Thai MOPH hosted a high-level Global Health Security Agenda meeting and is handing over the chairmanship to Italy

          The Ministry of Public Health hosted a high-level Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) meeting, which also marked the conclusion of Thailand’s 1-year role as the GHSA Steering Group Chair. The meeting presented the benefits of GHSA membership and building strong multi-sectoral support between GHSA member countries and organizations, permanent advisors, and relevant stakeholders to achieve the GHSA 2024 Target of improving country-level health security capacities. Currently, 47 GHSA member countries have achieved indicator success, while the 2024 Target calls for 100 countries to reach the indicator by 2024.

          Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrachit, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health assigned Dr. Sura Wisedsak, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health to chair the meeting with the Ambassador of Italy to Thailand (H.E. Mr. Lorenzo Galanti). Dr. Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Deputy Director-General, Department of Disease Control was tasked by the Department of Disease Control to attend the 3^rd GHSA Steering Group Meeting and the GHSA Leadership Meeting. The meetings were organized by the Office of International Cooperation, Department of Disease Control, from 17 to 19 November 2021 at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort with over 200 delegates from various countries and organizations of the GHSA community around the world. Both meetings were carried out under disease control measures specified the Phuket Sandbox and virtual systems.

         H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Health, chaired the opening remarks at the meeting. The address focused on operations during the year while Thailand served as the GHSA Steering Group Chair. It supported the development of member countries' health security capacities to achieve the objectives of GHSA 2024, reinforcing the importance of the GHSA on the international stage. Furthermore, it focused on building a team with strong cooperation from all sectors, at all levels, from the community to the national level. Thailand also congratulated Italy for taking on the Chair role in 2022, while Thailand pledged to work closely with Italy to ensure a smooth transition to the chairmanship.

         Dr. Sura Wisedsak addressed the proposals that Thailand wants to accelerate to reach the GHSA Target 2024 as follows: 1. Coordinate the work between the GHSA Action Packages and the GHSA Task Forces; 2. Prioritize the establishing of a more robust network. This includes advancing a multi-sector approach based on the principles of One Health; 3. Create and promote communication channels to make GHSA more visible; 4. Promote shared resources and tools; 5. Monitor the progress of the GHSA and address ongoing priority issues by working with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Organization of Animal Diseases (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as permanent advisors. 

          The GHSA currently has 74 member countries/organizations. Increasing diverse engagement is an important step in GHSA's work and global reach. One example of outreach was conducted under the "Friends for Friends" initiative during the Thai 2021 GHSA Chairmanship. At the 3rd meeting of the GHSA Steering Group Meeting in 2021, the Steering Group endorsed three new rotating members of the GHSA, including the United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Nigeria.

          Thailand has and will continue to contribute to the GHSA. The aim is to jointly develop the capacity of Thailand and member countries to prevent and to prepare to respond rapidly to health threats in the future.  This can help to reduce negative impacts in a balanced manner through the cooperation of all sectors.

********************** 23 November 2021 

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