Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar joined ASEAN Health Ministers at a high-level meeting, virtually, on building a sustainable and resilient future in the ASEAN region: Long-Term Emergency Response on Management of COVID-19 on Thursday and Friday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting aimed at strengthening the ASEAN region’s capacity and its members’ preparedness, response and resilience in addressing health emergencies after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern in May.
The meeting also emphasised the importance of the lessons from the experience of ASEAN member countries in providing long-term emergency response on COVID-19 management.
It also focused on strengthening efforts toward the control of infectious diseases in the region through bilateral cooperation initiatives as well as multilaterally and development partners with regional and global entities towards strengthening regional health framework in the era of post-COVID-19 emergency; and provide input to ASEAN leaders to facilitate response to the current global health situation.
Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Management) at the Ministry of Health Dr Hajah Anie Haryani binti Haji Abdul Rahman and senior health officers also attended the meeting.
ASEAN Finance and Health Minister Meeting preceded the meeting on Thursday, attended in person by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah and attended online by the minister of health as well as senior officials from both ministries. – James Kon
