In a critical step for emergency preparedness across the World Health Organisation South-East Asia Region (WHO-SEAR), member countries on Friday agreed to establish a dedicated funding stream aimed at building preparedness for health emergencies in the region, which is one of the most disaster-prone.
Regional Director of WHO-SEAR Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh said, to date, post-disaster funding through South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund has done an excellent job of helping countries respond to health emergencies, as witnessed most recently in Nepal and Sri Lanka. She said the new funding stream would allow countries to invest in infrastructure and human resources that will enhance preparedness.
In recent years earthquakes, cyclones and floods have caused health emergencies in the region. It has also been threatened by a range of emerging diseases, including SARS, MERS Coronavirus, pandemic influenza and Zika.
Establishing a joint funding stream under the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) to help countries better prepare for such events was seen by member countries as a key priority for the Regional health agenda. At present, SEARHEF funds are disbursed only following a disaster.
Another resolution passed by the session called for promoting physical activity across the region. Insufficient physical activity is a major contributor to rising rates of non-communicable diseases in the region, with four-fifth of adolescents not getting enough of it.
Dr. Khetrapal Singh said that “effective promotion of physical activity needs commitment at the highest level, with leadership from the health sector absolutely crucial”, and noted that “in this Regional Committee Meeting, Health Ministers have led by example, being role models for physical activity by themselves”.
The session also passed a resolution on health workforce strengthening which is vital to achieving universal health coverage – a key part of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of leaving no one behind. At present, the density of healthcare providers in the region is 12.5 per 10,000 population, which is less than the WHO recommended minimum of 44.5 per 10,000.
The Regional Committee meeting is WHO-SEAR’s highest decision-making body, and includes health ministers and senior health ministry officials of the 11 Member countries of the region – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.