JICA President Kitaoka Shinichi (left) awards the certificate of merit to the Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology Dang Duc Anh (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will further strengthen comprehensive health care cooperation with Vietnam, including in prevention, warning and improving treatment capacity, said JICA President Kitaoka Shinichi.
During his stay in Vietnam from December 10-11, Kitaoka held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and had working sessions with representatives from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Bach Mai Hospital.
During the meetings, the JICA official said since starting cooperation with Cho Ray Hospital of Vietnam in 1966, medical connection between the two sides has been gradually expanded, contributing to enhancing Vietnam’s health care system.
Kitaoka took the occasion to present a certificate of merit to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.
Every year, JICA awards the certificate of merit from its President to individuals and organizations that have made great contributions to human resources development and social development in developing countries through international cooperation projects.
At the 16th commendation ceremony held in Japan on October 8, two organizations, including the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, and an individual from Vietnam, were honoured.
The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health is the leading institute specializing in preventive medicine. Since 2006, with the support of JICA experts, the institute has mastered the management and operation technique of biosafety level 3 laboratory (BSL-3) system, built and completed the biosafety regulation serving testing of dangerous pathogens, including avian flu.
JICA President Kitaoka Shinichi and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) at their talks (Photo: VietnamPlus). The institute has made great contributions to promoting the building of a network of laboratories, training human resources in biosafety and testing techniques for regional research institutes and provincial disease control centres.
Thanks to its effective testing system, the institute has made an important contribution to preventing the spread of the coronavirus in Vietnam, helping to revive socio-economic activities of the country.
Kotaoka said Vietnamese medical workers and testing units, especially the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology have made great efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, adding that this has helped Vietnam effectively control the disease.
Japan is very honoured to cooperate and contribute to this success of Vietnam, he stated.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son highlighted the crucial role played by the institute in preventing and controlling the pandemic, saying that right from the pandemic outbreak, the institute advised and provided technical assistance related to preventive medicine to the Ministry of Health.
On December 12, JICA President Kitaoka visited Bach Mai Hospital and gave the hospital a list of medical equipment and supplies that it would receive to support its efforts in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, through existing technical cooperation projects and other channels, JICA has donated materials and testing equipment, and protective clothing worth about 200 million JPY to help Vietnam fihgt the pandemic.
JICA President Kitaoka hands over the token of the aid package worth 11 billion VND to Director of Bach Mai Hospital Nguyen Quang Tuan (Photo: VietnamPlus) Bach Mai is one of the leading hospitals in the North, which has cooperated with JICA for many years. The experience and lessons learned by Bach Mai Hospital in the SARS epidemic in 2003 contributed to successfully containing the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.
Kitaoka said he hopes JICA’s support for the hospital will help strengthen the health systems across the North of Vietnam.
According to Director of Bach Mai Hospital Prof. Nguyen Quang Tuan, in 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, international cooperation activities were restricted but its cooperation with Japanese partners has been maintained.
The hospital will effectively use JICA’s aid package, especially in controlling and preventing the COVID-19 pandemic, he promised./.
