Forum Leaders endorse Dr Tangi as WHO's Western Pacific Director [1]
Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 18:21. Updated on Sunday, October 26, 2014 - 16:06.
The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have officially endorsed Tonga's nominee, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Hon Dr. Viliami Ta'u Tangi, for the post of Regional Director for Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organisation (WHO) through their Communique issued at the end of the 39th Forum meeting in Niue on 20 August 2008.
The Forum Leaders noted the importance of the World Health Organisation (WHO), both at the regional and international level, and that Forum members constitute just over one half (16 out of 30) of the total membership of the Western Pacific region of WHO.
The Forum Leaders also noted that the position of the Regional Director of the Western Pacific region of WHO would be decided upon at the next meeting of the WHO Regional Committee of the Western Pacific in Manila, Philippines, in September 2008 and, ". . . warmly endorsed and agreed to promote the Government of Tonga's candidate, the Hon Dr Viliami Tangi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, for the position."
The Prime Minister, Hon Dr. Fred Vaka'uta Sevele, said, that in the 60 year history of the Western Pacific Region of the WHO this is the first time that a candidate from the Pacific Islands has been nominated and the Tonga Government is extremely grateful to all of the Forum Leaders for their willingness to endorse Dr Viliami Tangi for the post.
He also said that even though Dr. Tangi is Tonga's nominee, the Forum's endorsement makes Dr. Tangi the nominee of the whole Pacific region. The Forum gave their endorsement noting his excellent credentials for the position. PM Office, 21/08/08.