The head of the Pacific Community, Colin Tukuitonga has been nominated as a candidate for the post of regional director of the World Health Organisation's western Pacific office.
Mr Tukuitonga tweeted he was honoured to be nominated by New Zealand and Pacific health ministers, alluding to it being time for change.
Honored to be nominated by NZ & Pacific Ministers of Health as a candidate for Regional Director of WHO Western Pacific Office - it’s time for change @PACNEWS1 @IBIupdate @MFATgovtNZ @dfat pic.twitter.com/aYIJeTiNIK
— Colin Tukuitonga (@ColinTukuitonga) May 20, 2018
According to him, if Pacific nations stick together and he is selected for the role his priorities would include responding effectively to non-communicable diseases and achieving quality health care in the region.
The Regional Office for the Western Pacific, located in Manila, the Philippines, represents WHO in the Asia Pacific. It operates semi-autonomously with its own regional budget.
