Spraying disinfectant to prevent COVID-19 at bach Mai Hospital (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - As the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam led the efforts of the ASEAN membernations in forging a response to the COVID-19 outbreak, said the website https://moderndiplomacy.eu/.
An article published on the site on December 27 noted that as early as February 15 this year, PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, after consulting with other ASEAN leaders, issued the ASEAN Chairman's Statement on ASEAN Collective Response tothe Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019.
The statement expressed deep concerns over the spread of COVID-19, andrecognized it as a “public health emergency of international concern”, as declared by the WHO.
The statement emphasised on extending help to countries around the globe intheir fight against the spread of COVID-19 and also provide humanitariansupport to China in the form of supplying masks and other medical facilities, thearticle said.
As a regional organization, ASEAN also stepped in to work for a joint andcoordinated response in meeting the challenges posed by COVID-19, it noted,stressing that ASEAN not only raised the awareness levels of its membercountries but also liaised with international organizations and other countriesto respond at multiple levels for addressing the problemsposed by the virus.
The article, however, said that ASEAN member states need to prioritizethe right to health and social protection, or security, for everyone, includingthe most marginalized and vulnerable, and reform the system of socialprotection and incorporating it into the economic recovery plan post-COVID toreduce the increasing poverty rate as a result of the pandemic.
It also underlined the necessity for ASEAN to learn from best practices inother countries, especially in forming policies that include wider social and economicopportunities, as well as establish more targeted consultation and cooperationon public health policy, such as the regulations for quarantine, lockdowns orsocial movement restrictions and other related elements.
The ASEAN Business Advisory Council can partner in the regional response to“engage the private sectors in delivering essential services and supplies andto support displaced workers in their value chains, the article added./.
VNA
