Japan’s Dr. Shigeru Omi is/was a senior World Health Organization (WHO) offiical. He stepped down a couple days ago and was replaced by Dr. Shin Young-Soo of the ROK. Dr. Omi reflected on his 10 years on the post.

1. Tuberculosis in the Western Pacific Region dropped from 1,000 daily deaths to 600.

2. Tobacco control, fights against HIV/AIDS, measles and maternal mortality also made impressive progress.

The biggest problem – health care financing and building up human resources to fight the averse effects of climate change (global warming). “Dr Shigeru Omi said climate change would expand the range of mosquitoes that carry malaria and dengue to areas other than their natural Southeast Asia habitat.”

Omi continued,  “I must be honest. We have not been as successful in this area as we have with communicable diseases.”

So, what are we going to do? We can’t stop the world from its warming trend, but maybe we can do something about health care.