THE second day of the 15th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings took place in Bali, Indonesia, yesterday. The meetings were attended by Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win, together with the Health Ministers and Deputy Health Ministers from the ASEAN countries and dialogue partners, China, South Korea, and Japan.
As the first portion of the morning
session, the Union Minister spoke about the importance of the health system for
every country, the need to reduce private expenditures in accessing health care
for the people, adding that he hoped that South Korea would share its
experience with the ASEAN countries on achieving universal health coverage
using ICT in a short period. The meeting approved the joint statement of the
first ASEAN-South Korea Health Ministers’ Meeting.
In the 9th ASEAN+3 Health
Ministers’ Meeting, Union Minister Dr Thet Khaing Win discussed that public
health emergencies are frequent and that healthcare resources such as health
manpower, medicines and medical equipment, and health budgets are insufficient,
adding that it is necessary to make efficient use of limited health resources.
He said Myanmar is coop erating not
only with regional countries but also with countries around the world. Efforts
were made to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic with the concerted efforts in
various sectors related to health. He also highlighted the importance to
disseminate information on communicable diseases to ASEAN member countries in
response to pandemics and to use health resources efficiently. He said that
Myanmar will effectively connect with countries not only in the region but also
around the world, taking advantage of future challenges and opportunities to
improve public health. The meeting approved the joint statement of the 9th
ASEAN+3 Health Ministers’ Meeting.
In 8th ASEAN-China Health
Ministers’ Meeting in the afternoon session, Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win
discussed the establishment of Myanmar Centre for Disease Control with the
assistance of the People’s Republic of China for effective control of
communicable diseases such as COVID-19, expressing words of thanks for the
COVID-19 vaccines and the assistance in the establishment of the centre which
will provide scientific information and services to the Ministry of Health as
well as other related ministries regarding Myanmar’s communicable disease
prevention and control activities. In addition, it will also be able to carry out
laboratory tests for pathogens, and to interact with communicable disease
control centers in the countries in the region.
He added that the animal pathogens
for the current COVID-19 epidemic and future epidemics are being monitored
through one health approach, and the rapid dissemination of information,
analysis of infectious diseases would reduce the risk of human catastrophe.
Then, the meeting released the
joint statement of the 8th ASEAN-China Health Ministers’ Meeting.
In the ASEAN-US Health Ministers’
Meeting attended by health ministers from ASEAN including Myanmar and US
Department of Health and Human Services, Union Minister Dr. Thet Khaing Win
discussed that strengthening the health system plays an important role in
public health emergencies. He said Myanmar has made every effort to control the
spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in line with the five-point roadmap of the
State Administration Council despite the sabotage acts carried out by terrorist
groups to health care staff at vaccination sites. He highlighted that the
COVID-19 vaccinations have been carried out to persons with disability, armed
ethnic organizations, displaced persons, in addition to the set targeted
groups. He added that the vaccination to the children age 12 and above will be
conducted in coming weeks.
He said humanitarian assistance
through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster
Management-AHA Centre is being conducted by the government together with the
Myanmar Red Cross Society.
Before concluding the meeting, the
joint statement of the ASEAN-US Health Ministers’ Meeting was released.
MNA
#TheGlobalNewLightOfMyanmar
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