GMS-CDC

Purpose of the first Forum: to better understand and promote efforts to address regional public health challenges.

Objectives of the first Forum: to share and discuss experiences relating to CDC, health systems, and regional and cross-border aspects; and identify regional opportunities and constraints for cooperation in CDC and health system development.

Topics: Regional Challenges and Opportunities in (i) Communicable Diseases Control, (ii) HIV/AIDS Control, (iii) Strengthening Rural Health Systems in Border Areas, and (iv) Cooperation in Health.

Presentations, discussions and poster sessions were organized around 4 themes in two tracks

A total of 146 participants attended from Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, and development partners. Besides plenary opening and closing sessions, the forum included 18 sessions and 50 presentations. GMS member countries shared the sessions.

Documentation is available on the website www.gms-cdc.org or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opening Remarks

H. E. Dr. Bounkouang Phichit, Vice-Minister of Health, Lao PDR flagged the day as an important milestone for the GMS health sector, and commended that the Forum is considering the role of health systems in CDC, in particular in border and remote areas. He noted the opportunities for regional cooperation in addressing in particular dengue, malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS. He looked forward to seeing the Forum become a regular feature for the health sector within the wider framework of GMS cooperation.

Dr. Jacques Jeugmans, Lead Practice (Health), ADB: observed that since SARS and AI outbreaks in 2003, the global community has fully recognized the potential impact of epidemics on social and economic welfare, and appreciated that the GMS countries were to jointly address major public health issues that affect populations across borders..

Dr. Ah Sian Tee and Dr. Jay Narain, Directors, Combating Communicable Diseases, of respectively WHO/WPRO and WHO/SEARO, emphasized the common goal to enjoy health security in the GMS and the challenges of implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), and the Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseases.

Prof. Dr. Pratap Singhasivanon, Secretary General/Coordinator, SEAMEO/TROPMED, in a keynote address on the topic ?Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Communicable Disease Control (CDC) and Health Systems Development in the GMS: SEAMEO/ TROPMED Experience,? proposed the development of more pro-active and timely surveillance systems based on modeling and forecasting.

Presentations

Theme A: Regional Challenges and Opportunities in CDC

1. The International Health Regulation (IHR) and Status of Asia Pacific Strategy for Emerging Diseas (1.1 MB) (by Dr. Ah Sian Tee, Director, Combating Communicable Diseases, WHO/WPRO)
2. Health Disaster Legal Preparedness (1.2 MB) (by Ms. Victoria Bannon, Programme Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, International Federation of the Red Cross)
3. Update on AI Vaccine Development and Their Use in Case of an AI Pandemic (290.03 kB) (by Dr. Jean-Marc Olive, WHO Representative, Viet Nam)
4. Capacity Assessment: A Tool for Developing Systemic Capacity (308.03 kB) (by Mr. Jonathan Abrahams, Director, Public Health in Emergencies, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center)
5. The Spread and Control of Dengue in the GMS (660.13 kB) (by Dr. Chang Moh Seng, Regional Dengue Adviser, WHO, Cambodia)
6. Emerging TB Drug Resistance in the GMS (210.74 kB) (by Dr. Helen Cox, Senior TB Epidemiologist, Burnet Institute, Melbourne)
7. Malaria Drug Resistance (881.24 kB) (by Dr. Leonard Ortega, WHO, Myanmar)
8. Status of Implementing IHR and National Programs for Avian Influenza (AI) Control at National... (2.74 MB), Local, and Community Levels (by Dr. Li Zhipeng, Ministry of Health, PRC)
9. Strengthening the Infectious Diseases Reporting and Surveillance System in China (392.89 kB) (by Dr. Xiong Weiyi, Office of Disease Control and Emergency Response, China)
10. 10. Surveillance and Response Status and Issues in Myanmar (6.27 MB), and the Deployment of Rapid Response Team at the District Level (by Ms. Kanokporn Conninx,WHO, Myanmar)
11. Predicting and Preventing the Next Emerging Infectious Disease (by Dr. Mark S. Smolinski, Global Public Health, Google Foundation) – Presentation is not available.
12. Lessons Learned Implementing Cross Border Interventions (2.63 MB) (by Dr. Bounlay Phommasack, Deputy Director, Hygiene and Prevention Department, MOH, Lao PDR)
13. CDC for Migrants in Border Areas (466.83 kB) (by Dr. Li Qiongfen, Director, Center of Emergency and Public Health, CDC, Yunnan Province)
14. Borderless Action Against Microbes (1.31 MB): Shifting the Paradigm from Cooperation Towards Partnerships for Collaboration (by Mr. James Hopkins, Program Manager, Kenan Institute Asia)
15. Discussion on Challenges in Implementing CDC in Border Areas and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation – Presentation is not available.

Theme B: Regional Challenges and Opportunities in HIV/AIDS Control

1. New Insights on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic (173.91 kB) (by Dr. Michael Hahn, Representative, UNAIDS Lao PDR)
2. Myths of HIV/AIDS Control (1.38 MB) (by Dr. Peter Godwin, HIV/AIDS Chief Technical Adviser, ADB GMS Regional CDC Project)
3. Infrastructure Development and HIV (686.49 kB) (by Dr. Charmaine Cu-Unjieng, ADB Consultant, HIV/AIDS)
4. Prevention and Treatment in Cross-border Populations (by Dr. David Feingold, Director, Ophidian Research Institute, UNESCO/PROAP) – Presentation is not available.
5. Regional Cooperation Experiences and Lessons Learned in an HIV/AIDS Program (2.04 MB) (by Prof. Dr. Sandra Tempongko, Deputy Coordinator/OIC, SEAMEO TROPMED Network)
6. HIV/AIDS Monitoring and Knowledge Management (1.21 MB) (by Dr. Peter Godwin, HIV/AIDS Chief Technical Adviser, ADB GMS Regional CDC Project)
7. HIV/AIDS Care and Treatment in Viet Nam: Legal Issues, Scaling Up, and ART Program (24.44 kB) (by Dr. Nguyen Van Kinh, Deputy Director, Viet Nam Administration for AIDS Control, Viet Nam)
8. Implementing HIV/AIDS Control Programs (678.5 kB) (by Dr. Su Haijun, Ministry of Health, PRC)
9. Issues in HIV/AIDS Control in Lao PDR (337.82 kB) (by Dr. Phouthone Soutthalack, Deputy Director of AIDS/STI Center, MOH, Lao PDR)
10. Program Approach to Increasing Access to ART through Continuum of Care (CoC) (748.95 kB) (by Dr. Lim Yi, Deputy Director, NCHADS)

Theme C: Regional Challenges and Opportunities for Strengthening Rural Health Systems

1. Health Care in Remote Communities and Border Areas (689.78 kB) – System Issues and Options (by Dr. Manivanh Southammavong, Health Net International)
2. Lessons Learned in Malaria Control for Ethnic Minorities (1.49 MB) (by Mr. Pricha Petleung, Health Education Expert, WHO)
3. Opportunities for Improving Health Care in Remote Communities (1.44 MB) (by Dr. Che Katz, ADB Consultant)
4. CDC Financing Trends and Health Systems Issues (339.08 kB) with Reference to Global Partnerships and Donor Coordination (by Mr. Peter Miller, Regional Health Systems Development Expert, ADB GMS Regional CDC Project)
5. Health Sector Policy Support Program at Provincial Level: EC Experience in Viet Nam (44.51 kB) (by Ms. Anne-Claire Leon, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Commission to Viet Nam)
6. Health Equity Funds (54.73 kB) (by Dr. Brad Schwartz, Health Economist
7. Experiences with Integrating Health Care and Opportunities for Improving Health Systems (199.3 kB) (by Dr. Vincent de Wit, Principal Health Specialist, ADB)
8. Model for Strengthening Local Health Systems (446.1 kB) (by Dr. Frank Haegeman, International Project Coordinator, Belgian Technical Cooperation)
9. Overview of Health System Reforms in Asia and Potential Impacts on the Rural Poor (96.22 kB) (by Mr. David Oldfield, Managing Director, Asia Policy Research Co., Ltd.)
10. The Contracting Approach: Experiences from Cambodia (69.13 kB) (by Dr. Fred Griffith, Health Net International)
11. An Outline of an Approach to Health System Strengthening and Governance Reform in Support of CDC (72.81 kB) (by Mr. John Grundy, University of Melbourne, Nossal Institute for Global Health)
12. Public Health Delivery in the GMS and Improving the Quality of Care (144 kB) (by Dr. Chen Ningshan, MOH, PRC)
13. Providing Staff in Rural Areas and Village Health in China (770.07 kB) (by Mr. Ying Xiaohua, Professor, School of Public Health, Fudan University, PRC)
14. Model for NMCP Partnership: Capacity Building for Malaria Control in the GMS (1.14 MB) (by Dr. Cecilia Hugo, ACTMalaria Foundation, Philippines)
15. Improving Staff Skills Using Interactive CD (by Mr. Robert Simms ITEM, Australia) – Presentation is not available.

Theme D: Regional Challenges and Opportunities in Regional Cooperation in Health

1. Opening Statement: Challenges and Opportunities in Regional Cooperation (116.97 kB) (by Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert, Senior Advisor on Diseases Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand)
2. Rationale and Examples of Regional Cooperation in Asia in Health and Other Sectors (73.84 kB) (by Mr. David Oldfield, Managing Director, Asia Policy Research Co., Ltd.)
3. Social and Economic Consequences of Communicable Diseases (926.27 kB)– A Case in Point: Dengue in Cambodia (by Mrs. Carol Beaver, Health Economist)
4. Regional Cooperation in CDC: “Who does what?”, and a Practical Overview of Options and Questions (1.21 MB) for Discussions (by Mr. Stephane P. Rousseau, Regional Coordinator, ADB GMS CDC Project)
5. Regional Cooperation for CDC in Cambodia (1.34 MB) (by Dr. Sok Touch, Director, CDC Department, MOH, Cambodia)
6. Regional Cooperation: ASEAN + 3 EID Programme (431.07 kB) (by Dr. Khin Devi Aung, Public Health Specialist, ASEAN + 3 EID)
7. ACMECS CDC Program (264.99 kB) (by Dr. Preecha Prempree, Department of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand)
8. PRO/MBDS Electronic Public Warning (624.03 kB) (by Dr. Marjorie P. Pollack, Editor, International Society for Infectious Diseases)
9. Introduction of Regional Communities of Practice in CDC (350.21 kB) (by Mr. Stephane P. Rousseau, Regional Coordinator, ADB GMS CDC Project)
10. Health Zoning and Planning and Monitoring of Health Services (by Mr. Alexis de Morsier, IT Specialist) – Presentation is not available.
11. AusAID Regional Strategy for Health (90.58 kB) (by Mr. Warren Hoye, Program Manager, AusAID, Lao PDR)
12. Towards a GMS Regional Health Strategy (55.25 kB) (by Dr. Vincent de Wit, Principal Health Specialist, ADB).

Closing Plenary Discussion

1. Brief Statements of the 6 GMS Countries on National Plans for Regional Cooperation
2. Brief Statements of Development Partners
3. Discussion on Way Forward with Regional Cooperation in Health in the GMS
4. Summary of Highlights of the Forum and Options for Way Forward with GMS Regional Cooperation (6.7 kB) in Health (by Dr. Vincent de Wit, Principal Health Specialist, ADB)

Some conclusions

Theme A

•  
  • Capacity constraints for implementing IHR and APSED;
  • need to share national preparedness and improve legal preparedness;
  • need more attention to resurging diseases like dengue and drug resistant TB;
  • good examples of cross border co-operation.

Theme B

•  
  • A more focused approach to HIV/AIDS strategy and programming is required recognizing that HIV epidemics in the region are likely to remain concentrated in specific situations related to the sex industry and drug use, sharing experiences can help improve impact;
  • a programme approach rather than isolated or ad hoc project approaches is needed to ensure sustainability within national HIV programmes;
  • strengthened surveillance systems linked with operational research and careful monitoring will help identify critical areas, groups and situations for HIIV interventions.

Theme D

•  
  • Lack of effort to reach border populations;
  • selective priority for only some infectious diseases and unstable funding;
  • inadequate coordination of activities;
  • without strong local health systems the delivery of the any CDC interventions will have limited impact;
  • health care requires to be affordable for the poor;
  • integrating CDC can improve efficiencies and lessen burden on health staff;
  • need to focus on strengthening capacities of provincial management of health systems and their financing;
  • need to regionally address un-regulated cross-border health practitioners, and sub-standard medications.

Theme D

•  
  • Reviewed rationale and options for regional cooperation based on national priorities and avoiding duplication; knowledge management needs to be improved, with various options for doing so; need to coordinate regional activities; based on above, reviewed options for GMS regional cooperation;
  • need to set priorities for regional cooperation;
  • seek complementary roles of regional actors;
  • ensure political will and ownership;
  • find “champions” to manage the chance process;
  • ensure sufficient know-how and sharing;
  • strong buy in (demand-based) from “clients”

Recommended areas for GMs regional cooperation

• Need for a regional strategy and coordination is required among countries and institutions;and for regional change teams and partnerships to translate political will into action;
• Need to improve knowledge management and developing communities of practice; to address standards for quality improvement; and an organized effort for regional capacity building;
• Local cross-border CDC and health services are increasingly common and need full national, regional and global support