By APD writer Melo M. Acuña

MANILA, June 18 (APD) -- Officials from health ministries, medical association, academe, military and air organizations from nine countries committed to work on ensuring that health care is safe from disruption and violence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The delegates affirmed the existence of an urgent need to strengthen the preparedness of health-care systems.

The 65 participants reaffirmed their collective responsibility in a declaration to further enhance the protection of health-care services from various forms of violence.

In a statement, the International Committee of the Red Cross said though the process needs to be led by States, there are many opportunities for other stakeholders to contribute to the effort.

“Every day, medical personnel, nurses and health responders are confronted with situations of violence and other actions that disrupt provision of health care to those who need it most,” said Maciej Polkowski, head of the Health Care in Danger (HCiD) initiative at the International Committee of the red Cross (ICRC).

“This can range from deliberate attacks in cases of conflict, to violent verbal abuse from a patient. These regional meetings concentrate on the ground realities in Asia-Pacific and are aimed at moving towards improved protection of health care in a very concrete, defined and hopefully inspiring manner,” the official explained.

The HCiD initiative was launched worldwide in 2011 by the ICRC and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to improve the protection of health care. It involved partnerships, advocacy and an operational approach.

The recent Asia-Pacific meeting was organized by the ICRC in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross. The participants to the three-day event came from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.

Part of the Manila Declaration on the Protection of Health Care include the participants’ agreement that weapon bearers must strengthen their respect for safe and secure delivery of health care through practical measures including training manuals and standard operating procedures. The authorities must undertake appropriate measures to train and education civil servants, healthcare workers and the public on protecting health care.

There is a need to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of health-care systems to face attacks, with focus on the physical security of facilities, training of staff to prevent and manage violence and strengthen coordination mechanisms

For the Philippines, the host country, protection of health care is highly relevant in the restive island of Mindanao in southern Philippines due to decades of internal armed conflicts that presented challenges for health professionals.

“We have to be concerned with the safety and protection of health-care workers deployed in areas affected by conflict as these are the palces we also cater to,” said Dr. Rolanisah Dipatuan-Dimaporo, chief of staff in the ministry of health of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent organization whose “exclusively humanitarian mission” is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and provide assistance. It also has an international mandate to promote knowledge for and compliance with international humanitarian law.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)