The Hindu : SAARC for region-wise rapid action system

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 16, 2003

National

National

SAARC for region-wise rapid action system

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI NOV.15. The first meeting of the Health Ministers of the SAARC countries ended here today with a decision to form a region-wise rapid action system for dealing with emergencies such as cyclones, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, besides outbreak of diseases.

The system will be on the pattern of the emergency response system called "Sanjeevani" proposed for launch in the country on December 25 with the introduction of an emergency mobile hospital that could be airlifted to any part of the country for providing medical treatment.

Announcing the decision, the Union Health Minister, Sushma Swaraj, said the meeting had also decided to establish a region-wise disease surveillance system to keep a continuous watch on the disease profile so that there could be an immediate warning in case of an epidemic outbreak.

It was decided to develop a regional-level digital library containing information about the various traditional systems of medicine practised in the region so that it could be protected from "piracy" for the benefit of the people of the region. India would lead the initiative as it had already developed the necessary expertise. A digital library of the ayurvedic system had already been created and work on similar libraries for unani, siddha, and homeopathy were under progress.

The meeting also decided to curb the tendency of sidelining the population stabilisation issue to the margins of the global agenda.

It was decided that even though there was no movement at the global level to review the progress on the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development next year at the end of 10 years of the Conference, SAARC would hold such an exercise at the regional level.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the two-day meet, Ms. Swaraj said the conclave, which was attended, among others, by the Pakistan Health Minister, was held in a cordial atmosphere without anyone raising political or other contentious issues. "None raised any divisive issue. There was unanimity that there was a need to relieve humanity of its pain and there was, therefore, a need for the countries of the region to work in unison, irrespective of political differences."

The meeting decided to hold such gatherings every year, with the next one slated to be held in Islamabad.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National