Indo-US Global Health Security Summit at AJ Hospital & Research Centre
Mangaluru: Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), a global initiative to strengthen International Health Regulation (IHR 2005), initially a partnership of nearly 50 nations, international organisations and non-governmental stakeholders, is facilitating collaborative capacity-building efforts to achieve specific and measurable targets around biological threats, while accelerating achievement of the core capacities required by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s), International Health Regulations (IHR), the World Organization of Animal Health’s (OIE) Performance of Veterinary Services Pathway, and other relevant global health security frameworks. This partnership is led and supported by a GHSA Steering Group composed of 10 member nations (India is a member of Steering Committee). The Chair of this Steering Group is filled by a different nation each year.
The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) was launched in February 2014 and the launch was joined by many partner countries remotely. India was represented by Secretary Health & Family Welfare through video conferencing from WHO-SEARO Office. GHSA projects in India started in the year 2015. There are 17 partner institutions (11 governments, 4 non-governments and 2 international organisations).
This year GHSA has organised Global Health security Summit at AJ Medical Sciences & Research Centre on May 11th & 12th 2107, where more than 40 national Presidents/Secretaries of the different medical associations of India and members of Centre for Disease Control (CDC) are participating for making several joint declarations for combatting epidemic diseases.
The Inaugural Ceremony ceremony was held May 11th, 2017 at 10 am at AJ Hospital and Research Centre-Mangaluru. Inaugurating Chief Guest was Dr Ashok Hegde, Dean of AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, along with other Chief Guests –Dr Prashanth Marla, Medical Director, AJ Hospital and Research Centre, Mangalore; Dr Sagar Galwankar CEO- INDUSEM; Dr Rajeev Sharma CDC-Nodal Officer, GHSA-India; Dr Vikas Kapil Associate Director CDC; Dr Sujeet K. Singh DDG-IH&MH, Dte. GHS, MOHFW; Dr JK Das, Director NIHFW; Christie Vu, Deputy Director, DGHP CDC-India Office; and Dr Santosh T. Soans, Professor and Head Department of Pediatrics AJ Institute of Medical Sciences, President-Elect IAP 2017
INTRODUCTION: Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) initiative is an international partnership amongst like-minded countries across the world. It is comprised of three core capacities – preventing avoidable catastrophes, detecting threats early and responding rapidly and effectively to deal with existing and emerging threats. The GHS Agenda was launched on February 13, 2014, in partnership with several countries, international organisations and public and private stakeholders to accelerate progress towards a world safe and secure from threats of infectious diseases. At the launching event, India was represented by the Union Health Secretary through video conferencing in which Health Secretary reiterated India’s commitment to implement the International Health Regulations (established in 2005) which are the recognised framework to achieve global health security. To carry out the agenda of GHS and IHR (2005) in India, the U.S. CDC has awarded a total of $30M to 17 governments, private, non-governmental and international organisations.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has set up a Global Health Security Cell under the Director General of Health Services to oversee the progress of implementation of all GHSA projects in India. As a governing mechanism, two committees have been set up – the first under the chairmanship of the Union Health Secretary for developing a policy framework and, the second under the chairmanship of DGHS and co-chairmanship of to review and monitor the progress of all CDC-GHSA funded activities in India on a quarterly basis.
MEETING BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: There are 17 governments, private, non-governmental and international organisations implementing GHSA activities in India. Funding under GHSA funding is limited and for a short term. But there is a need to sustain the GHSA activities even after the funding process ceases. The tremendous endeavours made by GHSA partners have shown a huge impact in improving the public health systems in India.
We have been witnessing major public health emergencies of international concern like SARS, H1N1, MERSCoV, Ebola and now ZIKA. Therefore, a multi-agency coordination is a key to achieving success in managing such emergencies. There is a need to sensitise professional associations/organisations, civil societies, NGOs and private health care settings for such events and to prepare and engage them in future. The main objective of holding this meeting is to sensitise and engage all stakeholders, to develop a roadmap for global health security activities and to develop a Multi-Agency Coordination (MAC) network.
Report submitted by Dr Santosh Soans, Prof. & Head – Dept of Pediatrics, AJ Shetty Medical College; President Elect – Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP)