Hanoi (VNA) –♑ Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and World Health Organisation(WHO) representative in Vietnam Kidong Park on December 3 co-chaired a healthpartnership meeting in Hanoi titled “Health Partnerships and Cooperation inResponse to the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

The event was held toshare lessons of Vietnam in battling the pandemic and discuss global trends inseeking and accessing vaccine and new treatment methods, as well as preparationsfor disease prevention in the coming time. Delegates also touchedon models for cooperation and partnership in containing the spread of COVID-19. Minister Long thankedinternational partners for their support to Vietnam’s health sector andcollaboration to fight the pandemic, affirming that the country is ready to respondto the coming waves. Vietnam has gainedcertain achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control and won internationalrecognition in the field, he said, affirming that health partnerships andcooperation have a significant role to play. Further cooperation inseeking measures to set up the “new normal” is vital, along with maintainingcurrent preventive methods and carrying out cooperation in the development andaccess to vaccine and new treatments, he added. The Health Ministersaid that Vietnam is working with partners on the supply of COVID-19 vaccinesto ensure people’s access in the fastest manner, in keeping with the Government’sguidelines. The country has also createdthe best conditions for vaccine research and enjoyed positive signs inpre-clinical trials, Long noted. For his part, Parkpledged that WHO will continue its close collaboration with the MoH in thecoming time, and confirmed the effectiveness of Vietnam’s COVID-19 responsesystem. He said the healthsystem needs to be ready to cope with new outbreaks, maintain essential healthservices and protect vulnerable residential areas, among others. Health partnershipgroup presented to Vietnam more than 290,300 personal protective equipment(PPE), nearly 1.4 million face masks and 740 ventilators, which greatlycontributed to Vietnam’s efforts to tackle COVID-19. Meanwhile, theMinistry of Health handed over more than 2 million masks, ventilators, PPE, andCOVID-19 test kits to 22 countries and territories. As the Chair of ASEANin 2020, Vietnam proposed the establishment of the Regional Reserve of MedicalSupplies and is actively taking part in the formation of the ASEAN Centre forPublic Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). The US had requestedVietnam to be the location of a regional office of its Centres for DiseaseControl and Prevention (CDC), which was agreed by the Vietnamese Government./.