Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam shared its experience in COVID-19 prevention andcontrol at the G20 health ministers’ meeting via video conference on late April 19.

Thesession was attended by Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO)Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and health ministers from the G20 countries, alongwith officials from international and regional organisations like the WorldBank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), theUnited Nations Foundation, and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).

At the meeting,which followed the G20 leaders’ video summit in March that discussed globalresponses to health emergencies, the officials shared their countries’ experiencesand proposed urgent measures to fight the pandemic.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Truong QuocCuong said Vietnam, which is ASEAN Chair in 2020, had successfully organisedthe Special ASEAN and ASEAN+3 Summits on COVID-19.

At those events, participating leaders reaffirmedtheir determination and commitments to remaining united, and to act jointly anddecisively to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate itsadverse impacts on people's livelihoods, societies and economies in the region,he noted, adding it is of crucial importance that the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan,Republic of Korea), ASEAN-US, and ASEAN-EU mechanisms and other internationalcommunities highlighted the urgency of the pandemic and committed to acollective response. 

Talking aboutVietnam and ASEAN's expertise, Cuong noted the country had set up a nationalsteering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control during the early stagesof the outbreak with strong commitment from the whole political system, theGovernment and the public.

He said the Vietnamese Government has appealed for national unity against COVID-19 with the motto of "fighting the pandemic like fighting the enemy".

Besides, Vietnam has been applying a strategy of “prevention – early detection– quarantine and treatment”, and engaging local authorities to direct andmobilise all resources on site. Ithas implemented early measures to prevent transmission from abroad whileidentifying and controlling effectively transmissions within the country.

Measures have been taken to control and limit the spread of thedisease, such as early quarantine for suspected cases, mass testing for everyonecoming from affected areas and epicentres, and social distancing. Vietnam hasactively collaborated with partners in different spheres to improve testing,research, investigation and treatment protocols for the most effective outcomesdespite limited resources, the official said.

He added a health app was introduced for citizens to update their dailyhealth statuses and provide information about suspected cases in their areas.The app is also helping the nation’s health sector to identify individuals inneed of medical assistance in the fastest and most effective manner, serving asan official channel to disseminate information bout the pandemic as well as healthrecommendations for the public.

Cuong went on to say that from economic and social perspectives, the Vietnamese Government has issued incentives to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19,including tax breaks and permissions for late payment of taxes,while simultaneously offering policies tosupport businesses, investors, small traders, and the public.

The country has adopted a dual approach of containing and controlling theoutbreak while sustaining socio-economic stability. Immediate actions have beentaken to help people facing hardships, particularly the vulnerable, poor and workers, making surethat no one is left behind, he said.

The deputyminister said as the current Chair of ASEAN and a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council, Vietnam has also made efforts to raise a coherent response tothe pandemic, including timely sharing of information on COVID -19 detectionand treatment, standardised measures for health inspections at borders andentry points, and consular assistance to ASEAN nationals.

Additionally,a cross-sectoral ASEAN working group involving senior officials of health,foreign affairs, defense, immigration, and transport has been established todevelop a regional holistic response to the pandemic and its widespreaddisruption. Practical measures in the agreement aim to ensure informationexchange and policy coordination among the member states, such as strengtheningASEAN’s response capacity to public health emergencies, setting up regionalmedical stockpiles, and developing an ASEAN pandemic support fund, Cuong noted./.