WHO appoints new Western Pacific regional director

MANILA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) executive board on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Saia Ma'u Piukala as the next WHO regional director for the Western Pacific region.

The WHO regional office in Manila said Piukala's plan for his first 100 days in office includes visiting many of the 37 countries and areas in the region, engaging with governments and other stakeholders, listening and discussing critical health issues, as well as exploring areas for increased collaboration.

"Let us work for a world where no barefoot child, looking out at a rising sea, needs to worry about what the future holds for his or her health and the health of their family," Piukala said.

"I look forward to working closely with Piukala to promote and protect the health of people across the region," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Piukala is the first Pacific islander to become a WHO regional director. He is a public health leader and surgeon with nearly 30 years of experience working in Tonga and across the Pacific, the WHO said.