On 25 – 27 September 2014, H.E. Prof. Dr. Rajata Rajatanavin, Minister of Public Health of Thailand, along with a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Public Health, visited Washington, D.C. to participate in the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) White House Event. The GHSA is an international cooperation framework which discusses public health implications on security. The meeting was attended by Ministers of Public Health and high-level representatives from over 40 countries, including President Barack Obama, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Health and Human Services, as well as heads of international organizations such as the World Health Organizations (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Bank. The meeting focused on garnering international support to address Ebola virus disease epidemic in West Africa, including other global health security issues. In addition, participants exchanged information on measures to prevent, detect and respond to cross-border infectious diseases and how to strengthen capacity building of countries in order to comply with the International Heath Regulations. During the meeting, the Minister also met with his counterparts from other countries and Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. Prior to the meeting on 25 September 2014, the Minister met Dr. Keiji Fukuda, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Security. They exchanged views on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, including how Thailand could increase its assistance to the affected countries, in addition to a donation of 5 million baht worth of Thai rice through the WHO to help the peoples facing food shortage crisis in the countries. Dr. Fukuda expressed appreciation for Thailand’s willingness to consider additional assistance. On 26 September 2014, the Minister also met with a number of global health experts from the Global Health Policy Center of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the United States Agency for international Development (USAID). He affirmed Thailand’s commitment to assist the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak and informed the meeting of Thailand’s measures to monitor and handle suspected Ebola cases in the country. The Minister also gave an interview to the Thai language service of Voice of America (VOA) about his visit to the United States.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:24:47 +0000