About WHO in Palau

About WHO in Palau

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 May 1953, Palau was assigned to the Western Pacific Region at the Sixth World Health Assembly ''without prejudice to any questions regarding sovereignty'' as an area. It was a member of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands dominated by the United States of America until the Office of the High Commissioner determined to end the association on 10 July 1987. All functions were transferred to individual governments, including Palau. 

On 9 March 1995, Palau joined WHO as one of its Member States. Palau was initially covered by the WHO Representative Office in Singapore in 1957, and by the WHO Representative Office in Taipei, China (Taiwan) from 1959 to 30 June 1972, when the Ofice was closed. In 1972, responsibility for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was transferred to the Western Pacific Regional Office, and in 1976, it was decided that the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was to come under the WHO Representative Office in the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. In August 2010, the WHO Country Liaison Office was established in the Federated States of Micronesia to cover the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands.

 

Country Data

Health profile
 

Contact WHO

The WHO Country Liaison Officer in Northern Micronesia:
Dr Momoe Takeuchi

Office address:
Capitol Suites and Offices
Department of Health and Social Affairs
Suite 201
Palikir, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Postal address:
PO Box PS70
Department of Health and Social Affairs
Mogethin Building
Palikir, Pohnpei, FM 96941

Telephone number:
+691 320-2619
+691 320-2643
+691 320-2872

Office hours:
08.30 - 17.00 hours (Monday to Friday)

Email:
wpfsmclo@who.int

Department of Health

Address:
One Hospital Road, Meyuns, Koror P.O.Box 6027, Koror, Republic of Palau, 96940

Telephone number:
(680) 488 2552 / 488 2553

Fax number:
(680) 488 1211

Email: 
administration@palauhealth.org