment, high-quality immunization services, safe delivery practices and sustained vigilance to protect mothers and newborns, underscoring the importance of continued action to maintain these hard-won health gains.
In addition to the above, Bangladesh was felicitated for achieving the Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality target – a maternal mortality ratio of below 140 per 100 000 live births – well ahead of the 2030 deadline. The achievement reflects strong leadership, supportive policies and well-organized reproductive and maternal health programmes.
Bhutan was recognized for its continued commitment to newborn and child survival, even after successfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets of a neonatal mortality rate of 12 or fewer deaths per 1 000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 25 or fewer per 1000 live births. The country also exceeded its 2025 national target of placing 50 000 people with hypertension and diabetes on protocol-based management, with more than 70 700 people placed on protocol-based management.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was felicitated for its continued commitment to newborn and child survival with sustained leadership and well-organized maternal, newborn and child health programmes. This is despite the country having achieved the SDG targets of a neonatal mortality rate of 12 or fewer deaths per 1000 live births and an under-five mortality rate of 25 or fewer per 1000 live births.
India was recognized for placing more than 94 million people on protocol-based management of hypertension and diabetes, exceeding its national target of 75 million. This achievement advances implementation of the regional SEAHEARTS Resolution and demonstrates significant progress in expanding access to standardized care for people living with hypertension and diabetes.
Maldives was given an award for achieving the SDG target for reducing premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases well ahead of the 2030 deadline – the only country in the Region to do so. This achievement reflects sustained action through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.
Nepal was recognized for sustaining the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus for a decade since validation, reflecting years of sustained national commitment and collective effort.
Sri Lanka was felicitated for maintaining its malaria-free status for a decade since WHO certification in 2016, following the elimination of indigenous transmission of all human malaria parasites within its borders. This achievement reflects continued national commitment and vigilance to prevent the re-establishment of malaria.
Thailand was awarded for making substantial progress in hypertension and diabetes care, achieving a 59% hypertension control rate and placing approximately 10 million people with hypertension and diabetes on protocol-based management, advancing implementation of the SEAHEARTS through a strong and resilient primary health-care system.
Timor-Leste was recognized for placing more than 86 900 people with hypertension and diabetes on protocol-based management, exceeding its national target of 50 000. This achievement advances implementation of the SEAHEARTS milestones through strong primary health care, community engagement and multisectoral collaboration.
These achievements represent more than milestones. They represent lives saved, communities protected and healthier futures. Together, they demonstrate the breadth of public health progress across the WHO South-East Asia Region and the importance of sustained national commitment, strong health systems, effective surveillance, quality health services, community engagement and collaboration in achieving and sustaining health gains.
The WHO South-East Asia Region congratulates all Member States on these remarkable achievements and commends the leadership and collective efforts that continue to advance health and well-being across the Region.