Canada, the United States and Mexico Release the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI)
Ottawa, Ontario – Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honorable Alex M. Azar II, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Jorge Alcocer Varela, Mexico’s Secretary of Health, jointly announced the release of the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI) at the 2019 North American Partnership on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response (NAPPI) Ministerial Meeting. The initiative was adopted to support regional coordination for the prevention, preparedness and response to potential future pandemic threats.
NAPAHPI aims to strengthen and coordinate animal and human health surveillance, laboratory capacity, vaccine development and innovation, data sharing and analysis, public health workforce development, and communications. The initiative will enhance North American preparedness for future pandemics that could put the health of Canadians, Americans and Mexicans at risk.
This initiative will be implemented through working groups focused on the following pillars:
- Surveillance and Intelligence: Strengthen detection and early reporting systems, facilitate information sharing and develop regional protocols.
- Laboratory Capacity and Vaccine Development: Improve laboratory networks, enhance diagnostic capacity and support innovation in vaccine development and manufacturing.
- Data Integration and Sharing: Integrate existing data collection systems for human and animal health data and support the development of best practices for data analysis and sharing.
- Public Health Workforce Development: Develop a North American network for pandemic preparedness training and exercises and provide opportunities for professional exchange.
- Communications and Engagement: Develop coordinated regional communication plans and materials, and enhance engagement with stakeholders, including industry, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
“Our government is committed to working with our international partners to strengthen our collective ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to public health emergencies,” said Minister Hajdu. “NAPAHPI is an important step towards ensuring that we are better prepared for future pandemics.”
“The United States remains committed to working with our partners in the Americas to strengthen our collective pandemic preparedness and response capabilities,” said Secretary Azar. “NAPAHPI will foster collaboration and coordination, enabling us to leverage our combined expertise and resources to better protect the health of our citizens.”
“Mexico is pleased to join Canada and the United States in this important initiative,” said Secretary Alcocer Varela. “By working together, we can create a more secure North America that is better prepared to respond to future pandemic threats.”
NAPAHPI builds upon the success of the existing trilateral partnership on pandemic influenza preparedness and response, which has been in place since 2009. The initiative will be guided by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from each country and will be supported by a Secretariat based at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
For more information, please visit: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/flu-influenza/pandemic-influenza.html
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