Japan and Vietnam have signed an agreement on a technical co-operation project to improve the network of medical laboratories in Vietnam (Source: suckhoedoisong.vn) Theagreement was signed on March 22 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA), National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institute inHCM City.
Underthe five-year project, a level-3 (highest level) biosafety laboratory will beestablished at the Pasteur Institute to examine and manage highly hazardousinfectious pathogens.
Tostrengthen capacity in prioritising infectious diseases, the project aims toimprove laboratory diagnosis and biosafety in provincial centres for preventivemedicine, which are supervised by the institutes.
Theproject will also enhance training for centres by providing necessary equipmentand teaching materials.
FujitaYasuo, Chief Representative of JICA Office in Vietnam, said: “Last February, theNational Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology was able to diagnose the Ebolavirus, making the institute one of the leading examination and researchinstitutes in Southeast Asia.”
“Thanksto the previous project, we believe that through the third phase of theproject, the two institutes will be able to diagnose highly hazardousinfectious pathogens more rapidly and accurately. The ability to cope withinfectious diseases of Vietnam and neighboring countries will increase,” headded.
DangDuc Anh, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said:“Thanks to these standardised laboratories, we are able to diagnose highlycontagious diseases, including influenza A H5N1 and Ebola virus.”
"Ifthe biosafety laboratory is established at the Pasteur Institute, the countrywould be able to quickly deal with epidemics that are likely to return as majoroutbreaks," Anh said. -VNA
VNA
