Countries in the South-East Asian sub-region have agreed to establish a dedicated funding stream to build preparedness for health emergencies in the region, which is also one of the most disaster-prone in the world, the United Nations health agency has said.
“The new funding stream for emergency preparedness […] is an expression of the solidarity shared within the region, as well as recognition that preparedness is less costly than response,” the UN World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Director for the South-East Asia Region, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said. Noting that the region has suffered numerous health emergencies due to earthquakes, cyclones, and floods, and that it is threatened by a range of diseases such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), pandemic influenza, and Zika virus, the UN health agency said that the new fund will allow countries to invest in infrastructure and human resources to enhance preparedness.