From Recovery to Resilience

Karina Tungari is a freelance illustrator who was born and raised in Jakarta. She studied communication design in Jakarta and illustration at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences with a focus on graphic narrative. Her interest in people and their complexity as social beings is part of her graphic essay. You can find her artwork on Instagram @_katung_ and www.karinatungari.com

Introduction On 13 January 2020, the South-East Asia Region was thrust into an era of unprecedented turbulence with the confirmation of its first case of what was subsequently named COVID-19 in Thailand. Until the WHO revoked COVID-19’s health emergency status in May 2023, it had resulted in 61,275,290 infected patients and 808,604 deaths (ArcGIS, n.d.) in the WHO South-East Asia Region; globally, it had caused more than 765 million cases and nearly 6.9 million deaths (UN News, 2023). As the vir

Introduction Over the past two decades, Member States in the WHO Western Pacific Region and South-East Asia Region have been making investments in health security under a common framework, originally titled the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED) (WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, 2005). First developed after the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, APSED has served as a roadmap for Member States to implement the International Health Regulations (200

Although the COVID-19 pandemic may seem less prominent in public discourse this year, its enduring impacts still resonate today. The swift implementation of restrictive policies, the accelerated shift toward digitalisation, disruptions across economic sectors, and the disproportionate burden on people’s livelihoods all posed global challenges.

The ASEAN-Australia One Health Fellowship Programme was established in 2021 at Murdoch University with funding from the Australian Government amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is in partnership with ASEAN, aligning with the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, to support regional public health and health security. The fellowship builds capacity to prevent and respond to emerging infectious diseases through the One Health approach.

ASEAN’s young people are critical partners in promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Participants from the ASEAN Member States and India gathered in New Delhi from 20 to 21 July 2023 for a Conference on Traditional Medicine. Themed “Role of Traditional Medicine in India and ASEAN Countries in the Mitigation of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” the conference was a collaborative platform aimed at discussing the integration and advancement of Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

by Resilience Development Initiative and Aly Diana Strategic and collaborative actions at the regional level are essential to maintain and bolster the region’s health quality. A product of the ASCC Research and Development Platform on Public Health Emergencies, this policy brief delves into the critical role of promoting healthy lifestyles in preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and fortifying ASEAN’s health system.

An ASEAN-India workshop on the National Cancer Grid “Vishwam” Global Cancer Project was organised by the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in association with the Indian Mission to ASEAN and ASEAN Secretariat on 24 August 2023 in virtual mode. The workshop’s focus was to understand the existing cancer burden in the ASEAN Member States, the problems in the delivery of cancer care, and finding appropriate solutions to maximise cancer care control through collaborations and indigenous solutions that are e

Water and sanitation are pivotal for sustainable development. Emperor Naruhito, known for his keen interest in water policy, stated at the 9th World Water Forum, “Water plays a critical role on this continent where rapid socio-economic development is taking place,” (Imperial Household Agency Japan, 2022).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the discipline of creating intelligent machines capable of analytical reasoning, enabling organisations to operate effectively and with foresight.

ASEAN Volunteers, an ASEAN Cooperation Project, aims to foster a caring and sharing community among ASEAN youth through volunteering activities. It aspires to become an ASEAN-led integrated platform for such activities, to promote ASEAN awareness and to foster participatory community building by actively engaging the youth.

Water festivals are important occasions in Southeast Asia and Northeast India. Despite geographical differences, the water festivals celebrated in the two regions are startlingly similar, underscoring Southeast Asia and Northeast India’s common cultural and historical linkages.

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 Phoummalaysith outlines the key priorities to enhance health resilience across the region. With ASEAN continuing its recovery from the pandemic and preparing for future crises, Minister Phoummalaysith delves into critical initiatives, including biosafety a

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 strategic significance and far-reaching implications for regional and global health governance. ASEAN Member States have committed to establishing the One Health Network and Joint Plan of Action to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration.

Ambassador Urawadee Sriphiromya served as the Permanent Representative of Thailand to ASEAN from 2021 to 2024. Ambassador Urawadee gave this interview shortly before she left Jakarta on March 2024 for her next assignment as Ambassador of Thailand to Viet Nam. The Ambassador shared valuable insights on the crucial role women play in shaping ASEAN’s policies and strategies for the future.

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 limit face-to-face prenatal visits, don multiple layers of personal protective equipment, and maintain minimal interaction even during childbirth.

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 substantial following and significant influence beyond the health and wellness community.

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.