PR96044

DENPASAR, Indonesia, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

ASEAN members agreed on setting up the ASEAN Center for Public Health

Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) at the 15th ASEAN Health Minister

Meeting (15th AHMM)  in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia on May 11-15, 2022.

Indonesian Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that Southeast Asia's

regional bloc agreed to solidify the three main pillars of pandemic

preparedness-prevention, detection, and response-and enshrined them into a

capacity building center.

"These centers will build the capability and capacity of all ASEAN countries to

prepare themselves if there is a potential for a new pandemic," said Minister

Budi at a press conference following the closing session of the 15th AHMM.

The center will be financed from contribution of ASEAN member countries as well

as other potential contribution of donor countries. Japan has expressed its

support to ACPHEED operation after learning that the AHMM in Bali agreed to the

center's founding principle, the division of tasks, and the extend of the

center's authorities.

The formal accord of the ACPHEED establishment is to be signed by later this

year.

"We hope that if it can be signed in September, so we can start building it. In

Indonesia, we expect that we can use the facility by next year," said Budi.

ACPHEED will make it easier for ASEAN member states to tap into health

resources with variety of prevention, detection and response competencies

developed and stored in the three facilities located in the large economies in

the region--Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.

During the five-day meeting, the three countries expressed their intent and

readiness to establish ACPHEED facilities with specific competencies. Indonesia

will focus on skills such as disease surveillance and response.

Minister Budi added that besides agreeing to establish the center, ASEAN agrees

to adopt and harmonize health protocol standards throughout ASEAN.

"Should there be another pandemic, ASEAN countries are ready," he said.

SOURCE: The Indonesian Ministry of Health

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   Caption: ASEAN member states accept mutual recognition of COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate