Zibe declines meetings but secures WHO seat

HEALTH Minister Sasa Zibe has refused to sit in regional and international meets because Papua New Guinea has some of the worse health indicators in the world.
This reflects poorly on our performance,” Zibe told a recent workshop.
Zibe and his delegate were in Malaysia for the 61st Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for the Western Pacific that comprised of 28 member countries.
In the meeting, Zibe confidently put his hand up for PNG to be the member of the WHO executive board representing the Western Pacific which PNG was elected unopposed to the board for the second time, the first time was from 1990-92.
Zibe has been passionate about improving the health indicators and with the support coming from the government, the line agencies and the reforms now being implemented in the health sector in health system strengthening further spurred him to confirm PNG representing the region in the world body.
“PNG is conscious that it had some of the worst health indicators in the Pacific. The government has just approved K14.17 billion to rehabilitate the health sector and transform the delivery of health services to the people of PNG. This is the message among others that would be presented to the World Health Assembly,” he said.