WHO and the Ministry of Health celebrated #WHD75 this year with monks and local government leaders in Punakha today. Speaking at the event, the Acting Dasho Secretary, Pemba Wangchuk, said that the decision to celebrate this year's event with monks was made to express gratitude for their hard work during the pandemic. Dasho said Bhutan's success in the pandemic was the result of everyone playing their part under the guidance of His Majesty the King.
The Venerable Mache Zimpoen, one of the most important spiritual leaders in Bhutan's central monastic body, Namgyel Wangchuk, graced the event as the chief guest. His Eminence said that before the advent of modern medicine and science in Bhutan, health was closely tied to religion. For most Bhutanese, health and religion are still inseparable, which is why health workers and monks must work together for the benefit of the Bhutanese people.
WHO Representative, Dr Rui Paulo de Jesus relayed the message from Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of the WHO South-East Asia on World Health Day. This year's celebration is special as it marks 75 years of WHO's work in improving public health and well-being of people in the South-East Asia Region and globally. It also marks 40 years of WHO's work in Bhutan. It is an opportunity to reflect on the successes as well as to look ahead to future challenges.