News Release

2005-98
September 14, 2005
For immediate release

Canada to host international conference on Pandemic - Announces funding for health capacity in South East Asia

OTTAWA - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister of State (Public Health) Dr. Carolyn Bennett and Minister for International Cooperation Aileen Carroll announced today that Canada will host an international meeting of Ministers of Health to enhance global collaboration and coordination in advance of a possible influenza pandemic.

Ministers also announced $15 million for international initiatives designed to improve international preparedness for pandemic influenza and emerging infectious diseases.

"We will be inviting Ministers of Health from around the world and heads of international organizations and experts to discuss priority issues and actions that can contribute to the planning efforts underway within the World Health Organization and its sister organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization," said Minister Dosanjh.

"We don't know when the next pandemic will be, but we do know we have to be prepared," Minister Dosanjh added. "We have been working closely with our provincial partners but it is also clear that all nations must participate in a policy of forward defence beyond their borders to protect against a pandemic. The time has come to accelerate international cooperation."

A date for the meeting will be announced shortly. The meeting will address a range of policy issues to support the work of the International Partnership on Avian and Pandemic Influenza announced by the United States to increase global collaboration and coordination on this issue.

In having direct experience with the tragic SARS outbreak, Canada is aware of the dangers posed by emerging infectious diseases and of the required actions to minimize the risk and to combat the danger. Canada has learned many valuable lessons from this experience and has invested in strengthening its public health capacity with, for example, the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Canada's Pandemic Influenza Plan, developed collaboratively with the provinces and territories and key health partners, is recognized internationally as among the most comprehensive. In addition, Canada strongly supported revisions to the WHO's International Health Regulations which provide a global framework for determining and responding to public health emergencies of international concern.

"An influenza pandemic would be an international crisis with health, social and economic impacts," said Minister Bennett. "It is important that we work together now to establish a common understanding of the needs and gaps that exist internationally in our pandemic planning and response. This meeting, as well the investments we've also announced today, demonstrate Canada's commitment to reduce the threat of emerging infectious diseases both in Canada and internationally."

The Canadian-hosted Ministerial meeting will focus on issues such as how to enhance international coordination among sectors, including the importance of the animal and human health issues related to avian influenza; capacity building in affected countries; improved surveillance and testing; risk communication; the health policy aspects of international travel; and vaccine development and access.

Invitees to the meeting will include representatives from developed and developing countries, including South East Asian nations affected by the current avian influenza outbreak.

Ministers Dosanjh, Bennett and Carroll also announced today that Canada will contribute a total of $15 million to build public health capacity in South East Asia related to emerging infectious diseases. Funding of $15 million over five years will go to the Canada Asia Regional Emerging Infectious Disease (CAREID) initiative to improve surveillance, monitoring and risk communication related to emerging infectious diseases in Southeast Asia and China.

"In order to reduce the risk of future regional epidemics and potential pandemics, there is a critical and urgent need to improve the regional and national capacity of public health systems," said Aileen Carroll, Minister for International Cooperation. "This will help to prevent, recognize, identify, investigate, and control outbreaks particularly in high-risk countries where resources are scarce and/or stretched."

The project, funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has the goal of reducing the threat of emerging infectious diseases to human security, regional stability, and sustainable development in the Southeast Asia Region and China. It is in line with the Canadian International Policy Statement and supports Canada's public health security priorities to protect Canadians from infectious diseases.

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Media Inquiries:

Adèle Blanchard
Office of Minister Dosanjh
Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Andrew Graham
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
(819) 953-6238

Tricia Geddes
Office of the Minister of State (Public Health), Carolyn Bennett
(613) 299-6940

Aggie Adamczyk
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 941-8189

Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
(819) 953-6534

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709