Keynote Speech
by
His Excellency Professor
Boediono
Vice President of the
Republic of Indonesia
at
the Thirtieth Meeting of the Ministers of Health and the
Sixty-fifth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia
Yogyakarta, 4 September
2012
·
Your Excellencies, Ministers of Health of Member States of the
WHO South-East Asia Region,
·
Your Excellency, Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of
the World Health Organization,
·
Your Excellency, Dr. Samlee Pliangbanchang, Regional
Director WHO SEARO,
·
Honorable Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, Governor of
Special Area of Yogyakarta,
·
Representatives from Partner Countries and
International Organizations,
·
Distinguished Delegates,
·
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure
for me to warmly welcome you all to the Thirtieth
Meeting of the Ministers of Health and the Sixty-fifth Session of the WHO
Regional Committee for South-East Asia. These meetings are being held in this historical City of Yogyakarta
which I hope provides you an excellent environment leading to the successful
conclusion of these meetings.
I would like also to take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate
Dr Margaret Chan for her re-election to serve a second term in office as the Director-General
of the World Health Organization. This reflects the wide recognition of
her past contributions to the World
Health Organization and its Member States. We are extremely proud to
see your continuing important role to serve the global community.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are very honoured to host for the second
time these meetings where all the eleven members of WHO SEAR get together to
review past committments and embark on new initiatives to improve the health
status of the people’s of our region. The results of the meetings would
certainly contribute to the quality of life worldwide since our region is home
to approximately 25 % of the world’s
population and include the most dynamic economies in the world.
At this juncture, I would like to recall
that recently President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia stated that
global development collaboration must be built upon the principles of common
but differentiated responsibilities and respected capabilities, and open
participation to all stakeholders. This statement seems to be applicable to our
ways in the establishment of sustainable health cooperation.
This cooperation must be aimed at
empowering the poor in developing countries, and upholding the principles of
proportionally shared responsibility and mutual benefits. Moreover, it should
enable strengthening health development to overcome global health
challenges. I believe these meetings will create momentum toward those
ends.
We meet at a time when great challenges
loom over the global landscape. These challenges include the occurence of emerging
and re-emerging diseases, slowdown of economy
in some parts of the world, rapid population growth and urbanization, as well
as fierce competition for scarce resources. These are major flash points which
we must watch out for since they have impact on the health status of our
people.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The theme of the World Health Day
this year focusing on Ageing and Health is very relevant with the current
situation of the increasing number of the elderly population in the world
including in our region. The estimated number of population of the WHO SEA Region
above the age of 60 years is 142 million people or 8%. This number will
continue to increase. To address this situation we need to develop and strengthen
relevant national and regional policies on Ageing and Health, strengthening the
primary health care system and health facilities. Moreover, we need also to ensure the provision of sufficient
resources for programs dealing with Ageing and Health - taking into
consideration the economic aspects of long-term care of the elderly persons,
both at the facility and household levels.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To ensure the community access towards
quality health care, Indonesia has strong
commitment and political will to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
Continuous efforts have been made to achieve Universal
Health Coverage by 2019
for the benefit of the whole population.
Indonesia
stands ready to share with other countries in the region its experience and to
cooperate closely with them with a view to achieving the Universal Health
Coverage for the whole people in the region.
The ultimate achievement of the Universal
Health Coverage would create social and economic well being of the population
which could be disturbed by various health problems such as pandemics caused by
communicable diseases. Therefore implementation of International Health
Regulations 2005 (IHR) needs strong
committment from all the WHO SEAR Member States. Indonesia is of the view that the IHR is a framework to secure national,
regional and global health. We commit to fully implement IHR 2005 in due course.
In
relations to the prevention and response of pandemics, I would also like to
refer to the resolution WHA64.5 on Pandemic influenza preparedness: sharing of influenza viruses and access
to vaccines and other benefits adopted during the last year World Health Assembly
(WHA). This resolution ensures a fair, transparent and equitable framework
which shall guide all WHO Member States in dealing with pandemic influenza
preparedness.
Communicable diseases are still the main
health problem in Indonesia. However, the country is at present facing a double
burden of health care where at the same time the morbidities and mortalities
caused by non communicable diseases (NCDs) show rising trends. It is sad to
note that NCDs have become serious health
problems affecting each groups of population including the elderly, and
in all countries. Referring to all of the global strategies including the WHO
recommendations on the WHO Global strategy for the prevention and control of
NCDs and implementation of the Action Plan, I would like to invite all member
countries of the WHO SEAR to continue working together to cope with the
alarming situation.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Cooperation in health sector should complement the over all effort in the
socio and economic deveIopment on member countries of WHO SEAR. Therefore it is
sincere hope that these meetings will reinforce our common struggle in the
achievement of higher health status in the region. The current inhospitable
global situation which also affects our region should encourage us all, to work
closer together in implementing various global and regional commitments.
As the global demography and the
global health challenges see more complexities, the problems of population and
health development will need better and proper solutions acceptable to all of
us.
In closing, allow me to wish you a memorable and enjoyable stay in
Yogyakarta and succesful deliberations. Finally, by asking the Grace of God The
Almighty hereby I declare the Thirtieth
Meeting of the Ministers of Health and the Sixty-fifth Session of the WHO
Regional Committee for South-East Asia officially
open.
Thank you.
