MMDA to host int'l conference on infectious diseases

MANILA, Philippines - After hosting the 11th Asian Crisis Management Conference (ACMC) last July, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will again host an international meeting next week to discuss current developments in the prevention of infectious diseases currently affecting Asia.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the 9th Annual Conference on Countermeasures to Combat Infectious Diseases in Asia by the Asian Network of Major Cities (ANMC) 21 will be held from Feb. 4-6 at Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

With the theme 'Meeting City-Level Challenges to Achieve Millennium Development Goals on Infectious Diseases,' the three-day annual conference will gather health professionals, various medical associations, medical researchers, and city officials of the 13 member-cities of ANMC 21.

Metro Manila mayors, as well as their local health officers and other concerned agencies and organizations will also participate in the event.

“Once again, we at the MMDA are honored to lead this international conference. We are hoping to learn and contribute in ANMC 21’s continuous efforts to stop the spread of diseases in the Asian region,” Tolentino said.

Now on its 9th year, the 2014 Countermeasures to Combat Infectious Diseases in Asia forum will focus on relevant programs to control five infectious diseases in the region that seemed on the outbreak in recent years– the multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, dengue, leptospirosis, and pandemic influenza.

Tolentino said each member-city of ANMC 21 will present recent medical updates and current policies to combat the further outbreak of infectious diseases and discuss possible joint research and surveys.

“To foster learning and exchange of ideas, we have also invited selected guests with knowledge and experience on the topics to provide additional insights into the trends, policies, challenges, and innovative actions against infectious diseases,” Tolentino said.

The ANMC, Tolentino said, recognizes the immense impact of infectious diseases to the health of populations in Asia, and that countermeasures should be put in place to ensure swift response among the Asian states.

Citing recent medical surveys, Tolentino said tuberculosis alone remains to be a major public health problem in the western Pacific region; more than 20 percent of the global burden of tuberculosis is found in the region.

“At least 300,000 persons die yearly due to tuberculosis. The region has an estimated 135,000 multi-drug resistant tuberculosis cases, most of which can be found in China,” he said.

As for HIV/AIDS, Tolentino noted that the epicenter of global HIV pandemic is now shifting from Africa to Asia, with Asia-Pacific region accounting for three percent of the estimated three million AIDS cases and 15 percent of the 14 million HIV infections worldwide.

“We should have a solid permanent network of medical experts and researchers to serve as a liaison system linking member-cities’ organizations,” Tolentino said.

The ANMC21, which organizes the annual ACMC and the Countermeasures to Combat Infectious Diseases in Asia, is an organization of Asia's largest capital cities working together on issues such as urban planning, sustainability, and crisis management. It was advocated by then Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara in August 2000.

ANMC21 member-cities are Bangkok, Delhi, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Metropolitan Manila (represented by MMDA), Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Tomsk, Ulaanbaatar and Yangon.