ASEAN to work together towards one healthy community
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 6 September 2017 – ASEAN strives to provide universal health coverage to all people and would address the needs and concerns of vulnerable population guided by a rights-based approach. These are the focuses of the side events of the 13th ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting (AHMM) and Related Meetings which currently take place at the International Convention Centre, Bandar Seri Begawan.
In his keynote speech at the start of the side event, Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) said “crucial to the realization of the overarching goals of the ASEAN Community 2025 is the move towards a more inclusive ASEAN Community that promotes an improved quality of life, addresses barriers to the enjoyment of equitable access to opportunities by ASEAN peoples, and that promotes and protects human rights.”
As a prelude to the 13th AHMM and Related Meetings that start today, two side events concurrently took place yesterday. The first event “Addressing the health of vulnerable populations for an inclusive ASEAN community”, which was organised by Thailand, highlighted the health needs of vulnerable populations in ASEAN. Participants shared experiences, challenges and best practices on how to address them with a view to achieving the goals and objectives of the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda. ASEAN Member States shared experiences in the implementation of health initiatives for migrants and stateless populations through universal health coverage, disaster-affected populations, ageing population, victims of trafficking in persons, among others.
The event also underscored the global aspiration of ‘leaving no one behind’ and important instruments to protect the vulnerable populations in ASEAN, including the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection, ASCC initiative on promoting the Culture of Prevention. Since challenges remain in many areas, such as language barriers, geographic challenges, legislation housing issue, space, manpower, innovation, the health sector needs to work more closely with all relevant sectors to tackle these challenges so as to forge ahead together and leave no one behind.
The other side event, “Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Control: Together Towards a One Healthy ASEAN,” was organised by the Philippines. It was a follow up of the side event at the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva on 26 May 2017 that focused on the Role of Regional Cooperation in the Regulatory Reforms for NCD Prevention and Control.
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