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Recognizing the grave challenge posed by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted on Tuesday a joint declaration at their special summit in Bangkok on fighting the epidemic.
Following are excerpts of the joint declaration:
To cooperate in providing public information and education to promote public awareness and better understanding of the SARS epidemic as well as to prevent undue alarm on the part of the public;
To strengthen cooperation among front line enforcement agencies such as health, immigration, customs, transport and law enforcement in preventing the spread of SARS;
To direct health and other relevant ministers to promote, facilitate and enhance the exchange and sharing of information on how to deal with and counter the spread of SARS;
To cooperate in ensuring proper pre-departure health screening for travelers at the points of origin and arrival screening at entry points of ASEAN countries by qualified medical personnel;
To establish and strengthen an early warning system on emerging infectious disease at both national and regional levels in cooperation with the WHO and other international health programs;
To request the WHO to conduct a review of the classification of "affected" countries; review and update guidelines on travel; expedite the development of test kits and vaccines; and formulate and provide further technical guidelines on interventions relating to SARS;
To task relevant experts to consider a Health Emergency Fund within the existing ASEAN Foundation framework;
To maintain and strengthen the fundamental policies that have brought many years of growth and prosperity; and to keep the economies and borders open.
(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2003)
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