DOH to push for disaster health management in ASEAN Summit

DOH Spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said he is hoping that topics on disaster health management will be included in the ASEAN health related outcome documents as well as the ASEAN Leaders’ health declaration on anti-microbial resistance, and ending all forms of malnutrition. (Photo: Department of Health (Philippines)/Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) will recommend in the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to have a common and solid plan on how to address different disaster health concerns.

DOH Spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said he is hoping that topics on disaster health management will be included in the ASEAN health related outcome documents as well as the ASEAN Leaders’ health declaration on anti-microbial resistance, and ending all forms of malnutrition.

“For disaster health management, we have recognized the critical role of humanitarian assistance in reducing the loss of lives, minimizing disability and preventing infectious disease outbreaks,” he said.

“The different ASEAN member states are all victims of different disaster health problems, that’s why as one group, we all need to be prepared to address the different disasters that would affect the ASEAN member states.”

Suy noted that having a well-prepared plan on how to respond to calamities would be beneficial for all the countries.

“Hopefully they get to discuss on how do we prepare now, the different ASEAN members face on a possible eventuality of disaster and we all know that the way to go for us to be able to respond properly is to be able to promote a good preparedness plan,” the DOH official said.

He added that such plan is needed since not all countries in the region have the same level in responding to calamities.

“We are very concerned that not all ASEAN member states are all at the same level in as far as preparedness is concerned,” Suy said.

“So through ASEAN, capacity building will be provided as well to different states for us to have a common language when we talk about preparedness. And since we’re talking about regional level here, it’s also providing assistance to countries that will be affected by disaster,” he added.

World leaders in the region will be convening in Metro Manila and Clark, Pampanga for the 31st ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings set from Monday to Tuesday.