ASEAN+3 health ministers pose for family
photos during their special meeting on dealing with influenza A/H1N1 in
Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 8, 2009. The meeting of the health
ministers of ASEAN countries and China, Japan and South Korea was resolved
to launch precautions against the possible spread of the deadly A/H1N1 flu
in the region. (Xinhua/Shi Xianzhen)
Photo
Gallery
by Zhu Li
BANGKOK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Right before the press
conference on Friday at the end of ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Special
Meeting on Influenza A/H1N1 in Thailand's capital, the health ministers from the
13 states, as well as the ASEAN chief and Thai prime minister stood hand-in-hand
on the stage.
That picture may vividly illustrate ASEAN Plus Three
countries' response to the threat of A/H1N1 flu epidemic: cooperation.
The ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Special Meeting
fell on Thursday and Friday in Bangkok, in a bid to review the regional and
global situation of the new flu strain, to explore regional collective
strategies and measures to combat the flu, and to generate the commitments of
attending health ministers to tackling the epidemic.
The ministerial session of the meeting concluded on
Friday afternoon with the release of Joint Ministerial Statement on Influenza
A/H1N1, signed by health ministers from the ASEAN members -- Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam -- and from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.
Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco
T. Duque III (L4) reads a statement during a press conference following
the close of the ASEAN+3 health ministers' special meeting on dealing with
influenza A/H1N1 in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 8, 2009. The meeting
of the health ministers of ASEAN countries and China, Japan and South
Korea was resolved to launch precautions against the possible spread of
the deadly A/H1N1 flu in the region. (Xinhua/Tana)
Photo Gallery
The joint statement helps to harmonize the key flu
control and prevention measures taken by these countries, and boosts their
cooperation in four areas: ensuring data and information sharing on epidemic
situation; establishing joint outbreak investigation and response teams;
enhancing laboratory work, strengthening collaborative researches on influenza.
The countries also agree to establish system for
sharing of essential supplies among national stockpiles "in case of emergency
needs" and to ensure prompt sharing of information by setting up hotlines among
national health authorities.
The two-day special meeting, proposed by Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 29 and hosted in Thailand, drew attention of the
world, rather than just of the ASEAN Plus Three member states. World Health
Organization (WHO), World Bank, United Nations System Influenza Coordination
(UNSIC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAQ), United Nations Development
Program (UNDP), and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were
also involved in the information-updating and measure-brainstorming process.
At the senior official session on Thursday,
participants updated the global and regional situation of the flu epidemic, and
discussed the draft of the joint ministerial statement.
Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, gave her
advice about anti-epidemic measures at the opening of ministerial session on
Friday, reminding countries to refrain from introducing economically and
socially disruptive measures that lack solid scientific backing and bring no
clear public health benefit.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
addresses the opening ceremony of the ASEAN+3 Health Ministers' Special
Meeting on dealing with influenza A/H1N1 in Bangkok, capital of Thailand,
May 8, 2009. The meeting of the health ministers of ASEAN countries and
China, Japan and South Korea was resolved to launch precautions against
the possible spread of the deadly A/H1N1 flu in the region. (Xinhua/Shi
Xianzhen)
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Gallery
"The rational use of travel- and trade-related
measures is always wise. It is all the more wise at a time of the severe
economic downturn," she said.
The joint statement later clarifies that the
attending states will comply with WHO's recommendations on international travels
instead of imposing travel restrictions, in order to prevent social and economic
disruption to global and regional communities.
The statement also confirms other commitments of the
attending countries, including continuously implementing of the national
pandemic preparedness plans, intensifying the performance of surveillance and
response system, as well as ensuring effective intersectoral communication.
The transfer of the technology for the production of
antiviral medicine and flu vaccines will be encouraged and the regional
collaborative researches on influenza be strengthened, says the statement.
China's Health Minister Chen Zhu attends
a press conference following the close of the ASEAN+3 health ministers'
special meeting on dealing with influenza A/H1N1 in Bangkok, capital of
Thailand, May 8, 2009. The meeting of the health ministers of ASEAN
countries and China, Japan and South Korea was resolved to launch
precautions against the possible spread of the deadly A/H1N1 flu in the
region. (Xinhua/Tana)
Photo Gallery
It also requests WHO, other United Nations Agencies
and international development agencies and ASEAN to provide more support,
including technical and financial ones based on need assessment.
The ASEAN Plus Three health ministers will try to
bring the outcome of this meeting to the attention of the 62nd session of the
World Heath Assembly, which will take place on May 18-22, 2009 in Geneva.
China's Health Minister Chen Zhu attended the meeting
and extended China's firm support to the joint statement, saying that it "not
only reflects our consensus and strong will, but also outlines important actions
to contain the influenza A/H1N1 virus."
In his address at the opening of Friday's session,
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the meeting was a "testimony to
the strong relationship and common resolve" of the ASEAN Plus Three countries.
Clusters of A/H1N1 flu outbreaks have appeared in
multiple locations in Mexico, the United States and then across the world,
taking the death toll of at least 44 since the first infection case was reported
on 17 March. According to the update from WHO, at least 2,371 confirmed cases
have been found in 24 countries and areas globally.
WHO urges ASEAN Plus Three countries
to help curb A/H1N1 flu outbreak
BANGKOK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) Friday urged the
ASEAN Plus Three countries to help curb the deadly A/H1N1 flu outbreak.
"From past experience, ASEAN+3 countries know what it
means to be at center-stage during the outbreak of a new disease. We must battle
misperceptions with the facts, and respond to the disease with the facts. I know
you will help me on this front as well," said Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO
Director-General. Full story
ASEAN+3 releases Joint Ministerial
Statement on Influenza A/H1N1
BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers Special Meeting
on Influenza A/H1N1 concluded on Friday with a joint statement vowing to
establish supplies and information sharing system as well as to set up hotlines
among national health authorities.
The statement clarifies that the attending states will
comply with recommendations of World Health Organization (WHO) on international
travels instead of imposing travel restrictions, in order to prevent social and
economic disruption to the global and regional communities. Full story
Official: ASEAN summits to be held on
June 13, 14 if dates convenient for attending countries
BANGKOK, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The ASEAN Summit and
Related Summits will be held on June 13 and 14 if the dates are convenient for
all countries involved, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan Secretary-General of ASEAN said
Friday.
It's a matter of preparation and if the dates are
convenient for all countries and documents are available, the meeting will
beheld, Surin said at a press conference closing the ASEAN + 3 Health Ministers'
Special Meeting on Influenza A/H1N1. Full story
Special Report:
World Tackles A/H1N1
Flu
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