Posted on 04 Dec 2006 | View Group Picture
Health officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines gathered in Jakarta November 22-23 to discuss how to boost the three countries' capacity to fight emerging and endemic infectious diseases in the region.
The meeting was being held under an ADB regional technical assistance project (RETA 6305), backed by a grant of $1.2 million, aimed at strengthening surveillance and disease response systems in these three countries.
PRIMEX joined Indonesia-based PT Trans Intra Asia (TIA), Singapore Health Services, Pte Ltd. (SingHealth) from Singapore, and Health Solutions (HS) Group from Malaysia in providing secretariat support to the workshop.
Senior health officials from all three countries took part, as well as representatives of the World Health Organization, ADB, and other agencies. They reviewed the status of epidemiological surveillance and response systems, prepared road maps on how to boost them, identified gaps that needed to be addressed, and planned to further strengthen regional cooperation.
Southeast Asia has seen a surge in interest in the issue of disease response as a result of the recent outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and avian influenza. These have coincided with the introduction of new International Health Regulations (IHR) that provide a basis for stronger regional cooperation on disease control and prevention of epidemics.
“Countries in the region are in the process of upgrading their surveillance and response systems according to the new regulations and make these more effective,” said Vincent de Wit, ADB Principal Health Specialist and project leader.
“Most countries are currently conducting assessments and preparing plans to address gaps, e.g., simulation exercises including for laboratory services and reporting arrangements. The IHR framework, which all three countries have endorsed, will provide a good basis for building up these requirements.”
According to the IHR, any disease outbreak of international concern, even of noncommunicable diseases such as caused by disasters, chemicals or radiation, will be reported.
The TA is being implemented in coordination with the WHO regional offices for Southeast Asia and Western Pacific. (Lifted from ADB- External Relations Department media release)
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