Health ministers meet in Dhaka on regional cooperation

Health ministers of 11 Asian countries, including India, began a two-day meeting here Sunday over ways to enhance cooperation to develop health care services in the region.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the meeting with a call for stronger and more enduring cooperation in the region to make healthcare available to all without delay.

'We must find ways to make more efficient use of whatever resources we have for our health sector. Development partners and technical support agencies have a vital role to play in this regard,' Zia said.

The ministers will discuss several issues of common interest, including revised strategy for malaria control in the region, global fund to fight AIDS and tuberculosis.

Discussions on regional commitment on strengthening public health work force in the countries will also be held.

The ministers will work out a Dhaka declaration containing present health concerns of South and Southeast Asia. The meeting will be followed by the 56th session of the regional committee for the region from Aug 22-25.

World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director Samlee Plianbangchang will present a report on the work of WHO in South and Southeast Asia last year.

The member countries include Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, Timor-Leste, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Source - (Xinhua)