Uzbekistan Hosts National Coordination Meeting to Strengthen Pandemic Preparedness

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UZA News

A meeting was organized in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to address pandemic preparedness and response using the “One Health” approach. This event, in collaboration with national stakeholders, aimed to improve cross-sectoral cooperation and enhance strategies for dealing with pandemic risks. The meeting was part of a regional project called “Pandemic Preparedness and Response through the One Health Approach in Central Asia”, which is jointly implemented by FAO, WHO, and the World Bank. This project is being carried out in several Central Asian countries to strengthen the capacities of veterinary, environmental, and healthcare systems in tackling pandemic threats.

The countries in this region face significant challenges in preventing and responding to pandemics, due to vulnerabilities in healthcare, agriculture, environmental management, and social development sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach in addressing zoonotic diseases. To tackle these challenges, stakeholders are actively applying the One Health approach, which promotes collaboration among organizations involved in pandemic preparedness. This aligns with the Quadripartite One Health Collaboration, which includes FAO, WHO, WOAH, and UNEP.

During the meeting, representatives from Uzbekistan’s Committee for Veterinary and Livestock Development, the Sanitary-Epidemiological and Public Health Committee, and the Ministries of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, along with international partners, discussed national work plans, inter-agency collaboration mechanisms, key challenges, and next steps. The discussions focused on improving cooperation among government agencies, enhancing coordination mechanisms, and identifying opportunities for inter-sectoral collaboration. Participants also reviewed the stages of project development and key strategic directions to ensure effective pandemic preparedness at the national level.

Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan, emphasized the importance of cooperation in safeguarding human, animal, and environmental health through the One Health approach. He stated that this meeting provides an opportunity for collaboration, knowledge exchange, alignment of strategies, and practical cooperation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of human infectious diseases originate from animals, and addressing this risk requires strong public health policies, improved governance structures, and increased public engagement.

The project’s ultimate goal is to increase the long-term resilience of Central Asian countries by strengthening pandemic preparedness and reducing the impact of future outbreaks. By focusing on these critical areas, Uzbekistan and its regional partners are taking proactive measures to mitigate future pandemic threats and protect public health, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.

Bekhruz Khudoyberdiyev, UzA.

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