BANGKOK, 16 December 2014 – Mr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Director of the South-East Asian Office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed his gratitude to Thailand for playing host to the “ASEAN Plus Three Health Ministers’ Special Meeting on Ebola Preparedness and Response” which was concluded yesterday (15 Dec).
The WHO regional director conveyed his thanks to General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, when he paid a courtesy call on him at the Foreign Ministry. Spokesman of the ministry Sek Wannametee said the WHO representative admired Thailand for her leading roles in the development t of public health in ASEAN.
Although the Ebola outbreak has not reached Asia yet, Poonam said the special meeting in Thailand has helped raise public awareness of the deadly virus and prompted all sectors in Asia to be ready to deal with the disease both at national and regional levels.
Poonam also commended the Universal Health Coverage Scheme of Thailand which has been incorporated as one of the six WHO’s public health strategies. WHO has also used Thailand as a model of public health service for other developing countries.
During the meeting Gen Tanasak confirmed the WHO representative of Thailand’s commitment to push forward public health issue as an important agenda in the post-2015 development guideline of the UN.
