Public Health
Born out of the ASEM initiative addressing the rapid containment of pandemic influenza, the ASEF Public Health Network draws attention to the need for enhanced international cooperation on transnational issues linked with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Asia and Europe. The programme will receive financial support from the Government of Japan for the period 2009 to 2013 as it carries out its mission of enabling public health dialogue by establishing a multi-sector and multi-level platform between Asia and Europe focused on the exchange of best practices, capacity building and information distribution.
ASEF Public Health Network
2nd Advisory Group Meeting
26 – 27 January 2011
Singapore
Eight Advisory Group Members from international and regional organisations, non-profits and the private sector across Asia and Europe convened for the 2nd Advisory Group Meeting of the Public Health Network. While members offered technical inputs on 2011's activities, the agenda also included the future projects to be executed by the ASEF Public Health Network and possible partnerships for future initiatives.
Following the meeting was a public talk on “Regional Integration and Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases' Surveillance in Asia and Europe”, featuring keynote speaker, Dr Ailan Li, Medical Officer of World Health Organisation – Western Pacific Regional Office. Her presentation covered the current state of regional disease surveillance mechanisms, the challenges to be addresses and the possible ways forward.
In partnership with the Centre for Non-traditional Security, S. Rajaratnam School for International Studies of the Nanyang Technological University (RSIS Centre for NTS Studies).
Public Health Network
ASEF-ASAP Strategy Development
Workshop for Multi-sector Pandemic Preparedness
9 – 10 June 2011
Bangkok, Thailand
With the conclusion of 2010’s scenario development workshops, the ASEF Public Health Network shifted attention to the development of strategies for pandemic preparedness in Asia and Europe. Key areas such as human security, health, environment and food were the focal points as a panel of experts worked towards developing multi-sector and sector-specific pandemic preparedness strategies according to the ASEF-ASAP (Accurate Scenarios Active Preparedness) scenarios.
20 participants from UN agencies, ASEM governments, media, international donor agencies, corporations and civil society engaged in interactive workshops, put forth recommendations and presented them at the ASEF-ASAP’s public launch following the workshop.
Public Health Network
ASEF-ASAP Public Launch of Scenarios
13 June 2011
Bangkok, Thailand
The launch of the ASEF Public Health Network’s ASEF-ASAP (Accurate Scenarios Active Preparedness) scenarios was held in Bangkok on 13 June 2011. Covering possible future scenarios, they serve to safeguard Asia and Europe from potential pandemics and public health emergencies.
Witnessed by Guest-of-Honour, Dr Siriwat Tiptaradol, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, the event showcased visitors a series of short animated films depicting the scenarios, while a digital book offered more detailed information. ASEF facilitators were on hand to describe the outcomes and development of the multi-sectoral strategies to pre-empt pandemics based on these scenarios.
Representatives from Thai ministries, foreign embassies in Bangkok, Thai academia, chambers of commerce, UN agencies and international non-profit organisations participated in the panel discussion and interaction session which followed.
10th Asia-Europe Young Volunteers Exchange (AEYVE): Health on Stage
20 August – 1 October 2011
Bangalore, Chennai and Mysore, India
Health on Stage initiated a dialogue among 21 volunteers from 14 ASEM countries on water-related health issues concerning slum-dwellers in Bangalore, workers in an industrial area in Chennai and villagers in Mysore. Organised within the framework of the International Year of Volunteering +10 (IYV+10), the AEYVE has three phases namely training, field implementation and evaluation. During the project’s second phase, Health on Stage volunteers, together with local communities, put up forum theatre performances.
The 30th of September marked the Open Day event in Bangalore which offered participants and organisers a platform to share insights on the project with the media, NGOs and other interested parties.
In partnership with the Coordinating Committee for International Voluntary Service (CCIVS) with the cooperation of Field Services and inter-cultural Learning (FSL) India.
Public Health Network Strategy Development Workshop on Preparedness for Pandemics and Public Health Emergencies in the Passenger Air Transport Sector
15 – 16 December 2011
Budapest, Hungary
With extensive air travel exacerbating the spread of infectious diseases across the globe, a vigorous pandemic preparedness plan is paramount for the industry. To this end, ASEF put together a workshop aimed at engineering strategies to preempt pandemic and public health emergencies in the sector.
Outlining challenges in existing plans, experts from major airline companies, airport hubs, government institutions and international agencies in the health and aviation industries leveraged the ASEF-ASAP (Accurate Scenarios Active Preparedness) scenarios to design new strategies for improvement.