Iran to practice stricter border controls against epidemics

TEHRAN, Oct. 21 (MNA) – Iran’s Health Minister has called G5 countries to practice stricter border controls to prevent epidemics with origins in source countries. Seyed Hassan Hashemi is in Tunisia to attend the 61st WHO-EMRO meeting (The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean). He believed that the meeting was a good example of south-south cooperation. “G5 was established with Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, and WHO-EMRO as members to implement the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005),” added the minister, “Islamic Republic of Iran hosted a high-ranking meeting of G5 in last days of September 2014, which was a unique opportunity for participants to exchange and share information and experiences.” Hashemi praised European and East Mediterranean office of WHO and FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization) for cooperation in establishing such meetings. “The issue of epidemics outbreak and cooperation of G5 member states in strict border controls is crucial to implementation of IHR 2005,” Hashemi asserted. “New mergence of threats of epidemics such as flu, Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), polio, ebola, and CDC Coronavirus mandates adherence to IHR,” he emphasized. “The increasing international travels and illegal immigration threats our borders, subjecting society to health hazards; it is necessary for G5 to promote their cooperation level and also their border capabilities for more effective controls and integrated system of warning, preparation and response system to provide preventive services in borders,” Hashemi maintained. “Inter-member cooperation provides a very good framework to achieve these objectives, whereby we will succeed in controlling public health threats and with it, address common concerns,” he told the meeting. Hashemi believed that the G5 countries should move toward division of responsibilities for a step beyond epidemics. “I do believe that with efforts and well-orchestrated cooperation of health ministries, such a goal will not be so inaccessible,” the minister hoped.