KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is leading a Malaysian delegation to the 72nd World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Committee Meeting in Himeji, Japan.

       Among the issues that will be discussed during the meeting are primer healthcare, Covid-19, school health, technical programmes development report as well as coordination and leadership efforts.

       Khairy is slated to conduct a series of two-way meetings with representatives from several countries.

       “He has been invited to speak as well during a special session with the theme ‘Communication for Health’ on Oct 28,” the ministry said in a statement.

       Among others, it said Khairy is scheduled to make an intervention statement on a Western Pacific Regional director’s report.

       According to the statement, Malaysia’s presence at the meeting is a manifestation of the country’s commitment in supporting the implementation of joint action by member countries in preventing, controlling and treating infectious diseases, non-infectious diseases and new diseases.

       “Malaysia’s inclusion in the meeting is very important to ensure the country’s policy interests are given consideration by WHO towards making better decisions.

       “The country also has the opportunity to state its stand on developing the health sector at the national and international levels,” it said.

       The meeting will take place from today until Oct 29. Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and the ministry’s senior officers are also part of the delegation.

       In a statement yesterday, Dr Noor Hisham said 5,666 new infections were reported along with four new clusters.