Mr Arun Mishra; Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman.
A very good morning to all.
It is a pleasure to address this meeting, which comes at a critical moment for public health and the aviation industry, both of which have been severely impacted by the emergence and spread of COVID-19.
More than 570 000 lives have been lost to the disease globally. More than 13 million cases have been reported.
For as long as the virus spreads, it will not only threaten health and well-being, but also the regular functioning of social and economic life, including international traffic and trade.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, many countries have halted some or all international travel, apart from humanitarian, repatriation and cargo flights.
Several countries in Asia Pacific are now planning to implement a phased and gradual resumption of services.
To protect both lives and livelihoods, policy-makers must take a risk-based approach that engages all stakeholders, and which is aligned with the International Health Regulations (IHR), which must frame our discussion.
I am pleased that national IHR focal points could join us today, and I am certain this discussion will greatly benefit from their input.
Let us remind ourselves of the purpose and scope of the IHR: "to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.”
In support of this approach, the Regulations require States to assess and strengthen core surveillance and response capacities at the primary, intermediate and national level, as well as at designated international ports, airports and ground crossings.
Since 2014, scaling up emergency risk management has been one of the South-East Asia Region’s Flagship Priorities, and WHO has been pleased to collaborate with a variety of partners to build and strengthen core IHR capacities, including on the implementation of point-of-entry measures.
It was these capacities and measures that allowed Thailand to identify its first case of COVID-19 in an incoming traveller on 13 January, who was then able to access appropriate care, without risking further spread.
Member States of the South-East Asia Region and across Asia Pacific have integrated point-of-entry measures into national COVID-19 strategic preparedness and response plans, which they continue to strengthen.
But as countries consider resuming international traffic and trade, including aviation, a broader approach is needed – one that identifies and reduces public health risk to air passengers and aviation workers, and which reflects the IHR in both letter and spirit.
To that end, the Take-off Guidance issued by the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force, of which WHO is a member, is a valuable resource. We must leverage all opportunities to raise awareness and uptake.
Critical to the successful roll-out of the Guidance, and the recovery of international traffic and trade, will be close collaboration between state aviation and public health authorities.
As the Guidance outlines, risk mitigation recommendations and measures are not intended to be static, but rather adjusted as per epidemiological evidence.
Rigorous and ongoing monitoring by aviation and public health officials is essential to ensuring such adjustments can be made in policy and in practice.
WHO is fully committed to facilitating this process and the mechanisms on which it relies, which Dr Ofrin will detail in his coming presentation.
I take this opportunity to assure the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – and through the ICAO, all industry stakeholders – of WHO’s ongoing commitment to providing clear, evidence-based guidance that can inform a recovery that is safe and sustainable, and which is aligned with the IHR.
Lives and livelihoods are at stake, and we must do all we can to protect both.
I wish you a productive meeting and look forward to our continued collaboration.
Thank you.