THE Developing-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8) has strengthened collaboration among member states to identify constraints in tackling COVID-19 pandemic and build post-pandemic resilient health systems.
D-8 is an organisation for development co-operation among Bangladesh, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia and Turkey.
According to a statement by the Programme Director of D-8 Health and Social Programme (HSP), Dr. Ado Muhammad, the decision is the outcome of the meeting by delegates of Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs and, development partners of D-8.
Muhammad quoted Secretary-General of D-8, Amb. Dato’Ku Ku Shaari, as saying “member states will use the D-8 Health and Social Protection Programme to support one another in trying times”.
Ku Shaari noted that it was imperative that member states use this sectoral track to support one another to mitigate the consequential adversities they face.
“We need to improve partnerships, experience-sharing and mutual support and assistance; the impact of the pandemic varies, with some more negatively impacted than others.
“However, the scale of the economic impact transcends national frontiers, with loss of jobs and revenues in some of the best performing sectors such as tourism, manufacturing, commerce, agriculture and mineral resources,” Ku Shaari said.
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Also speaking, Muhammad said the D-8 could not afford to falter at this crucial time and called for solidarity in areas of commodities, technology, equipment, pharmaceuticals and other needed items.
According to him, it is a time that requires innovative, decisive and coordinated responses from member states to secure lives of 1.1 billion citizens.
Muhammad revealed that discussions at the virtual meeting brought about two working group to achieve targets.
“The first is Implementation Monitoring Group that is to provide weekly updates and recommendations for a data driven programme that comprises Egypt, Indonesia, Iran and Nigeria.
“The other is Resource Mobilisation Group- to articulate strategies and recommendations for domestic resourcing by countries that is to be done by Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey,” Muhammad said.
He explained that the meeting sought to establish mechanism for cooperation and to lessen hardship caused by the pandemic through knowledge and resources sharing and, understanding of country specific needs.
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