Project News

On January 31, 2023, designated representatives of National Focal Points (NFP), Institutes of the ASEAN Academic Network on Disaster Health Management (AANDHM), from all ASEAN member countries gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to attend a meeting seeking concrete methods and plans for conducting academic activities on Disaster Health Management (DHM).

ASEAN academic activity is the key to future development and enhancement of ASEAN regional collaboration on DHM. The cooperation between Japan and disaster-prone ASEAN aims to promote scientific research activities from accumulated experience. This cooperation, aligned with future goals of developing knowledge-management based on our regional identity, will create mutual understanding among regions by introducing the insights and experiences of ASEAN into the global perspectives, and will develop strategies of disaster health management to emphasize inclusivity and accessibility for more people.

The AANDHM is an official regional network established within the ASEAN region.

This network consists of institutions and organizations dedicated to conducting research and educational activities related to disaster health management in ASEAN member countries and promoting the various academic activities stipulated in the Plan of Action (POA) to implement the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Disaster Health Management (ALD on DHM), such as the ASEAN Academic Conference (AAC on DHM) and joint research. The network also publishes the ASEAN academic journal as an official journal of the AANDHM. Through these activities, it is expected to contribute to the continuous development of regional collaboration and sufficient capacity.

The plans and activities to be conducted under the AANDHM were proposed and discussed at the first meeting of the AANDHM, held on 8 September 2022. After coordinating and exchanging views among the relevant parties, the main agenda items were prepared in order to receive confirmation and recommendation from the representatives at the meeting of the NFP's of the AANDHM held on 31 February 2023. The main meeting agenda items are as follows:

1. Progress of the AANDHM and establishment of the SC for the AANDHM.
2. Proposed Guidelines for membership of ASEAN/Non-ASEAN Institutes for the AANDHM.
3. The plan for organizing the 2nd AACDHM.
4. The plan for the ASEAN Journal of DHM.
5. The plan for promoting Joint Research activity on DHM.

Dr. Acharya, Secretary General of the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEM), Thailand, as the chairman of the meeting, delivered his opening remarks.

Active discussion among the participants on the theme of AACDHM to be held in Indonesia this year.

JAC members who have made a significant contribution to the ARCH Project. On this occasion, Dr. Koido (centre), on behalf of JADM, expressed his interest to be part of the AANDHM as a non-ASEAN Institute.

Dr. Phumin (Thailand) has led the Thai task forces with unique and excellent perspectives since the beginning of the ARCH Project.