Myanmar commits to regional health, economic recovery

Union Health Minister Dr Thet Khaing Win participated in the ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting’s second day on 25 August, hosted at Jakarta’s St Regis Hotel. Dignitaries like Indonesia’s Health Minister, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, and the ASEAN Health Ministers’ Alternate Chairman delivered speeches, preceded by opening remarks from Laos’ Health Minister.
During the session, Dr Thet Khaing Win underscored the shift in the COVID-19 pandemic from an emergency response to the pressing need for prevention, control, and treatment. Acknowledging Myanmar’s pandemic challenges, he highlighted successful collaborative efforts within the Ministry of Health, led by the Central Prevention, Control and Treatment Committee, in combatting and overcoming COVID-19. Myanmar’s economic and social landscape also suffered due to the pandemic, prompting the initiation of the Myanmar Economic Recovery Plan and the Myanmar COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan. These initiatives aim to bolster recovery and establish favourable economic conditions for sustainable national development.
The focus on enhancing the Genomic Surveillance System for pathogenic variations has been ongoing since 2021. The construction of Myanmar’s Disease Control Centre is almost complete, signalling the imminent establishment of an international and regional centre for infectious disease prevention and control. The Union minister stressed the significance of upgrading the Genomic Surveillance System and enabling Genomic Sequencing-capable laboratories to promptly identify and manage emerging viruses.
He also emphasized equitable aid distribution among ASEAN member countries, aligned with the principles of ASEAN Equality and ASEAN Centrality. Myanmar commits to improving regional health by collaborating with fellow ASEAN nations to establish a responsive, sustainable, and inclusive health system.
The meeting concluded with the approval of the Call for Action, slated for ratification at the forthcoming ASEAN Summit. The Myanmar delegation returned to Yangon via air yesterday. — MNA/KZW