Bangladesh for making global health strategy to face pandemic

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has underscored the need for devising a global health strategy that will help face any future pandemic.

The foreign minister was speaking at the opening session of the COVID-19 Global Action Plan (GAP) Ministerial held in New York on Friday, September 23.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno and Botswana Foreign Minister Dr. Lemogang Kwape jointly convened the Ministerial, aiming at bringing together partners to maintain and strengthen political will to address COVID-19 challenges.

Dr AK Abdul Momen laid emphasis on sustained and significant funds injected for capacity-building of the health sector, especially in lower income countries.

He welcomed the formation of the financial intermediary fund at the World Bank to complement investments in prevention, preparedness and response (PPR).

He underscored the need to create a playbook where the countries will be ready to respond immediately to future health threats.

The Foreign Ministers from several countries, including from Japan, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, and the Director General of WHO participated in the meeting.

High level delegates from a number of countries, including France, Indonesia, Germany, UK, India, Norway, Italy, and South Korea also joined.