AMN
The 5th meeting of SAARC Health Ministers held here today, adopted the “Delhi Declaration on Public Health Challenges”. The full text of the Declaration is as follows:-
Recognizing that the SAARC Member States account for nearly a quarter of the world population and face similar or even same challenges in the field of public health, prevention of diseases and providing better quality of life for our citizens;
Noting the past efforts emanating from the deliberations at previous meetings of SAARC Health Ministers including the meeting at Maldives in 2012, Dhaka in April 2006, Islamabad in 2005 and New Delhi in 2003, and the progress made for collaboration and cooperation among the Member States;
Guided by the emphasis placed by the Heads of States or Governments at the 18th SAARC Summit at Kathmandu, Nepal on 26-27 November, 2014 on the importance of achieving universal health coverage, improving health regulatory systems, preparedness for emerging and reemerging diseases and the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance and non-communicable diseases;
Cognizant of the fact that infectious diseases and pathogens do not recognize political and geographical boundaries, global integration, trade, travel and commerce make all countries vulnerable to threat of outbreaks which may emerge from any part of the globe;
Concerned that health systems and response mechanisms require further strengthening in each country especially in countries with less financial and technical resources;
Recognizing, the dedicated work done by healthcare workers for containing the recent Ebola virus disease outbreaks in certain countries, and that the public health emergency of international concern still continues including for the countries in the SAARC region;
Noting the recommendations made by the Fifth Meeting of Technical Committee Meeting on Health and Population Activities held on 6th April 2015, which discussed important issues impacting the SAARC Member States, including the need for high quality and high coverage immunization for vaccine preventable diseases along with modern monitoring systems; action for prevention and control of tuberculosis, vector borne diseases, hepatitis B & C; non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders; international health regulations and prevention of infectious diseases; preventing and containing the threat of antimicrobial resistance; providing access to medicines and enhancing the quality and availability of human resources for health;
Noting the recommendations made by the Expert Group on HIV/AIDS in the meeting held on 07-04-2015;
Noting that the Meeting of Senior Officials has duly considered the recommendations of the Technical Committee on Health and Population Activities, as also the Expert Group on HIV/AIDS;
Recognizing the need to accelerate efforts with the aim to end AIDS epidemic in the region by 2030, as proposed by 18th SAARC Summit, among other things.
Recognizing that the SAARC Member States account for nearly a quarter of the world population and face similar or even same challenges in the field of public health, prevention of diseases and providing better quality of life for our citizens;
Noting the past efforts emanating from the deliberations at previous meetings of SAARC Health Ministers including the meeting at Maldives in 2012, Dhaka in April 2006, Islamabad in 2005 and New Delhi in 2003, and the progress made for collaboration and cooperation among the Member States;
Guided by the emphasis placed by the Heads of States or Governments at the 18th SAARC Summit at Kathmandu, Nepal on 26-27 November, 2014 on the importance of achieving universal health coverage, improving health regulatory systems, preparedness for emerging and reemerging diseases and the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance and non-communicable diseases;
Cognizant of the fact that infectious diseases and pathogens do not recognize political and geographical boundaries, global integration, trade, travel and commerce make all countries vulnerable to threat of outbreaks which may emerge from any part of the globe;
Concerned that health systems and response mechanisms require further strengthening in each country especially in countries with less financial and technical resources;
Recognizing, the dedicated work done by healthcare workers for containing the recent Ebola virus disease outbreaks in certain countries, and that the public health emergency of international concern still continues including for the countries in the SAARC region;
Noting the recommendations made by the Fifth Meeting of Technical Committee Meeting on Health and Population Activities held on 6th April 2015, which discussed important issues impacting the SAARC Member States, including the need for high quality and high coverage immunization for vaccine preventable diseases along with modern monitoring systems; action for prevention and control of tuberculosis, vector borne diseases, hepatitis B & C; non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders; international health regulations and prevention of infectious diseases; preventing and containing the threat of antimicrobial resistance; providing access to medicines and enhancing the quality and availability of human resources for health;
Noting the recommendations made by the Expert Group on HIV/AIDS in the meeting held on 07-04-2015;
Noting that the Meeting of Senior Officials has duly considered the recommendations of the Technical Committee on Health and Population Activities, as also the Expert Group on HIV/AIDS;
Recognizing the need to accelerate efforts with the aim to end AIDS epidemic in the region by 2030, as proposed by 18th SAARC Summit, among other things.