The Regional Committee,
Recalling resolutions WHA59.2 on Application of the International Health Regulations (2005) and WHA61.2 on the implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005);
Recalling resolutions WPR/RC56.R4 on the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED), WPR/RC57.R2 on APSED, the International Health Regulations (2005) and avian influenza, and WPR/RC58.R3 on avian and pandemic influenza, the International Health Regulations (2005) and APSED;
Aware that APSED has proved to be a useful framework for Member States, WHO and partners to work collectively to ensure that all the countries and areas of the Western Pacific Region are better prepared in confronting emerging disease threats;
Recognizing the continuing threats to regional health security arising not only from emerging diseases, but also other public health events and emergencies in Asia and the Pacific;
Acknowledging the experiences and lessons learnt from pandemic (H1N1) 2009, including the value of investments in routine capacity-building for emerging diseases, the need for pandemic preparedness and risk communications;
Recognizing the urgent need to continue to strengthen and maintain effective national and regional systems and capacities to rapidly detect, assess and respond to public health events, in particular those caused by emerging diseases;
Further recognizing that the progress made in strengthening emerging disease surveillance and response now provides a solid foundation for early detection of and rapid response to other public health events;
Reaffirming the importance and value of a common framework for effective planning and coordination of various capacity-building activities at both national and regional levels;
Having reviewed the updated draft Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (2010),
1. ENDORSES the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (2010);[1]
2. URGES Member States:
(1) to use the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (2010) (APSED 2010) as a strategic framework to guide national and local capacity-building programmes for emerging diseases and public health events;
(2) to use APSED (2010) as a tool when developing relevant national plans to ensure effective preparedness for emerging diseases and the development and strengthening of the core capacities required under the International Health Regulations (2005), including enhanced surveillance and response;
(3) to strengthen or sustain political commitment, mobilize human and financial resources to facilitate effective implementation of national plans in line with APSED (2010);
(4) to actively participate in regional preparedness, alert and response systems and networks;
3. REQUESTS the Regional Director:
(1) to develop a regional workplan, including indicators and measures, based on APSED (2010) in consultation with Member States to build capacities to support priority activities of Member States, especially resource-limited countries, and to strengthen regional-level preparedness, alert and response systems;
(2) to advocate for and disseminate APSED (2010) to partner agencies to mobilize, coordinate and harmonize partner support in strengthening national and regional capacities to deal with emerging diseases and other public health emergencies;
(3) to periodically report to the Regional Committee progress on the implementation of APSED (2010).
Seventh meeting, 14 October 2010
WPR/RC61/SR/7