KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA — June 12, 2026 — The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) participated in the 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) and the integrated Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework (APHSAF) Stakeholders Meeting from June 9-12, 2026 in in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The FSM was represented by Secretary Mr. Marcus Samo of the FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs, accompanied by Mr. Ruotpong Pongliyab, Director of Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness.
Participation in these important forums supports the nation’s commitment to achieving “Better Health for All,” a key priority of the FSM Department of Health & Social Affairs and a cornerstone of ongoing efforts to strengthen health systems across the nation. The meetings brought together government leaders, public health experts, development partners, and international organizations to address emerging health security challenges and strengthen regional collaboration.
The conferences provided valuable opportunities for the FSM delegation to engage with global and regional partners on workforce development, emergency preparedness, health system resilience, and sustainable health security investments. Through participation in technical workshops and policy discussions, Secretary Samo and Mr. Pongliyab explored innovative approaches to strengthening the health workforce, addressing critical shortages of specialized healthcare professionals, and expanding opportunities for local training and capacity building.
A major focus of the meetings was enhancing preparedness and response capabilities for public health emergencies. By contributing to discussions on regional coordination frameworks and response mechanisms, the FSM strengthened its partnerships with neighboring countries and development partners while advancing efforts to improve the nation’s ability to mobilize resources, coordinate logistics, and respond effectively to future health threats and disasters. These efforts are particularly important for island nations that face unique geographic and logistical challenges during emergencies.
The forums also provided an important platform for the FSM delegation to advocate for universal health coverage, community-based prevention programs, and sustainable health security initiatives while exploring opportunities to strengthen surveillance systems, outbreak detection, and information sharing.
Secretary Samo further represented the FSM as a panelist during a high-level session on implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), where the nation’s leadership role in the Pacific was highlighted as the first Pacific Island country to conduct a Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in 2018 and to designate a National IHR Authority (2025), sharing lessons learned and advice from FSM’s ongoing efforts to strengthen health security and emergency preparedness.
