POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta – United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Indonesian Government held event with theme “Closing Program EPT-2: Collaboration between Two Countries to Achieve Acceleration of Indonesia’s Capacity in Detection, Prevention, and Respond to Health Threat” at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta, Thursday (19/12). Indonesia and United State also celebrating 70 years of their diplomatic relationship in 2019.

This event aimed to expose outcome, achievement, and activities in Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT-2) Program as well as closing of this program after 5 years of collaboration between Indonesian Government and USAID. The cooperation between USAID and Indonesian Government in health sector started after Avian Influenza (AI) outbreak in 2006 until 2010. Since that, they continue to collaborate through EPT phase 1 from 2011 to 2015 and EPT phase 2 from 2015 to 2019. Series of the cooperation provide positive outcome to Indonesia’s health sector in early detection, prevention, and response of emerging disease.

Ryan Washburn as USAID Mission Director said that Health Security both in human and animals are important to Indonesia, because disease spread without borders and could impend animal and human’s health. He emphasize that multisectoral collaboration needed to prevent emerging disease. “Prevention of contagious diseases are our commitment for better global health security.”

Acep Somantri as Chief of Overseas Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Health in his speech said that health development is one of vital pillar in national security. He added that it is our responsibilities to improve regional, national, and global health. He appreciate intersectoral support which contribute to national program in health sector. “Intersectoral support has supported a lot on national programs in health sector, especially in vigilance against pandemic and emerging disease.” Esti