MANILA (Pacnews) — Rising threats to health and security could place international public health in peril unless countries adopt a global health response to disease outbreaks and other health-related concerns, the World Health Organization warns.
“Health and international security are closely intertwined. A danger in one country can present a risk to communities on the other side of the world,” said Dr. Shigeru Omi, WHO Regional director for the Western Pacific.  “We must all work together to minimize the international impact of infectious diseases by building up health capacity to prevent, detect, report and respond to these threats.”
Consequently, this year’s theme for World Health Day is international health security with the message that we must “invest in health, build a safer future.” 
Since 1950, WHO has spearheaded the worldwide observance of World Health Day every April 7 to raise awareness of key global health issues.
Emphasizing the importance of collective action, Omi called for faster and more transparent information sharing among countries and urged rich nations to do more to help poor nations address risks to international health security. 
Countries should be more proactive in protecting populations from the consequences of natural disasters, emerging diseases and other key health-related issues, Omi said.
Of  the six WHO regions, the Western Pacific has been the most affected by disease outbreaks and natural disasters, enduring one challenge after another in recent years from SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, and avian influenza to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, floods and typhoons.