Download asean health ministers* special video conference on the threat of

ASEAN HEALTH MINISTERS’ SPECIAL VIDEO CONFERENCE ON THE
THREAT OF ZIKA VIRUS IN THE REGION
Bandar Seri Begawan, 19 September 2016
In strengthening health collaboration among ASEAN Member States in order to
promote collective action for regional preparedness, surveillance and response to
emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including Zika virus disease, ASEAN
Health Ministers convened a Special Video Conference on the Threat of Zika Virus
in the Region today, September 19th 2016. The meeting was chaired by the
Honorable Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Zulkarnain bin Hj Hanafi, Minister of Health Brunei
Darussalam and hosted by the Ministry of Public Health Thailand.
In his opening remarks, the Honorable Minister of Health noted that engaging with
communities to promote environmental sanitation, health and wellbeing and
encouraging shared responsibility for health, through a Health is Everyone’s
Business approach, is the most effective counter to public health threats such as
Zika Virus Disease and other emerging and re-emerging diseases.
Among the issues discussed during the video conference were the global and the
regional situation of Zika Virus, strategic management approaches for cooperation
among ASEAN Member States such as surveillance, prevention, control, public
communication, preparedness and response to Zika Virus in the region.
The ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) issued a Joint Statement among
other things reaffirming ASEAN preparedness and response to Zika virus disease
and other emerging and re-emerging diseases in the region through effective
implementation of the strategies and measures to the best of their capacities for
the health security and well-being of everyone. These include:
1
 strengthening in-country disease surveillance and risk assessment with support
from the World Health Organisation;
 taking appropriate measures to manage risks of Zika virus;
 to communicate such risks appropriately; and
 knowledge sharing and knowledge generation.
Prior to ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM), a Senior Officials Meeting on
Health Development (SOMHD) was held and chaired by Dr Hajah Maslina binti Haji
Mohsin, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) in preparation for the ASEAN
Health Minister Meeting.
-END-
Date
References
: 19 September 2016/ 17 Zulhijjah 1437
: KK/PR/3
2