16APPF-RES-11-Disaster-Preparedness-and-Pandemic-Disease.pdf
16th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA – PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
21 – 24 January 2008, Auckland, New Zealand
APPF16/RES/11
(Sponsored by Indonesia, Mexico and New Zealand)
THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM,
Reaffirming the APPF member countries' commitments on the need to prevent and overcome the spread of avian influenza made during the 14th and 15th annual meetings of the APPF;
Taking note of the 2007 Progress Report of the World Health Organization (WHO), which emphasizes the increasing threats at unprecedented rates to global public health security, and the recent resolutions on enhancing capacity-building in global public health adopted at the United Nations General Assembly;
Noting that the Asia-Pacific region has had the most widespread cases of avian influenza to date, and has an increasing issue with infection rates of HIV/ AIDS;
Deeply concerned about the continuing natural and human-made hazards and disasters in many regions of the world that claim thousands of human casualties and cause incalculable infrastructure damage, and the destruction which has brought deep and direct impacts to the economy of the countries affected and the region;
Deeply concerned about the effects that climate change and the increase of natural disasters could have on health conditions around the world, and well aware that the frequency of epidemics can increase as a consequence of hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides, typhoons, and ocean waves; and aware that environmental changes can worsen the location, spread and intensity of transmittable diseases by insects via water;
Deeply concerned by the lack of national and international preparation to face pandemic disease, including its social and economic effects;
Emphasizing that the centuries-old global public health threats such as pandemic influenza, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue, yellow fever, malaria, and Nile western virus continue to pose threats to health through a combination of mutation, rising resistance to antibiotic medicines, and undeveloped health systems, as well as acknowledging problems linked to potential biological and chemical terrorist attacks and radio-nuclear accidents;
Alarmed by today's global vulnerability to the threats of new emerging forms of diseases, which could mutate through human-to-human contact and spread rapidly due to the high mobilization of people; expressing our greatest concern regarding the high death rates linked to diseases that proliferate among poor populations due to their deficient nutritional and sanitary conditions, as well as their limited access to proper health services; and remembering that according to WHO the changes in climatic conditions, non-planned urbanization, difficulties in water supply, and increase of air traffic, added to the lack of sound mosquito control programs, the scarcity of insecticides which have a good cost/benefit ratio, and the lack of sanitary education, are some of the factors linked to the spreading of these diseases;
Stressing also the importance of closer cooperation in combating avian influenza and in research, response exercises, and vaccines development, as well as the equal distribution of vaccines among countries;
Recognising that preparations for pandemics on a national level require input and close cooperation from a range of national agencies, and must be tailored to each country's unique needs;
RESOLVES TO: