Health workers take blood samples for COVID-19 testing in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng

HÀ NỘI — The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) has committed an initial US$3.9 million for its COVID-19 activities in Việt Nam to support prevention, preparedness, and response, including some regional activities, the US Embassy in Hà Nội announced on Wednesday.

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

Since January, US CDC has been supporting Việt Nam to prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The US CDC provided direct technical assistance on emergency operations, specimen transport, laboratory testing, disease surveillance, infection prevention and control (IPC), and risk communication.

They also worked alongside Việt Nam’s Ministry of Health, training field epidemiologists (disease detectives) to conduct outbreak investigations to collect, analyse and interpret data and contribute to evidence-based decisions.

US CDC conducted training on IPC, contact tracing, and laboratory testing and quality assurance.

The US CDC also helped Việt Nam develop its national guidelines and protocols, together with the Ministry of Health in the areas of infection control, health facility readiness and preparedness, surveillance, laboratory testing, and maintaining HIV treatment during COVID-19. 

Health co-operation between the US and Việt Nam has been the cornerstone of the bilateral engagement since 1998 when the US CDC partnered with Việt Nam 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 US CDC, Việt Nam is currently at the forefront of global efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19.

US CDC has been working with Việt Nam to strengthen capabilities in four essential areas including surveillance systems to quickly catch outbreaks before they spread, laboratory networks to accurately diagnose disease and identify new pathogens.

Another co-operation area is to enhance the capacity of frontline health staff to identify, track, and contain outbreaks at their source.

US CDC also support Việt Nam in strengthening capacity of Emergency Operations Centres to co-ordinate effective response efforts when crises occur.

The goal of US CDC’s global health response to COVID-19 is to limit human-to-human transmission and minimise the global impact of COVID-19 through collaboration with key country and non-governmental partners to mitigate vulnerabilities and gaps in preparedness.

$300 million was authorised for US CDC’s global response to COVID-19 as appropriated by Congress in the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.

This funding builds on US CDC’s long-standing global investments to control HIV, TB, and malaria, eradicate polio, and prepare for influenza and other pandemic diseases.  — VNS