Enhancing public health preparedness and resilience: Non-Aligned Movement Member States unite at a special conference of medical and sanitary institutions

Despite the fact that the COVID-19 is over as a global health emergency, it still poses a threat to global health. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen partnership between the NAM member states.

On December 8-9, 2023, a special conference of medical and sanitary institutions "Cooperation of the countries-members of the Non-Aligned Movement on the preparedness and resilience for emerging threats in public health" was held in Ashgabat. The conference was the initiative of the government of Turkmenistan, which was put forward at the summit of the NAM Coordinating Group to Combat COVID-19, which took place in March 2023 in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan. The special conference of medical and sanitary institutions of the NAM member states aimed at strengthening cooperation between the countries participating in the NAM, the World Health Organization and other international partners to combat new emerging threats to public health and overcome related crises. 

During the conference high level participants from the Government, foreign diplomatic delegations, UN agencies and other international organizations shared lessons learned from the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, explored new tools, approaches, and initiatives for preparedness, response, and collective action. They also had discussions on the role and contribution of the NAM countries in the formation of a new global healthcare architecture, as well as a system based on the principles of transparency, openness and equal participation of all stakeholders.

The high-level conference resulted in expanding partnerships between the NAM member states and partners, as well as joining efforts to improve pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.