Articles Category: Health and COVID-19

In yet another first, the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings were convened virtually from 9-12 September 2020. In view of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, major power rivalry and looming economic recession, the 53rd AMM pr

In a special virtual online meeting held on 19 August 2020, the ministers overseeing ASEAN’s cooperation on rural development and poverty eradication gathered to discuss initiatives that are being undertaken at the national level to protect the poor fr

Just a few short months ago, we went about our lives celebrating festivals, partaking in traditional feasts, and watching cultural performances. But all these activities—classified as intangible cultural heritage or ICH—came to a grinding halt with the

ASEAN’s impressive progress in reducing poverty is currently under threat of being reversed due to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put sporting events on hold. Stadiums and football fields are empty, but for ASEAN, promoting sports development and healthy lifestyles will not stop.

Against a backdrop of a raging pandemic and global economic downturn, ASEAN heads of state reaffirmed their solidarity and cooperation at the 36th ASEAN Summit on 26 June 2020. The summit was held via a live-streamed video conference—a first in the 44-

During its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, Indonesia advanced the One Health Initiative as a key deliverable. Health Minister Budi G. Sadikin offers invaluable insights into Indonesia’s efforts to champion the One Health approach, highlighting its strategi

As the Chair of ASEAN in 2024 and the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM), Lao PDR has set a significant agenda under the theme “Health: Transforming ASEAN Health Development Resilience in a New Context.” In this interview, Minister Bounfeng Phoummal

Tourism has been one of the hardest- hit sectors by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Secretary Romulo-Puyat talks to The ASEAN about the pandemic’s impact on the Philippines’ tourism industry, on jobs and businesses, and how the country is working towa

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala talks to The ASEAN about COVAX, one of three pillars of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, which focuses on ensuring the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to both higher income and lower-income countries.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reflects on his 10-year tenure as chief diplomat and development advocate, and the role that mutlilateralism plays in addressing ongoing and emerging global challenges.

Minister Budi G. Sadikin explains Indonesia’s strategy for securing an adequate and steady supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the progress of its national vaccination rollout, and approaches to addressing vaccine hesitancy. As current chair of the ASEAN Heal

Fifty-four-year-old I Gusti Agung Kusuma Yudha Rai, better known as Ade Rai, is an Indonesian all-natural bodybuilder, fitness icon, and advocate for a healthy lifestyle.

Thirty-one year-old Pingann Oung is a prominent social media influencer in Cambodia, known for promoting healthy lifestyles and overall well-being. His rise to fame began unexpectedly as an advocate for women’s health, which quickly garnered him a subs

The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly trying for Philippines-based OB-Gynecologist Marites Barrientos, known as “Doc Tess” to her patients. For someone who finds immense joy in caring for expectant mothers and delivering babies, it was challenging to

Warni Ibrahim vividly recalls the tumultuous period of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past decade, 39-year-old Warni has worked as a migrant domestic worker. She first worked as a nanny before transitioning to her current role as a live-in caregiver fo

Months into the pandemic, Dr. Disa Edralyn understood that the risk of contracting the coronavirus is higher for medical workers in Indonesia. The 27-year-old doctor, who is currently inactive to focus on her speciality study on anaesthesiology, was te

Five children candidly share how the pandemic affected their daily lives, how it altered their views and attitudes, and what lessons they learned from the experience.