"National security is a cross-cutting problem, so we must include health, education, environment, and others," Maharani remarked at the opening of the Ministerial Meeting of the 5th Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) here on Tuesday.
Furthermore, she stated that health is an important factor in national development.
Hence, various efforts have been made to strengthen the health system in the country, with improved facilities and access to better health services for the community, based on the principle of justice.
"Everyone must get equal access to health (facilities)," Maharani noted, adding that the GHSA 2018 was aimed at accelerating the implementation of health regulations to respond to the threats of new infectious diseases, including Ebola, MERS-CoV, and Zika.
"Currently, 65 countries are members of the GHSA, and I believe that each member country is ready to increase its capacity to respond to these threats," she noted.
In the meantime, Health Minister Nila Farid Moeloek remarked that at the global level, no country is free from the threat of health problems.
Especially in the face of rapid ongoing changes, every country needs to be more proactive and adaptive to face the global health challenges that will be quite diverse in future.
Over time, the dynamics and interactions of various factors have a major influence, for instance, high mobility resulting from increased transportation, tourism, and the economy.
In addition, climate change and excessive use of pesticides and antibiotics coupled with unhealthy lifestyles can also exacerbate threats to global health.
"Our challenges are currently multi-dimensional, and so strong partnerships are highly important both at the regional and global levels," the health minister remarked.
Reporting by Desi Purnamawati
Editing by Otniel, Rahmad
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
