BANGKOK, 6 May 2015 – The Thai government is hosting the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Meeting on “Steps towards Regional Strategic Collaboration in Asia-Pacific on Workforce Development, National Laboratory System Strengthening & Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention to Respond Global Challenges” during 6-8 May 2015 in Bangkok.
The meeting was opened today by Public Health Minister Rajata Rajatanavin with over 200 participants from 24 Asia-Pacific member countries and various international organizations including WHO, US CDC, USAID, FAO and OIE.
Hosting the event are five Thai ministries namely Public Health, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Agriculture and Cooperatives.
Mr.Rajata said that health problems are threats to social and economic development in every country. Ebola is the best example of such a threat. This has prompted WHO and all of its member countries to jointly push forward a safe world and global health security.
He told the meeting that Thailand would work alongside all members to extend cooperation in Asia and the Pacific as well as push forward a better regional plan. According to him, the Asia-Pacific countries have shaped the Agreement on Initial Roadmap of Regional Collaboration focusing on three aspects, namely the development of national laboratory system, workforce development, and antimicrobial resistance. Thailand will actively coordinate for the success of those action packages.
Sopon Mekthon, Director-General of the Disease Control Department, added that Thailand has set up the World Health Security Committee with cooperation from the five mentioned ministries and two other units namely the Ministry of Sceince and Technology and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. In that endeavour, the committee has outlined assistance framework including provision of scholarships and training, and laboratory diagnosis support for its neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
