DISTINGUISHED PARTICIPANTS,DEAR COLLEAGUES,LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
Good morning. I am very pleased to welcome Technical Advisory Group members, participants from national immunization programmes, observers and representatives of partner agencies to the 19th meeting of the TAG on Immunization and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the Western Pacific Region.
Ten years ago, thanks to the efforts of our Member States, the Western Pacific Region declared the elimination of poliovirus and has remained polio-free ever since.
Eradicating polio gave us the courage to establish two new goals, the elimination of measles by 2012 and the control of hepatitis B.
We are doing this, and we are doing more.
Our Region has seen a 58% decrease in measles cases from 2008 to 2009, and a 92% decrease in measles-related mortality since the year 2000.
The Region is about to make significant progress towards its 2012 measles elimination goal.
China will conduct the largest immunization campaign in history, targeting nearly 100 million children and adolescents with measles vaccine next month.
Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Viet Nam are on track to complete large-scale measles vaccination campaigns in the coming 12 months.
We have seen a large decrease in hepatitis B infection among children in the Region.
This has been due to early integration of hepatitis B vaccine into national programmes, and the pioneering of birth-dose vaccinations in the most difficult circumstances.
As a result, 27 countries are expected to meet the 2012 target of less than 2% chronic hepatitis B infection among 5-year-old children.
Our Region has remained polio-free despite importations along the borders of our European Region neighbours of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation.
WHO has joined China and Mongolia in responding vigorously to such threats.
Elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus is also coming closer to reality as all countries concerned undertake specific activities to reach the goal.
One example is the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
There, we see a high-quality campaign combining tetanus toxoid immunization with oral polio vaccine and other vaccines, vitamin A administration and deworming medicine.
Our Region is leading all others in new vaccine introduction, and was the first to provide Hib vaccine to infants in all of its low-income Member States.
In fact, more than 15 countries have introduced Hib vaccine in last three years.
This is expected to have a substantial impact on childhood mortality.
In addition, this was the leading Region for the rapid deployment of pandemic H1N1 (2009) vaccine last year.
We delivered the vaccine to 16 of our Member States who requested such assistance.
Over the past three years, WHO has played an ever greater, leading role in assisting low-income countries to make informed decisions on the introduction of vaccines.
We have established surveillance systems to measure the disease burden from pathogens such as rotavirus, pneumococcus, and Japanese encephalitis.
Progress towards the regional goals has been accompanied by increasing routine immunization coverage.
We have seen reported routine immunization coverage with a first dose of measles vaccine increasing from 92% in 2003 to 96% in 2009.
Reports of DTP3 coverage increased from 94% to 97% during the same period.
In an environment of decreasing resources, it is important to remember that immunization programmes substantially contribute to reducing child and maternal mortality, and to strengthening health systems and infrastructure.
During its 19th meeting, the TAG will continue to provide guidance to Member States on immunization.
It will focus on measles elimination, rubella control, and the prevention of congenital rubella syndrome, as well as on hepatitis B control, maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, and the maintenance of this Region's poliomyelitis-free status.
It is not long before we reach the end of 2012, and we have much work to do to achieve our mutual goals.
I thank all of you for your commitment in helping to make the Expanded Programme on Immunization a vibrant and productive programme in the Western Pacific Region.
I would like to offer sincere thanks to:
Ø the Australian Agency for International Development;
Ø the Canadian International Development Agency;
Ø the Government of Japan;
Ø the Government of Luxembourg;
Ø the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Ø the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Ø the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints;
Ø Rotary International District 2650;
Ø Shinnyo-en; and
Ø the United Nations Foundation.
All of you have contributed greatly to protecting many children from vaccine-preventable and other diseases.
We also thank GAVI for its continued support to both Member States and WHO.
At this point I would like to offer special thanks to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan for its generosity in funding this meeting.
I am sorry that this meeting could not be held in WHO's Regional Office itself but, as I think many of you know, our office is currently under reconstruction following extensive flood damage suffered last year.
However, I hope very much that you will be able to appreciate the renovated facilities when we host the 20th TAG meeting in 2011.
I am certain your meeting will be fruitful and I look forward to learning about the outcomes.
Once again, thank you, and enjoy your stay in Manila.