The rising number of health emergencies in Southeast Asia and
the world formed the backdrop over the past two days for meetings
involving health ministers and have promoted closer regional
cooperation on the subject.??
Development of sustainable programs for Southeast Asian regional
cooperation were sought during a meeting of health ministers of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which took place on
Wednesday. That was the first day of the two-day conference in
Yangon, Myanmar.?
Titled "ASEAN Unity in Health Emergencies" the 8th ASEAN Health
Ministers Meeting was attended by more than 100 delegates from the
10-nation ASEAN and its dialogue partners -- China, Japan and South
Korea (+3).
Witnessing the challenges of public health emergencies over the
past two years such as the Tsunami caused by a seabed earthquake in
December 2004, the spread of bird flu and the possible outbreak of
a human influenza pandemic, the recent earthquake in Yogyakarta,
Indonesia, which were beyond the means of affected countries to
deal with, the meeting called for greater cooperation and
coordination among nations as well as unity, solidarity and
resilience in facing the challenges presented by health
emergencies.?
The central theme of ASEAN+3 health ministers meeting which met
on Thursday, the second day of the conference, was discussion on
joint initiatives on dealing with health
emergencies.??
At the conclusion of their second meeting the health ministers
laid down the second phase strategic framework for their emerging
infectious diseases (EID) program.?
The EID program's second phase activities would provide ASEAN+3
countries with greater opportunities to share and exchange
information and experience and expertise in combating threats to
the health and security of their people, according to a joint
statement.
These activities would also bring the ASEAN+3 countries closer
together in preparing for future threats of disease outbreak
including those related to natural disasters, bio-terrorism and
pandemic influenza. It would also facilitate partnerships among
existing networks and experts on public and animal health, the
statement said.
The ASEAN+3 health ministers reaffirmed their commitment to
closer collaboration in addressing key priorities for health
development policy coordination especially concerning international
health regulations, it said.
The ASEAN+3 ministers also devised plans to mount a regional
initiative which would bring together health, trade and other
relevant policy-makers and stakeholders to discuss and develop
consultative and inclusive multi-sector approaches for the
integration of healthcare into development agendas, the statement
added.?
The ASEAN+3 ministers agreed to ensure the momentum of
cooperation continued through joint initiatives in 2006-07 to
combat communicative diseases including HIV and EIDs and to assist
in building up health-related human resources among others, said
the statement.?
Following the ASEAN+3 meeting there was the first ever
ASEAN-China health ministers meeting which was held to push ahead
the cooperative ties on health issues between ASEAN and China.
The meeting discussed HIV/AIDS prevention and control, avian
influenza and EIDs, traditional medicines and the operation of the
ASEAN-China Public Health Fund.
China expressed a willingness to strengthen cooperation and
actively develop effective and pragmatic cooperative programs in
these areas.
China made a number of suggestions on establishing ASEAN-China
epidemic prevention and control mechanisms and improving
information exchange.
Also proposed by China was to use the ASEAN-China Public Health
Fund to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN countries on public
health and financial programs while welcoming proposals from ASEAN
and giving positive consideration to funding them.
Observers here said the meetings would contribute to closer
regional cooperation to meet the challenges of health emergencies,
assist the economic development of the region and raise the living
standards of people.
(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2006)