Reception Launching the Candidature of Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado 

DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque introduces Dr. Susan Mercado – Philippine candidate for the post of Regional Director of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. (Geneva PM photo

GENEVA 11 June 2018 — A reception was held at the Palais des Nations at the sidelines of the 71st World Health Assembly on 23 May 2017 to launch the candidature of Dr. Susan Pineda-Mercado for the post of Regional Director of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WPR).   

Dr. Mercado has over three decades of experience in public health, both in the national and international setting. She was an Undersecretary at the Department of Health, and served as a Director for Non-Communicable Diseases and Health through the Life Course at the WHO-WPR Office. Today, she is the Special Envoy of the President for Global Health Initiatives and the Philippine bet for Regional Director to succeed Dr. Shin Young-soo.

Dr. Mercado’s platform of “Healthy Together, Today” sums up her vision of a healthy Western Pacific Region. The Western Pacific Region has a population of more than 1.7 billion people and stretches over a vast area, from China and Mongolia in the north, to New Zealand in the south. Culturally, politically, economically, and socially diverse, it simultaneously presents great challenges and immense opportunities in health.

The election will be held in October 2018 during the Regional Committee Meeting in Manila. END

For more information, visit www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinGenevaUN/

From left: Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Evan Garcia,

DOH Secretary Francisco T. Duque, Dr. Susan Mercado

and the delegation of Brunei (Geneva PM photo)

The candidate with First Secretary Maria Elena Maningat (center) and the team from the

Philippine Mission to the United Nations. (Geneva PM photo)