ASEAN-SAARC-WHO Collaboration for implementation of the HPED Project

ASEAN-SAARC-WHO Collaboration for implementation of the HPED Project

Background Highly pathogenic and emerging diseases (HPED) have a high potential for transmission and for morbidity/mortality SARS, AI H5N1, influenza H1N1(2009) outbreaks International concern HPED have had devastating effects on the populations, economies and livelihoods in Asia Pacific Region Public health and animal health sectors need to work together, and involve non-health sectors (wildlife, environment etc) as necessary Not many countries have a functional mechanism to achieve this Strengthening institutional and coordination capacities of regional and sub-regional institutions is need of time

ASEAN and ASEAN Member States

Planning and consultation ASEAN and WHO have MoU for cooperation in health sector since 1997 New ASEAN-WHO MoU has been signed which covers the period of 2009-2013. This MoU is specific and covers prevention and control of communicable diseases including new and emerging diseases, emergency preparedness and response WHO - technical partner in AusAID funded ASEAN+Three EID Project (Phase I and II) WHO informed the ASEAN Secretariat about the possibility of a ASEAN level project for strengthening surveillance and response capacity for prevention and control of zoonoses in 2008

Planning and consultation Fourth Meeting of AEGCD held in Malacca in January 2009 recommended discussion of the WHO project proposal for EC funding with Member countries separately The draft project document was presented by WHO in the consultative meeting hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat in Bali in July 2009 The meeting acknowledged the importance of this project for strengthening ASEAN-WHO collaboration for and development of core capacities required for implementation of IHR (2005)

Planning through consultation Consultative meeting with ASEAN Secretariat and Member States in Bali, July 2008

Guiding principles for a new project as recommended the ASEAN Member States Since ASEAN is governed by Member States, all ASEAN Member States should be part of the project The project should be focused on the country level activities The ASEAN Secretariat is ready to work with WHO for project implementation under existing MoU provided that WHO signs an agreement with the European Union WHO will be responsible for technical and financial support for country level activities through WHO Country Offices

Policy level meeting on WHO-EC Project on HPED Held back to back with the fifth AEGCD meeting in Kuala Lumpur in December 2010 with following outcomes; AEGCD focal points nominated as focal points for HPED project Major focus on strengthening coordination mechanism between animal and public health sectors at country level Work with Lead countries identified for specific activities by AEGCD on related regional HPED activities ASEAN to identify under cross-border activities

Policy level meeting

Progress in implementation of the project A letter of agreement for HPED regional activities is underway Country level activities have been implemented through WHO Country Offices HPED fund has been provided to Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR,, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam ASEAN-FAO-OIE-WHO and Hokkaido University organized a regional workshop on collaboration between human and animal health sectors for zoonoses prevention and control in Sapporo

The objective of the workshop was to obtain Member States commitment to establish a functional coordination mechanism for collaboration between human and animal health sectors for prevention and control of zoonoses The workshop was attended by 43 participants, including representatives from both Ministries of Agriculture and Ministries of Health from 13 countries The workshop reviewed country progress in establishing and implementing the zoonoses coordination mechanism and identify barriers and activities that could be utilized to sustain a functional coordination mechanism Countries should establish a functional coordination mechanism between animal and human health sectors by 2011

Progress in implementation of the project WHO was invited to sixth AEGCD meeting held in Yangon in November 2011 WHO is participating in human and animal health sector collaboration consultations organized by the ASEAN Secretariat WHO supported ASEAN Dengue Day activities since 2011 WHO is organizing a training workshop on leptospirosis diagnosis in Manila in 2012 for ASEAN countries

SAARC and SAARC Member States

Planning and consultation WHO and the SAARC Secretariat have signed a MoU for cooperation on prevention and control of communicable diseases on 23 August 2000 WHO informed the SAARC Secretariat about the possibility of a SAARC level project for strengthening surveillance and response capacity for prevention and control of zoonoses in 2008 The draft project document was presented by WHO in the SAARC Technical Committee Meeting on Health and Population held in New Delhi on 30 July 2009 The meeting acknowledged the importance of this project for strengthening SAARC-WHO collaboration for and development of core capacities required for implementation of IHR (2005)

Guiding principles as recommended the SAARC Member States Since SAARC is governed by Member States, all SAARC Member States should be part of the project The project should be focused on the country level activities so that Member States get real benefit The SAARC Secretariat is ready to work with WHO for project implementation under existing MoU provided that WHO signs an agreement with the European Union The SAARC Secretariat will consider this project as a specialized project to avoid formalities required for project approval and implementation WHO will be responsible for technical and financial support for country level activities through WHO Country Offices

Progress in implementation of the project The SAARC Technical Committee Meeting on Health and Population held in Thimphu in April 2010 agreed SAARC-WHO collaboration for implementation of EU funded HPED Project A letter of exchange was signed between the SAARC Secretariat and WHO SEARO on 14.09.2010 First SAARC Regional Workshop on strengthening surveillance and response capacity for highly pathogenic emerging and reemerging diseases in SAARC countries was held in Kathmandu

SAARC Inception Workshop, Kathmandu (Nepal)

Outcome of the SAARC Inception Workshop A Country Focal Point for HPED Project (Public health component) should be designated by each Member State, taking into consideration the National IHR Focal Point The SAARC Secretariat has requested Member States to submit project proposals for country workshops, research grants and pilot projects The workshop endorsed the proposals made by the SAARC Member States to organize following workshops; 1. Technical workshop on HPED Bhutan 2. Regional workshop on epid. and lab. networking - Sri Lanka 3. SAARC Rabies Meeting Pakistan (or other country)

Intercountry Rabies Meeting in SAARC Region The Rabies in Asia Foundation in collaboration with WHO and the SAARC Secretariat hosted a SAARC Rabies Meeting in Mysore (India) from 25-27 February 2011 It was a follow up of SAARC Rabies meeting held in Colombo in 2003 Medical and veterinary experts from SAARC countries attended Appealed for a regionally coordinated rabies elimination programme and recommended phasing out of nerve tissue vaccine and promotion of cost-effective rabies vaccination

SAARC Rabies Meeting, Mysore (India)

First SAARC Technical Workshop on HPED The Royal Government of Bhutan hosted the workshop in Thimphu (Bhutan) from 26-27 August 2011 All SAARC countries except Bangladesh and Sri Lanka attended the workshop Country-wise zoonoses information and control activities shared among SAARC countries Rabies has been identified as a priority zoonoses The need of a regionally coordinated programme for rabies elimination was recognized SAARC countries requested WHO to develop a concept note and project proposal for funding from SAARC Dev. Fund

Technical Workshop on HPED, Thimphu (Bhutan)

Regional Workshop on Epidemiological and Laboratory Networking The Sri Lankan Government hosted the workshop in Colombo (Sri Lanka) from 26-27 March 2012 All SAARC countries attended the workshop The status of epid. and lab. services in SAARC countries was discussed SAARC project proposal for rabies elimination was discussed and endorsed and Sri Lanka has been identified as a lead country to take rabies elimination initiative including funding possibility from SDF Consultant report on assessment of cross-border collaboration in SAARC region was discussed in details

Regional Workshop on Epid. and Lab. Networking, Colombo (Sri Lanka)

SAARC Expert Group Meeting, Colombo The SAARC Secretariat hosted expert group meeting to discuss and finalize SAARC Strategy for Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases in Colombo on 30 th March 2012 The strategy was presented in the SAARC Health Minister Meeting held in Male in April 2012 for consideration The strategy was endorsed and it has following priority areas; Surveillance and response Lab. diagnostic services and networking Information management system Cross-border collaboration

SAARC Expert Group Meeting, Colombo

Future activities (2012-13) Formation of core expert group for cross-border collaboration among SAARC countries and study tour of experts to MBDS to understand applicability of disease surveillance modalities in cross-border areas Regional consultation for cross-border collaboration The SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu (Nepal) SAARC technical workshop on rabies elimination Dhaka (Bangladesh) The ASEAN Secretariat is proposing an alternative way to implement HPED Project regional activities through lead countries

Opportunities Better understanding and coordination among multiple partners through collaborative activities SAARC Secretariat moves public health agenda for regional health security SAARC Community came up with a Regional Strategy for Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases HPED Programme encourages animal health and human health sectors to work together through activities of common interest at the country level

Challenges Multiple partnership is a complex exercise and demands time and patience for agreement and understanding Transfer/change/retirement of contact points slow down implementation of project activities Sustainability of intersectoral coordination mechanism in peace time Coordinate with countries for meetings, workshops and activities and nomination/representation of Member States Sustainability and continuation of activities in future!