Cook Islands has endorsed and shown its support for the development of the draft Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework which was raised at the 74th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Western Pacific Meeting.

Te Marae Ora Minister for Health Rose Toki-Brown, who represented the country at this meeting held in Manila, Philippines from October 16-20, also called on development partners to be flexible in their approach for technical and general support.

Speaking at the meeting, Brown said: “The new development of the draft Asia Pacific Health Security Action framework was timely to escalate our collective collaboration, investment and response to future public health emergencies. This calls for the need to strengthen a resilient health system and facilities and integrating health security in primary care settings for universal health coverage to leave no one behind.”

“So the Cook Islands gives full support to the endorsement of the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework.”

Toki-Brown said the effect of climate change, pandemic outbreaks like Covid-19 and ongoing civil conflicts in some parts of the world are affecting the health security of people in the region and globally.

“The increasing need to respond effectively to new risks to public health is timely, as the 2005 Asia Pacific strategy emerging diseases and public health emergencies have served its purpose.”

Toki-Brown also called on development partners to be flexible in their approach and support for technical and general support to countries in need.

She said this includes streamlining application processes for support from the Green Climate Fund and others to strengthen health system resilience and facilities.

Toki-Brown also echoed the commitment by the Pacific Health Ministers to strengthen health systems resilience at its recent Pacific Health Ministers meeting in Tonga.

At the opening session of the meeting, she said: “My country, the Cook Islands is very small and so we also have very small budget entitlements, so we are thankful and we acknowledge and thank WHO country officers in Samoa and Fiji for the unwavering support provided to the Cook Islands.”

Toki-Brown supported the comments made by the WHO acting Director General for flexible financial support in the budgetary process and to allow country officers to make decisions based on the needs of member countries.

“Many times we encounter lengthy compliance discussions for project or programme support requests, and many times our country’s needs do not align well with WHO process timing.”

Toki-Brown said if the bureaucratic process were streamlined and country officers were empowered to expedite decision making and support, they would be sure to achieve and implement more priority programmes.

“I am grateful and thank you again WHO and many other development partners for your ongoing support and … Cooks supports the programme budget for 2024 and 2025.”

The Minister also congratulated Dr. Saia Ma'u Piukala, a surgeon and most recently Tonga’s Health Minister, who is to lead the Western Pacific as WHO Regional Director.