Indonesia Encourages One Health To Strengthen ASEAN Health Architecture

The photo archive - Workers put up the flag of ASEAN member states in the Mice area, Golo Mori Village, Labuan Bajo, NTT, Thursday (4/5/2023). (ANTARA PHOTO)

LABUAN BAJO - The 42nd ASEAN Summit meeting held in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, encourages the strengthening of the regional health architecture through a one health approach or health. The ASEAN Summit on May 10 to 11, 2023 has adopted the ASEAN Leaders ’ Declaration on One Health Initiative. "This One Health declaration is one of Indonesia's initiatives in the health sector as part of the main priority of the ASEAN socio-cultural pillar," said a statement from the Ministry of Health's Bureau of Communication and Public Services in a statement in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, May 12. The declaration is intended to strengthen the regional health architecture under the theme of Indonesia's chairmanship, “ ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth ”. Indonesia, through the ASEAN Leaders' declaration this time, invites all ASEAN member countries to identify zoonotic pathogens that threaten human health, animals, plants and the environment as the cause of the outbreak and have potential pandemics in the future. The identification effort was used as a reference for research and development, as well as investment in prevention, preparedness and response. This declaration also strengthens commitments by building networks, developing and collaborating multi-sectoral, as well as One Health Initiative coordination. Head of the Center for Global Health Policy and Health Technology, Ministry of Health Bonanza Officer Taihitu said the declaration also emphasized the need to share experiences, learning, and progress, as well as community involvement between ASEAN countries in the implementation of one health. The sustainability of the program requires adequate resources and support from the government, non-governmental entities and international development partners. "The preparation of the declaration has passed the stages of intensive discussion and collaboration of the human sector, animal health, agriculture, forestry, environment, and food in ASEAN member countries," he said. Bonanza also considers it important to explore further bilateral and multilateral initiatives, as well as cooperate with international organizations to contribute to one health approaches, both at ASEAN and at national levels, including efforts to ensure the availability of financing. The declaration also mandates that all health ministers in the ASEAN region work together to increase responsibility for animal health, agriculture, forestry, the environment, and food, as well as coordinate further to carry out the declaration. The One Health Initiative proposal departs from Indonesia's attention to the severe multidimensional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the possible impact of other infectious diseases that arise from zoonosis, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. This is the basis for Indonesia proposing to strengthen the health architecture in ASEAN.