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Home > Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala leaves Tonga government to take up regional role

Minister of Health Dr Saia Piukala leaves Tonga government to take up regional role [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday, January 12, 2024 - 18:35

Dr Saia Piukala says last goodbyes as he prepares to embark on to his new role as WHO regional director. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 12 January 2024. Photo: Matangi Tonga.

After 20 years as a public servant, nine years as Tonga's Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Saia Piukala, bid Tonga farewell today, as he leaves to take up a new role as the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region Office.

At a media briefing this afternoon, at St George Government Building,  he thanked King Tupou VI, the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku, the Ministry of Health, the people of his Constituency Vava’u 14 and the media.

"Thank you to His Majesty and the Hon Prime Minister for having trusted me with this role for almost 10 years now," he said.

PM Hon Hu'akavameiliku says a few emotional words of thanks for Dr Piukala. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 12 January 2024. Photo: Matangi Tonga.

A teary Prime Minister thanked Hon. Piukala for his service and dedication over the years, saying that Piukala's departure would be a big loss for the government and the Cabinet.

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

See more... [2]

Pacific Islands [3]
Tonga [4]
Government [5]
Minister of Health [6]
Dr Saia Piukala [7]
last goodbyes [8]
WHO Regional Director [9]
Government [10]

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Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2024/01/12/minister-health-dr-saia-piukala-leaves-tonga-government-take-regional-role

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2024/01/12/minister-health-dr-saia-piukala-leaves-tonga-government-take-regional-role [2] https://matangitonga.to/2023/10/26/hon-dr-saia-piukala-step-down-minister-health-take-new-role [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/pacific-islands?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/government?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/minister-health?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/tag/dr-saia-piukala?page=1 [8] https://matangitonga.to/tag/last-goodbyes?page=1 [9] https://matangitonga.to/tag/who-regional-director?page=1 [10] https://matangitonga.to/topic/government?page=1