DHAKA: World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to hold its upcoming 3-day meeting here in Dhaka participating by 11 South-East Asian countries health ministers to discuss key health issues facing the Region.

However, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the meeting while Bangladesh Health and Family Welfare minister Mohammed Nasim will host the program, said a WHO press release.

Moreover, the country is hosting this meet for the second time following of 2006 among 32 meetings of the health ministers’ of this region, the release added.

Nevertheless, the annual meeting of the statutory body, Regional Committee, will follow, ending on Sep 12.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste are the members of WHO’s south-east Asia region (SEARO) while the organization works across the world, divided into six regions.

According to WHO, the Health Ministers’ Meeting is a forum for exchange of views and for discussion on health issues important to the Region. It fosters cooperation among Member States and helps to forge bilateral and multi country cooperation in the field of health.

In addition, the Ministers of Health will discuss ways to address vector borne diseases and are expected to adopt the “Dhaka Declaration” on this issue.

BDST: 1127 HRS, SEP 03, 2014