In Male, member countries of the WHO South-East Asia Region including India today vowed to build health systems able to cope with climate-related shocks and stress. Health Ministers and senior health officials from 11 countries India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste unanimously endorsed the Male Declaration to tackle the public health risks caused by climate change. Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia said, today's declaration demonstrates the commitment of the South-East Asia region's member countries to take effective and immediate action.<br/><br/>The declaration being adopted at the 70th Regional Committee session of the WHO South-East Asia Region the region's highest decision-making body builds on recent initiatives at country, regional and global levels to tackle the public health risks caused by climate change. It is accompanied by a Framework for Action to be implemented between 2017 and 2022, and calls on UN agencies and other international organisations for this purpose. A progress report would be presented at the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in 2022.