scholarly journals Preparedness is Essential for Western Pacific Islands During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Yujie Mei ◽  
Jijia Hu
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Western Pacific Region ◽  
Dense Population ◽  
First Report ◽  
First Case ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Almost All ◽  
The Western Pacific

ABSTRACT Objectives: To clarify the pandemic status in Western Pacific countries or territories. Methods: The WHO’s daily situation reports of COVID-19 were reviewed from January 20, 2020, to March 24, 2020. Changes in the infections, deaths, and the case fatality rate (CFR) in Western Pacific countries or territories were counted. Results: As of March 24, a total of 17 countries or territories had reported the presence of COVID-19 in the Western Pacific Region, 96,580 people have been infected and a total of 3502 deaths. Fifty-three percent (9/17) of these countries or territories had their first case within 2 wk since the WHO’s first report, most are China’s neighbors with a large and dense population. No other country or territory in this region reported a new infection from January 30 to February 28. However, 8 (47.0%) countries or territories have reported the first cases in 3 wk since February 28, almost all are islands. Many countries maintained a small number of infections for a long time after the first report, but a rapid increase occurred later. Deaths occurred in 8 countries with a total CFR of 3.63%, and the CFR varies widely, from 0.39% (Singapore) to 7.14% (Philippines). Conclusions: The regional spread of COVID-19 urgently requires an aggressive preparedness for the Western Pacific Islands.

HTLV‐I infection in selected populations in Australia and the western Pacific region

1992 ◽  
Vol 156 (12) ◽  
pp. 878-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suellen R Nicholson ◽  
Theordora Efandis ◽  
Mary Dimitrakakis ◽  
Anna Karopoulos ◽  
Helen Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Pacific ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Western Pacific Region ◽  
The Western Pacific

scholarly journals Assessing the links between human rights and global tobacco control through statements made on global fora

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neiloy R. Sircar ◽  
Stella A. Bialous
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Western Pacific ◽  
Global Health Governance ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Pacific Island ◽  
Western Pacific Region ◽  
Health Governance ◽  
Pacific Island Countries ◽  
The Western Pacific

Abstract Background Increasingly, international health bodies frame public health measures, including tobacco control, in the context of human rights (HR). It is unclear how prevalent is the connection between human rights and tobacco control within global health governance. This paper describes the inclusion of HR in tobacco control governance, and the inclusion of tobacco control in HR treaty oversight. We depict the current reach of HR’s normative influence in framing the tobacco epidemic in global, regional, and country-specific contexts. Methods We reviewed documents (agenda, reports) from 2010 to 2019 from the World Health Assembly (WHA); the WHO Western Pacific Regional Committee Meetings (RCM); the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Conferences of the Parties (COP); and documents provided by Pacific Island Countries party to, or by committees overseeing, HR treaties. We purposively selected the Western Pacific Region, and Pacific Island Countries specifically, to represent countries of varying populations, capacities, and governance. Results Tobacco control and HR are infrequently mentioned together in the WHAs, and primarily in only one COP. Tobacco control is mentioned in 47 HR treaty committee documents for Pacific Island Countries, mostly under the Convention of the Rights of the Child recognizing or calling for ratification of the WHO FCTC. HR and tobacco control are connected in WHO Western Pacific RCM, particularly through their two most-recent action plans adopted by respective RCMs. Discussion Tobacco control as a HR concern is gaining traction within HR treaty bodies, at least with respect to children’s health in the Western Pacific Region. Conclusion Globally, HR is just emerging as an influence in global health governance for tobacco discussions. Within the Western Pacific Region however tobacco control is seen by some authorities as a HR issue. Similarly, to HR experts, tobacco control is becoming important to how Pacific Island Countries fulfill their treaty obligations, suggesting tobacco control advocates might explore these mechanisms to further influence the development of strong tobacco control measures to implement the WHO FCTC.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document