Devex: ‘Lack of solidarity’ cost Pacific nations senior WHO representation, former candidate says
“Pacific islands lost the opportunity for senior representation at the World Health Organization by failing to cooperate in the recent vote for the Western Pacific regional director, according to former candidate Dr. Colin Tukuitonga. … It’s a lack of solidarity in the Pacific that he considers the greatest risk. … Tukuitonga said that he would have been able to provide a stronger role in decision-making for a region where clean water, noncommunicable diseases, life expectancy, and infant mortality are issues threatening the health and economic potential of nations — and provided better information to shape decisions on health-related matters. But Japanese medical doctor Takeshi Kasai was confirmed as the new regional director of the WHO Western Pacific office in late January instead…” (Cornish, 2/11).