About WHO in Cook Islands

About WHO in Cook Islands

WHO/Yoshi Shimizu
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The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established on 7 April 1948 as the directing and coordinating authority in global public health within the United Nations system. Working at three levels in the Organization (global, regional and country), more than 7000 WHO staff worldwide collaborate with the governments of 194 Member States and other partners to achieve the WHO founding vision of the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people.

The Western Pacific Region

The WHO Western Pacific Region is home to more than one quarter of the world’s population, stretching over more than one third of the distance around the globe. In all, more than 600 WHO staff work in 15 country offices and the Regional Office in Manila, Philippines, to support Member States in achieving better health outcomes for the Region’s nearly 1.9 billion people in 37 countries and areas.

Tailored support for the Pacific

To coordinate and provide timely, tailored support and backstopping to 21 Pacific Island countries and areas, in 2010 the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office established the Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) in Suva, Fiji. The Division also includes six other offices in the Pacific; the Country Offices in Samoa and the Solomon Islands and Country Liaison Offices in Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga and Vanuatu. Working together as a Division, these offices provide support to: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.

The Division’s work spans five main areas of work and is delivered in close collaboration with Pacific governments, other UN agencies, development partners, donors, and non-governmental organisations to achieve better health outcomes for Pacific Island communities.

 

WHO History in Cook Islands

In May 1953, before its independence, Cook Islands was assigned to the Western Pacific Region at the Sixth World Health Assembly ''without prejudice to any questions regarding sovereignty'' as an area. On 4 August 1965, it became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. It joined the World Health Organization on 9 May 1984 as a Member State followed by the establishment of its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983. 

The WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific covered Cook Islands from 1956 to 1986, when the WHO Representative Office in Samoa was established to cover the American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau.

 

Country Data

Health profile
 

Contact WHO

WHO Representative in Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau:
Dr Wendy Snowdon

Office address:
2nd Floor, Nursing Credentialing Centre, Motootua, Apia, Samoa

Postal address:
PO Box 77, Apia, Samoa

Tel:
+685 24 976 (direct line) 
+685 23 756 
+685 23 757

Fax:
+685 23 765

Office hours:
08.00 - 17.00 (Monday to Friday)

Email:
wpwsmwr@who.int

Ministry of Health

Address:
P.O. Box 109, Avarua Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Tel:
+682 22664 (Hospital),
+682 29664 (Admin)

Fax:
+682 22670 (Hospital)
+682 23109 (Admin)

Email:
aremaki@health.gov.ck

Website:
http://www.health.gov.ck
https://www.facebook.com/CookIslandsHealth