The Honourable Minister of Health Attends The G20 Health Ministers Meeting.
1. Brunei Darussalam as the ASEAN Chair this year was invited to G20 Health Ministers Meeting. The Minister of Health, The Honourable Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar delivered two intervention speeches during the meeting that was held in hybrid format, physical and virtual, based in Rome, Italy on Monday, 5 September 2021 and Tuesday, 6 September 2021. The G20 Health Ministers Meeting was attended by health ministers and representatives from members of the G20 (19 nation and the European Union), invited nations, NGO’s and Non-Profit Organisations.
2. In his intervention speech in his capacity as the ASEAN chair, the Honourable Minister of Health highlighted the health challenges, specifically on non-communicable diseases, that mental health remains as a part of ASEAN’s health priorities under the ASEAN Post 2015 Health Development Agenda.
3. The Honourable Minister of Health reported that as part of Brunei Darussalam’s deliverables in ASEAN to promote regional cooperation on mental health, Brunei Darussalam has proposed the endorsement of two documents, namely (i) ASEAN Plus Three Leaders’ Statement on Cooperation on Mental Health Among Adolescents and Young Children; and (ii) East Asia Summit Leaders’ Statement on Mental Health.
4. The Honourable Minister of Health went on to state that in the face of the COVID-19 crisis which has affected our progress to attain health and health-related goals, it is vital we identify the resource gaps, reassess and realign national and international actions so that we can accelerate the implementation of the action plans, strategies and work programmes. He later on stresses the critical aspect of tracking the progress of the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
5. The Honourable Minister of Health also stated that Brunei Darussalam in our commitment to accelerate progress on the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve the UHC and address mental health, supports the Position Paper on the “Healthy and Sustainable Recovery”. Brunei Darussalam will continue to collaborate with international bodies and other countries for a more impactful support and achieve health outcomes for all.
6. During the Honourable Minister of Health’s intervention speech on 6 September 2021, he stated that the ASEAN member states has come together to respond collectively to the COVID-19 crisis. Various actions across sectoral bodies was implemented to respond to the pandemic. He continued to explain that within the health sector, continuous efforts has been implemented towards the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases, Development of the ASEAN Standard Operating Procedures for Public Health Emergencies, regular reports on Risk Assessment for International Dissemination of COVID-19 in the ASEAN Region and Exchanges on laboratory readiness and response.
7. The Honourable Minister of Health stated that a collective ASEAN response through the different stages of recovery as part of the One Health approach is collaborated, which focuses on key sectors and segments of society that are most affected by the pandemic. He stated that Brunei Darussalam is committed to work together to implement the One Health approach at all levels.
8. The Honourable Minister of Health expressed that Brunei Darussalam urge the global community to intensify efforts to build resilience by strengthening collaboration across sectors working together with international organisations such as the Tripartite (FAO/OIE/WHO) and UNEP. Brunei Darussalam also welcomes the aims in the document “Call to Action on Building One Health Resilience”, which addresses the importance the commitment towards improving research, data and information sharing. The Honourable Minister of Health further explains during this pandemic, it is important to develop and maintain the capacities required under the International Health Regulations for public health emergency preparedness, response and risk management.
9.The G20 Health Ministers approved the ‘Declaration of the G20 Health Ministers’, that agreed ‘to promote strong multilateral cooperation’, as well as strengthening joint efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting recovery.
