The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the Emerging Pandemic Threats 2 (EPT-2) programme to support efforts in Vietnam to better prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.
This programme is closely aligned with the key objectives of the governments’ partnership on the Global Health Security Agenda and Vietnam’s adoption of the International Health Regulations.
The EPT-2 programme builds on co-operation and partnerships over the past decade among USAID and its partners, which includes successful programmes on avian influenza, to pre-empt and combat newly emerging diseases at their source, including those originating from animals. EPT-2 will help more than 20 focus countries in Africa and Asia detect viruses with pandemic potential, improve laboratory capacity to support surveillance, strengthen national and local capacities to respond in an appropriate and timely manner, and provide education on ways to prevent exposure to these dangerous pathogens.
“Infectious diseases are still among the foremost dangers to human health and the global economy,” said USAID Vietnam Mission Director Joakim Parker.
“The EPT-2 program supports Vietnam’s efforts to protect us all against infectious disease threats and contribute to global health security,” he added.
The USAID programme is being implemented in Vietnam with technical collaboration from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and with partners in three new project areas: Predict 2, One Health Workforce, and Preparedness and Response.
NDO
