Avian influenza, mpox, COVID-19 are some examples of infectious diseases, which can spread quickly, crossing borders with alarming speed and devastating impact. These diseases threaten people’s lives, well-being, and entire economies, increasing the need for countries to act swiftly and collectively. In today’s interconnected world, the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) provide the essential legal framework that guides nations worldwide, including countries in the Pacific to protect people in the Pacific and worldwide from future outbreaks and pandemics.
During a four-day meeting in Fiji, over 50 officials from health and other sectors, WHO experts, and partners discussed the critical role of IHR (2005) during public health emergencies, particularly important for Pacific islands, which, due to their size and location, are vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious diseases and diseases induced by climate change such as dengue or leptospirosis.
“The importance of IHR cannot be overstated”, said WHO Representative to the South Pacific and Director of Pacific Technical Support, Dr Mark Jacobs during his opening speech. “While COVID-19 was a wake-up call for the whole world, recent outbreaks of typhoid or dengue in the Pacific and cases of avian influenza and mpox in the neighbouring countries illustrate just how crucial it is to have comprehensive health regulations and responsive systems in place.“
Among other topics, focal points from 20 countries and areas discussed the latest amendments to IHR (2005) adopted by the 2024 World Health Assembly, designed to ensure that comprehensive and robust systems are in place. The amendments build on the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic such as improving access to vaccines and more predictable and sustainable funding for developing countries.
“Understanding the 2024 IHR amendments is crucial, as they not only place new obligations on WHO but also on State Parties. The amendments will strengthen our individual and collective response to future outbreaks, in particular through supporting greater equity between and within countries”, said Dr Ashley Bloomfield from New Zealand, who co-chaired the Working Group that negotiated the amendments.
As a result of the 20-23 August meeting, the participants agreed to strengthen Pacific-wide cooperation through IHR (2005) including with other sectors, continue sharing experience and lessons through regular meetings, and make use of available tools such as Joint External Evaluations (JEE) – an independent expert review of IHR capacities.
Towards strong and sustainable national health security plans
To further efforts in public health, participants were trained also on developing national health security plans, using the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) as a guide. This training equipped the national focal points with skills needed to create costed plans that address country specific risks and priorities in public health.
Referring to the importance of such planning, Dr Luisa Cikamatana, Acting Chief Medical Advisor from Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Fiji said during her opening remarks: “A well-crafted health security plan is like a blueprint for action, guiding us through the complexities of health crises with clarity and purpose. It helps us identify vulnerabilities, establish protocols, and allocate resources efficiently. In essence, it transforms uncertainty into a structured, manageable response."
The training guided participants through the entire planning cycle, explaining how to develop a plan that prioritizes information from diverse sources, how to identify the costs of different activities, how to mobilize resources, and how to effectively implement and monitor the plan.
Such plans should correspond to other national plans already in place, and global and regional frameworks such as the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF), which promotes a comprehensive, integrated and forward-looking approach to health security that go beyond the health sector. “APHSAF can help shape planning, break down silos, and categorize actions to guide countries in becoming more prepared and ready,” said Dr Gina Samaan, Regional Emergencies Director, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific during the introduction of the framework.
At the end of the week, Pacific national focal points reaffirmed their commitment to the IHR 2005, development of health security national planning, and vowed to keep learning and improving with available tools. As the next step, WHO will be working closely with interested countries and areas to help them progress in safeguarding health security.
The meeting was made possible with financial support from the Australian Government, the European Union, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).