Outline of the Project

Project's name

The Project for Capacity Development for Medical Laboratory Network on Biosafety and Examination of Highly Hazardous infectious Pathogens in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Project Site

• National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology:NIHE
• Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City:PIHCMC
• Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Project office:

National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (1 Yersin str,, Hanoi)

Date of R/D Signed

March 22, 2017

Term of Cooperation

From July 27, 2017 to March 31, 2023

Main Implementing Agency in Vietnam

National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE)

Counterpart in Japan

National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID)

Background

Socialist Republic of Vietnam (referred as "Vietnam" hereinafter) has experienced threat of a various infectious diseases such as SARS in 2003, highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) and pandemic influenza (pdmAH1N1). The Government of Vietnam regarded prevention of infectious disease epidemics as one of the priority issues in Comprehensive Development Design for the Health System in Vietnam to 2010 and Vision by 2020, in which the establishment of the accurate and rapid diagnostic system in the country is considered to be imminent.

Through the grant assistance for construction of biosafety level (referred as "BSL" hereinafter) 3 laboratory and the subsequent two (2) technical cooperation projects, National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City (PIHCMC) had become able to implement the confirmatory diagnosis for highly hazardous pathogens including avian influenza virus, which used to be entrusted to foreign institutions. In addition, the capacity on biosafety and diagnostic techniques have been strengthened to a certain extent by establishment of laboratory network with NIHE as the core institution, PIHCMC、Tay Nguyen Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (TIHE), Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang (PINT) and 10 centers out of the Provincial Center for Preventive medicine (PCPMs) administered under the 4 institutes.

Although continuous implementation of trainings and strengthening of the regional control system for infectious disease including the neighboring countries (Laos and Cambodia) are indispensable for establishment of the rapid and effective national prevention system, PIHCMC, supervising the southern 21 provinces/cities, is only equipped with the mobile BSL-3 laboratory. Furthermore, even NIHE, supervising the northern 28 provinces/cities, has to improve the operation system in order to provide more efficient and effective trainings. In addition, in case that a patient becomes a suspected case through medical examination at a primary medical institution, the laboratory network in the health system, that samples should safely and rapidly be sent to PCPMs or the regional institutions for appropriate laboratory diagnosis, is one of the core capacities on International Health Regulation (IHR) and has to be focused on for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as well. The Project was proposed to the Government of Japan under such a condition.

General purpose

Laboratory Network for prioritized (including highly hazardous) infectious diseases is strengthened by improvement of laboratory diagnosis and biosafety at model sites which are supervised by NIHE or PIHCMC.

Output

1. Laboratory diagnosis and biosafety is improved at model sites which are supervised by NIHE or PIHCMC.
2. National Training System for capacity development of National Laboratory Network at National Training Center in NIHE is developed.
3. Capacity of PIHCMC to examine and manage highly hazardous infections pathogens is strengthened by establishment and operation of BSL-3 Laboratories.

Activities

1-1	Analyze current situation and challenges of laboratory diagnosis and biosafety in the model sites.
1-2	Based on the findings of 1-1, develop the strengthening plan of laboratory diagnosis and biosafety in the model sites.
1-3	Pilot and review/revise the strengthening plan of laboratory diagnosis and biosafety in the model sites.
1-4	Prepare the roadmap for nationwide/areal scaling-up the strengthening plan of laboratory diagnosis and biosafety in the model sites and National Laboratory Network.
1-5	Practice blind tests for laboratory diagnosis and sustain developed capacity in model sites.
1-6	Develop IEC material (video teaching material) of testing methods of target pathogens.

2-1	Analyze current situation, challenges and necessary equipment for National Training System for strengthening capacity of National Laboratory Network.
2-2	Prepare the equipment for National Training System for strengthening capacity of National Laboratory Network.
2-3	Develop and review/revise the curricula and teaching materials according to standards of Continuing Medical Education (CME) for strengthening capacity of National Laboratory Network.
2-4	Pilot the Training for National Laboratory Network in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia.

3-1	Analyze the necessary specification of new BSL-3 Laboratories in PIHCMC.
3-2	Advise about design of the new BSL-3 Laboratories and other necessary equipment in PIHCMC.
3-3	Prepare the necessary equipment for new BSL-3 Laboratories in PIHCMC.
3-4	Develop the maintenance system for BSL-3 Laboratories and other necessary equipment in PIHCMC.
3-5	Train staff for BSL-3 Laboratories and other necessary equipment in PIHCMC.
3-6	Consider/Discuss to relocate the mobile BSL-3 Laboratory in PIHCMC to the other institution (or not).

Input

Japanese side

• Expert dispatch
  Long-term expert (Chief Advisor, Project Coordinator, Others)
  Short-term expert (Laboratory network, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Laboratory testing, Laboratory maintenance, Others)
• Training in Japan
• Equipment (BSL-3 Laboratory equipment, Training equipment, Other equipment mutually agreed upon as necessary)

Counterpart side

• Counterparts for the Project
• Facility and equipment (BSL-3 Laboratory building, Office and basic equipment, Training building)
• Necessary expenses (Public utility fee for project office, Domestic travel Expences, Transportation Expences)