U.S. Supported Project Boosts One Health Approach in Viet Nam to Reduce Infectious Disease Threats
The expected outcome of the $800,000 project is to contribute to the reduction of the threats to public health from API and other emerging infectious diseases through the application of a One Health approach in Viet Nam. “This project will contribute to the development of a revised and improved coordination structure on avian and pandemic influenza and other emerging infectious diseases,” said USAID Mission Director Joakim Parker. “It will also support the reinforcement of a national policy dialogue and knowledge sharing mechanism in Viet Nam as well as in regional and international networks. With it, Viet Nam will build on its reputation as a fast-emerging model for dealing with pandemic threats.” The One Health approach was adopted by the Government of Viet Nam in 2010 to apply a cross-sectoral policy and coordinated approach to deal with serious health threats that arise at the animal-human-environment interface.
Through this project, USAID and UNDP will promote the adoption of a One Health coordination mechanism as well as a One Health implementation plan by the Government of Viet Nam in consultations with relevant stakeholders. Viet Nam is located in a relatively high-risk region for emerging infectious diseases, with the new Influenza A/H7N9 virus recently detected in humans and animals in China, underlining a potentially serious threat to public health and economic development. These types of emerging health threats underscore the call by USAID and its partners like the United Nations in Viet Nam for greater coordination and collaboration between sectors and agencies to address diseases that impact on health, food security and safety, livelihoods, trade, and economic development. The new project is in line with the USAID Country Development Cooperation Strategy for Viet Nam that has recently been announced. One of USAID’s areas of programmatic focus under this five-year strategy is to strengthen Viet Nam’s systems to effectively address emerging and transnational public health threats.
