Hon. Saia Piukala will step down as Tonga's Minister of Health when he takes up his new role as WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region Office, early next year, he said yesterday.

On October 17 in Manila, he was elected by Health ministers and other senior officials from the Region’s Member States, yesterday, as the new designate Regional Director, during the 74^th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.

On his return to Tonga, Hon. Piukala, was welcomed by his health staff with a ‘Prayer Breakfast Celebration’ at Tofoa, yesterday, 25 October.

Hon. Piukala is the first Tongan and Pacific Islander to take up the regional role.

However, Piukala told fellow Ministry of Health staff that he was taking on a large responsibility.

"I didn't realize how difficult this responsibility will be until after the votes and I had to attend an important meeting," he said. "I found out in that meeting that one person will be responsible for 37 countries with a total population of 1.9 billion people."

Hon. Piukala's said that he would step down as Tonga's Minister of Health in order to take up his new role.

Meanwhile, he will remain as the Minister of Health in Tonga until his new seat at WHO's regional office is official. It is expected that he will take office as the Regional Director on 1 February 2024, for an initial term of five years.

Piukala said he wished to continue his work in Tonga as the Minister of Health, before embarking on his new journey.