GMS-CDC

A Sub-Regional Workshop on Cross-border Collaboration in Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response in Danang, Vietnam.

A three-day Sub-Regional Workshop on Cross-border Collaboration in Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response has successfully ended in Danang, Vietnam, on 10 April 2008. In a coordinated effort, the event was co-sponsored by the Kenan Institute Asia (KIAsia) and the regional Pooled Fund of the ADB GMS CDC Project, and was organized and hosted by the Vietnam Ministry of Health. H.E. Prof. Dr. Trinh Quan Huan, Vice-Minister of Health of Vietnam, opened the workshop on 8 April 2008.

Over 80 participants from Cambodia, China, Lao PDR and Vietnam, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), ACMECS, the Mekong Basin Diseases Surveillance (MBDS) initiative, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Crescent (IFRC), USAID, Pasteur Institute, etc. and consultants from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) attended the event.

Participants reviewed past experiences of cross-border CDC operations (exchange of information, joint investigations, etc) and discussed International Health Regulations (IHR) issues relevant to cross-border collaboration, within the Asia-Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases (APSED) framework. WHO representatives provided key presentations on the latter, followed by presentations by key partners already experienced in cross-border collaborations such as MBDS, the KIAsia and ACMECS. This was followed by group discussions – first by country, then in mixed groups -- where participants worked on identifying key actions, guidelines, Standards of Practices on cross-border CDC collaboration that are already existing, those that need to be adjusted, and the remaining gaps.

The workshop was followed by a back-to-back meeting with heads of country delegations, WHO, and donors for an immediate review of the workshop output as well as discussions on the next steps.

Download the report of the event here First Cross Border Worshop Report (645.1 kB).

Click here to link to the picture album of this event