Project News

From July 18 – 25ththe project experts visited and worked with provincial centers of preventive medicine (PCPM) in the southern, highland and central provinces to survey on the biosafety situation. Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City selected 3 PCPMs – Can Tho, Tien Giang and Dong Nai among 21 PCPMs in the southern province. Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology selected 2 PCPMs – Dak Lak and Gia Lai among 5 PCPMs in highland province. Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang selected 2 PCPMs – Hue, Da Nang PCPM among 9 PCPMs in the central province. These pilot PCPMs were selected by the term of their performance for playing a leading role over other PCPMs in each provinces and will attend the training course on biosafety, laboratory diagnosis and biosafety equipment. Dr. Shinohara (Biosafety; division of biosafety, NIID), Mr. Miki expert (facility maintenance; SUGA company), Dr. Yoneyama (Chef Advisor of JICA-NIHE project) and Mr. Ikari (Project Coordinator) attended the survey. Dr. Nguyen Van Hai (Vice Director, PIHCMC), Dr. Vo Thi Huong (Deputy Head of Virology department, TIHE) and Ms. Ngo Le Thi Minh Tam (Head of Biosafety department, PINT) also attended the survey at other PCPMs in the southern, highland and the central province, respectively.

Tien Giang PCPM

Gia Lai PCPM

After survey, experts concluded about the situation in PCPMs that biosafety department is not been established yet in some PCPMs. There are several cases where each laboratory assigns only one person in charge of biosafety activities. Besides, there are some issues necessary to be supported such as no definite differentiation of biosafety from clean bench in several PCPMs, no clear division of clean and dirty areas and inappropriate usage of PPE. Training on biosafety requires not only theory but also practice. Hence, experts made active and effective discussion with staffs of PCPM during the survey. In fact, PCPMs take most of time for food and beverage hygiene service and a little of time for survey of infectious diseases. Upon participation in this JICA project, therefore, they want to learn about biosafety and laboratory diagnosis technique (GMT) to strengthen their capacity of diagnosis of infectious diseases. There is some problem in term of biosecurity since most of biosafety cabinet were not functionally checked at the time of installation and were not regularly maintained. Hence, biosafety and quality management department (NIHE) have already gained certification of ISO 17025 relating to equipment calibration and might support these PCPMs on checking and maintenance of equipment. PIHCMC also has a plan to establish equipment calibration department and support other PCPMs in southern provinces.

Da Nang PCPM