สำนักงานความร่วมมือระหว่างประเทศ
Thailand participated in the world’s first Intra Action Review on the COVID-19 Response conducted by WHO and partners
Thailand participated in the Intra Action Review (IAR) on the COVID-19 Response conducted by WHO and external reviewer teams and included national and international agencies analyzing nine important pillars of prevention and control of the COVID-19 outbreak. Over 100 participants joined together from relevant sectors. Thailand is the first country to participate in a COVID-19 IAR and this is a decisive step to improve the national public health system, improve disease prevention and control, and accelerate preparedness for the occurrence of a potential second wave.
Dr.Tanarak Plipat, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, stated that it is a good opportunity for Thailand to be assessed by WHO and external reviewer teams regarding the implementation and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, which took place from 20-24 July 2020 at the Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi. Over 100 technical experts and representatives from the public and private sector including offices under the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GPO, universities, public and private hospitals, immigration offices, the Thai US CDC Collaboration, the Rak Thai Foundation, the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand participated in the Intra Action Review on the COVID-19 Response of the following 9 crucial pillars: 1) Country-level coordination, planning, and monitoring, 2) Risk communication and community engagement, 3) Surveillance, rapid response teams and case investigation, 4) Points of entry, international travel, and transpor, 5) National laboratories, 6) Infection prevention and control, 7) Case management, 8) Operational support and logistics, and 9) Maintaining essential health services and systems. Thailand is the first country in the world to undergo this review process of sharing lessons learned and on the management of COVID-19 problem solving using this new tool that the World Health Organization developed.
Dr. Sombat Thanprasertsuk, senior expert, Department of Disease Control, said that the participation of Thailand in the review during the COVID-19 outbreak is an important step for the country and is beneficial to the development of emergency management systems for disease prevention and control. It also shows the development of work processes among various organizations and highlights the move towards improved health security in Thailand to be ready for a possible second wave of the outbreak.
Thailand has reported no confirmed cases of local transmitted COVID-19 for many weeks, however, new imported cases of COVID-19 were detected among people who were in state quarantine facilities supported by the government. Thus, cooperation from all sectors are essential for preventing the disease, which is consistent with the results of the lessons-learned preparatory meeting with participants from various sectors held on 13 July and organized by the Office of International Cooperation, Department of Disease Control.
It was found that Thailand’s robust disease prevention and control system is a result of strong cooperation with all related sectors both government and private sectors, private and philanthropic organizations at the national and regional levels that jointly implemented the measures. There is also cooperation from all people living in Thailand to support the implementation of various measures to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection.
