“Health security is national security. It’s economic and human security.”

This is according to Minister of Health, Dr. Lackram Bodoe, who emphasised that the future of health security lies not just in a nation’s ability to respond to crises but to prevent and detect disease outbreaks before they become national emergencies.

Speaking at the Second Joint Regional Health Security and Regional Coordinating Mechanism Meeting hosted at the Hyatt Regency on Tuesday, the Minister pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which crippled tourism, disrupted supply chains, and overwhelmed health systems, as proof that national health surveillance and preparedness remain top priorities in the region.