Healthy Islands initiatives in the Pacific

WHO to recognise Healthy Islands initiatives in the Pacific

Press Release – October 8, 2010

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a Healthy Islands Recognition program, open to all communities, organizations and agencies in the Pacific.

Dr Chen Ken, WHO Representative in the South Pacific and Director of Pacific Technical Support said, "The program will support the work being carried out by health and community leaders to achieve the vision of Healthy Islands, to make the Pacific islands places where children are nurtured in body and mind; environments invite learning and leisure; people work and age with dignity; ecological balance is a source of pride; and the ocean which sustains us is protected."

“I’m pleased to announce this new program to recognise and acknowledge the important work being initiated and implemented by communities and organizations throughout the Pacific. We hope that by supporting and partnering with communities and agencies at a local, regional and national level, we will ensure a unified and revitalized approach to help us reach our vision of Healthy Islands.” Dr Chen Ken said.

There will be two recognitions given out each round: best practice and best proposal. WHO will convene the Healthy Islands Recognition Committee to assess the applications and they will be presented at every Pacific Ministers of Health meeting, starting with the second Healthy Islands Forum in April 2011.

Communities and organizations are encouraged to send in an electronic submission which can be downloaded from the WHO SP website at http://www.wpro.who.int/southpacific/.

The first deadline for submission is 31 December 2010.

ENDS

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