The U.S. State Department appointed Director of Public Health and Social Services James W. Gillan to lead the U.S. delegation.
“This is significant for many reasons,” Gov. Eddie Baza Calvo said. “This is the first time Guam will lead this important delegation. I know Jim Gillan will be successful in highlighting the region’s health issues and bringing our concerns to the forefront of these international discussions.”
The annual meeting will allow Guam, the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands, and Pacific Island nations to agree on an agenda to set the budget and goals for the Western Pacific for 2012 to ‘13. Gillan will represent the interests of the U.S. as they apply to health-related issues in the Western Pacific.
One very important issue for Gillan and the island nations to address at the meeting is the dual burden of communicable and chronic diseases hampering economic growth in the region. Non-communicable diseases now are responsible for 75 percent of the region’s mortality. Many of those diseases are preventable.
Collaboration with counterparts at the meeting will address these issues and result in more attention on pressing health issues affecting the region, according to Calvo.
Guam will help shed more light on these significant health concerns. Gillan said he hopes his leadership will garner more support for Guam’s efforts from organizations like the WHO and the United Nations.
