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ADB commends PRIMEX’s |
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Posted on 29 June 2009 PRIMEX’s implementation of the ADB Regional Technical Assistance for the Strengthening Epidemiological Surveillance and Response (ESR) in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (RETA 6305) from June 2006 to August 2008 was rated ‘highly satisfactory’ in the ADB TA Completion Report for the Project, which was also evaluated as 'successful.'
The Report also noted that, while the “time frame was short for the kind of TA,” its “success resulted largely from strong consulting firms that also secured support of Governments.” RETA 6305 aimed to strengthen the human and institutional capacities of the three countries to properly perform ESR. As lead consulting firm, PRIMEX collaborated with three associate firms-Singapore Health Services, Pte Ltd. (SingHealth), Singapore; PT Trans Intra Asia (TIA), Indonesia; and Health Solutions (HS) Group, Malaysia. ADB's Principal Health Specialist, Dr. Vincent de Wit, who authored the Report, had already commended PRIMEX last year for its excellent handling of RETA 6305 and the ‘personal commitment and dedication of its consultants to help the participating governments in the implementation of this Project’ during the RETA 6305 Concluding Workshop in April 2008. In the same forum, Dr. De Wit recalled how complex the Project was in terms of the multiple partners involved- three governments (Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), four consulting firms (PRIMEX and its local partners), and ADB, - which, in the context of the complex ADB procedures, could be 'scary', but which ‘PRIMEX and its partners managed well’. “PRIMEX was on top of things in terms of communication and application of simple tools,” De Wit said last year. Project Director and PRIMEX President/CEO Ms. Elvira Ablaza said that the RETA accomplished something that was not in the TA paper, i.e., the strengthened collaboration among Filipino, Indonesian, and Malaysian consultants. “This Project has proven that an Asian team is as good as any other team,” Ms Ablaza said.
It was expected that improvements in the performance of ESR, which were facilitated by the Project, would help the three countries respond effectively to threats of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) within and across the three countries, and help reduce morbidity and mortality due to communicable diseases. (Arvin Yana /PRIMEX) |
In the Report, ADB noted PRIMEX’s strong organizational arrangements for the Project, describing how the Project Director (Ms. Elvira Ablaza) ‘provided ongoing support’ and how the three Deputy Project Directors (one of whom was PRIMEX Senior Vice President Ms. Ma. Lourdes Sumilang for the Philippine component) were responsible for in-country support and use of resources in accordance with ADB rules and regulations. They were credited for establishing a strong activity monitoring and financial tracking system and a cash advance mechanism to ensure timely funding of planned activities.
The Project's accomplishments included (i) an assessment of ESR systems and formulation of plans and programs based on the results of the prior assessment and securing political support for ESR planning and implementation; (ii) development of systems that will strengthen ESR capacity and enable the countries to comply with the requirements of the WHO’s International Health Regulations of 2005 (IHR-2005); and (iii) capacity building to enhance ESR systems, such as the development of a laboratory-based surveillance information system (Malaysia), development of the Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response System (Philippines), and pilot-testing of a disease surveillance feedback system 