U.S. CDC commits US$3.9 million for COVID-19 work in Vietnam

Photo: www.cdc.gov

The center said in a release that the funding aims to support prevention, preparedness, and response.

It said the initial resources are being used for laboratory testing, field investigations, surveillance, data analysis, and infection prevention and control.

It noted: “Health cooperation between the United States and Vietnam has been the cornerstone of our bilateral engagement since 1998 when U.S. CDC partnered with Vietnam to establish high-quality, sustainable health systems; strengthen long-term public health capacity; and protect the health of Vietnamese and Americans.

“Building on this partnership with U.S. CDC, Vietnam is currently at the forefront of global efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19,” it said.

The U.S. CDC has been working with Vietnam to strengthen capabilities in four essential areas: surveillance systems to quickly catch outbreaks before they spread; laboratory networks to accurately diagnose disease and identify new pathogens; capacity building of frontline health staff to identify, track, and contain outbreaks at their source; and establishment of Emergency Operations Centers to coordinate effective response efforts when crises occur.

The center said in a statement that the goal of its global health response to COVID-19 is to “limit human-to-human transmission and minimize the global impact of COVID-19 through collaboration with the key country and non-governmental partners to mitigate vulnerabilities and gaps in preparedness.”

Towards this, $300 million has been authorized for U.S. CDC’s global response to COVID-19 as appropriated by Congress in the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.

The statement noted that the funding “builds on U.S. CDC’s long-standing global investments to control HIV, TB, and malaria, eradicate polio, and prepare for influenza and other pandemics.”

It said such investments to improve health security have laid the foundation for rapid response and effective preparation to meet emerging threats, including the current coronavirus outbreak.

It also said its funding for international COVID-19 preparedness and response supports activities in six priority technical areas across the globe: emergency response; laboratory work, surveillance and epidemiology; border health; infection prevention, control, and preparedness in healthcare facilities; pandemic preparedness planning; and vaccine preparedness.

These cross-cutting technical efforts are essential for ending the COVID-19 pandemic globally, the center stressed.