Korea launches group against infectious diseases
The government is accelerating its efforts to establish an international mechanism aimed at effectively responding to global infectious diseases with the launch of another Korea-led multilateral cooperation group.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that the Support Group for Global Infectious Disease Response (G4IDR) held its inaugural video conference based out of Geneva, Switzerland, the previous day, participated in by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha among others. The WHO is headquartered in the Swiss city.
Alongside Korea, Singapore,
Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Kenya, Mexico and Peru are participating in the G4IDR as core-members, while other countries interested in the group can freely join it.
On the back of its successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has sought to set up multilateral cooperation groups at the United Nations, UNESCO and the WHO.
Last week, the U.N. Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security was launched. The ministry said a UNESCO group will be launched next week.
The groups will serve as platforms to promote global solidarity in ensuring international healthcare security, cooperation in fighting global contagious diseases and civil education on global solidarity.
The WHO chief said it was no accident that the Korean government was establishing the initiative.
“Korea’s expertise and appreciation of the need to fight infectious diseases is well-established, drawn on hard-won experience and knowledge from outbreaks past,” he said.
“Korea has also been a leader and an example of best practice in its management of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its timely response, use of widespread testing and creative use of technology.
“In its information sharing, including through global webinars to share public health insights, Korea has shown a generous desire to reach out to others.”
In a congratulatory speech, Kang said global infectious diseases such as COVID-19 are not something that can be successfully dealt with by each country alone, and hoped this new group will contribute to strengthening global health governance.
Whilst praising Korea’s leading role in the establishment of the group in Geneva, home to global health organizations, representatives of the core-members also said their countries will contribute to the bodies dealing with infectious diseases.
Marked by mass testing, swift contact tracing and treatment based on its advanced medical and communications infrastructure, Korea’s response to the novel coronavirus has gained global recognition.
As a result, President Moon Jae-in delivered a keynote speech to the World Health Assembly through a teleconference, Monday, proposing that the international community cooperate beyond borders to develop vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and other pandemics that may emerge in the future.