Precautions for infectious diseases

Vientiane (KPL, 18 May 2006) - Three countries in the sub-Mekong region, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand, met this week in Savannakhet province to discuss cooperation plans for precautions against infectious diseases, particularly in the area between Savannakhet province of Laos, Guang Xi province of Vietnam and Mourdahan province of Thailand. The main goal of the conference was to review precautionary measures against disease in the three provinces, and to determine the most effective ways to combat the epidemics along provincial borders.

The conference was chairman by Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe, Governor of Savannakhet, Dr Ponmek Dalaloy, Minister for Health, the governor of Moukdahane province of Thailand, as well as officials from all three countries.

During the conference, Mr Vilayvanh reviewed the various projects aimed at combating against disease in the Mekong Basin in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and China, launched in 1999. A cooperative agreement was co-signed by Health Ministers of all six countries in November 2001, designed to promote and enhance capacity building for the prevention and control epidemic outbreaks in the region.

The project was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation from 2004. The project is focused on ten infectious conditions in particular, including malaria, dengue, diarrhoeal infections, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, SARS and Avian Influenza. The conference also focused on plans to enhance human resource capacity for the more efficient exchange of information and investigations of disease control.

Source: Orgainsation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies - 18 May 2006

 

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