Public Health Focus for World Health Organization Regional Forum

February 2015

Professor Steve Allsop, Director of the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), recently attended the first World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre regional forum for the Western Pacific, held in the Philippines. He also represented NDARC and DASSA WHO Collaborating Centre for the Treatment of Drug and Alcohol Problems based in the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide. NDRI is a WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

The regional forum brought together WHO collaborating centres from 10 member states in the Western Pacific region, with the aim of strengthening strategic partnerships and sharing best practices to address public health challenges.

The meeting focussed on how WHO collaborating centres can contribute to WHO's strategic directions, share expertise and collaborate to address public health concerns, from communicable diseases to issues such as mental health and drug- and alcohol-related problems.

Professor Allsop was presented with a plaque of appreciation by Dr Shin Young-Soo, Regional Director of the WHO regional office for the Western Pacific.