Project News

The second Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting was held in April 17th in National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Hanoi. The Project's targets are to enhance the capacity of laboratory diagnosis and biosafety as well as to strengthen the laboratory network in Vietnam to respond to hazardous pathogens such as avian influenza with the duration from 2011 to 2016. There were 24 participants including Director Nguyen Tran Hien, Vice Director Dang Duc Anh from NIHE, Pasteur Institute HO Chi Minh City, Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang, Ministry of Health and JICA Vietnam Office.

After the reports on the inputs performed in 2012, indicators 2011 – 2012 and plan of operation in 2013, participants also discussed on issues arising during the project implementation as follows:

The Project is recommended

1. To continue to support on the capacity enhancement of laboratory diagnosis of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases such as H5N1, H7N9. In addition to 7 selected pathogens, the Project might respond to the real outbreaks of infectious diseases in Vietnam.
2. Mobile laboratory BSL-3 transferred from NIHE to PIHCMC is under trial operaton and need to operate regularly as soon as possible to deal with possible outbreaks of infectious diseases.
3. To support on biosafety laboratory BSL-2 certificate application according to newly issued biosafety regulation.

In April 16th, the pre-meeting was also organized with the participation of biosafety-related staff from NIHE and RIs. RIs reported situation on biosafety activities of each institute– improved facilities, training courses and goals for second half of the project.