Guam leads U.S. delegation at WHO

by Krystal Paco 

Guam - For the first time ever, a Guam representative was selected to lead the United States delegation at the annual World Health Organization session held in Manila earlier this month. Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services director James Gillan led the contingent at the 62nd session of the WHO Regional Committee earlier this month in the Philippines.

WHO is comprised of 37 countries and territories including China, Australia, Samoa, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands. "We're all basically health people who want to help people live healthier lives," Gillan said. He added that the meeting is essential to building relationships with others in the pacific because of common health concerns. "Even though some of these countries are fairly industrialized and have large populations, but their health issues are the same across the board," he noted.

Across the board, non-communicable diseases are responsible for 75% of the region's mortality. Gillan explained, "Obesity, cancer, stroke, diabetes - all the things that spin off diabetes - hypertension, kidney problems, dialysis and, of course, the cancers mostly related to smoking...all of these things are preventable."

Gillan says the who's budget for 2012-2013 is approximately $173,000,000, but Guam's U.S. affiliation restricts our share to some $30,000. That affiliation also keeps us from purchasing cheaper medications from European manufacturers or the who due to U.S. free trade restrictions. "I'm a public health guy," the director continued, "I want to get the best drugs at the cheapest price and get people taken care of…because of our American affiliation, we're forced to buy drugs that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration."

He told KUAM News that he looks forward to the 63rd WHO session, which will be held in Vietnam next September, where a representative from American Samoa or the CNMI will step-up as the U.S. delegate.