Ken who is retiring next month was in the country last week to receive the honor.
“I was very surprised to receive the certificate of appreciation,” Ken said in an interview. “I was very touched. It was a great honor. I feel that I should have done much better.”
Ken was supposed to retire in June this year, but he was asked to stay longer. He’s been with the WHO South Pacific for seven and a half years, covering the 15 Pacific Island Countries. He was appointed as WHO Representative in the South Pacific in June 2003.
Ken was trained as a medical doctor at Anhui Medical University in China. After graduating from the Medical University, he worked at the Neurological Department of the affiliated hospital of the Medical University from 1976 to 1979.
From 1979 to 1981, he studied Chinese Medicine at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, and was awarded a Master’s Degree in Chinese medicine. From 1981 to 1990 he was a lecturer, associate Professor and Professor at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. In 1990, he joined WHO as Medical Officer, Traditional Medicine in WPRO. In 2000, he became the Regional Adviser responsible for traditional medicine, health research, health technology, blood safety and WHO collaborating centers in the WPR.
As the WHO Representative for the South Pacific, Ken provides guidance on WHO program development and support to countries. He maintains good relationships with countries and has close communication with ministers and senior staff of Ministries of Health and other government agencies of the Pacific Island Countries. He also deals and maintains good relations with the media.
Ken also coordinates with other UN agencies, other international and regional organizations, donor agencies and Non-Governmental Organizations.
At present, Ken has no plans yet after his retirement in December. “My brain is still occupied by my work,” he shared. When he gets back to Fiji, Ken said they will have a workshop for all WHO staff in the Pacific Island Countries to discuss the future.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be able to serve the Pacific Island Countries,” Ken said. “I really enjoyed my seven in a half years working as the WHO Representative for the South Pacific. I think it’s the best job in the whole organization. It’s very challenging and very interesting as well.”
Among Ken’s programs in Palau include Quality Assurance Program; Pacific Open Learning Network, Distance Learning Program for MOH Staff; Nurses Midwifery Training Program; implementation of Public Health Strategic Plan; Hospital and Clinical Services Strategic Planning and Human Resource Development.
The House Resolution stated that the House of Delegates finds that it is pertinent to bestow due recognition to Dr. Ken for his dedication to health development of the pacific region and especially to Palau.
The resolution was introduced by Delegate Kalistus Ngirturong.
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