Strengthening cross-border cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia to prepare for future pandemics

On August 22, in An Giang, a workshop was held on "Sharing information and developing a cooperation plan in preventing infectious diseases from spreading across the border of the border provinces of Vietnam and Cambodia".

Tăng cường hợp tác xuyên biên giới Việt Nam-Campuchia sẵn sàng ứng phó với các đại dịch trong tương lai

Workshop on 'Sharing information and developing cooperation plans in preventing infectious diseases spreading across the border of the border provinces of Vietnam and Cambodia' in An Giang, August 22. (Source: IOM)

The workshop was organized by the Department of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Health with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Vietnam.

More than 50 experts and senior officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, the Cambodian Ministry of Health, and eight border provinces of the two countries participated in discussions on epidemiological trends of new infectious diseases and enhanced cross-border cooperation to ensure public health security at the national and regional levels.

The workshop provided an opportunity for senior experts in the field of human health and veterinary health from Vietnam and Cambodia to assess the results of the implementation of the Bilateral Agreement on Border Health Quarantine between the Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia in 2009. At the same time, the workshop also identified the remaining gaps as well as essential needs in implementing existing public health activities at the provincial, national and regional levels.

In addition, the workshop devoted a separate section to updating information on new trends of emerging infectious diseases such as influenza A/H5N1; along with sharing from provincial representatives many good practices as well as lessons learned on cross-border coordination and proposing common intervention measures for both countries.

During the workshop, delegates focused on discussing progress in pandemic preparedness and response. Unprecedented challenges and new crises were highlighted, emphasizing the close links between human and animal movement and public health and health security, along with the urgent need for multi-sectoral approaches.

On August 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox (Mpox), which is currently spreading in several African countries, a “global health emergency.”

Meanwhile, Vietnam experienced outbreaks of influenza A (H5N1) in six provinces, including Long An province, which borders Cambodia, in the first quarter of 2024. In March 2024, Vietnam confirmed its first human death from H5N1 avian influenza in 10 years, followed by its first human infection with H9N2 avian influenza in April 2024.

Since the beginning of this year, three Cambodian provinces bordering Vietnam have reported nine cases of H5N1 avian influenza in humans, including one death.

The continued spread of infectious diseases across borders requires the mobilization of additional global and regional public health resources to more effectively monitor and respond to these threats.

In response to the urgent call, the workshop highlighted the urgent need to strengthen cooperation and partnerships to rapidly mitigate the impact of transnational public health threats. This requires immediate action and the implementation of contingency strategies, especially at international border crossings.

Dr. Aiko Kaji, Director of the IOM Migrant Health Programme, spoke highly of the practical significance of the Workshop. (Source: IOM)

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Aiko Kaji, Director of the IOM Migrant Health Programme, stressed that in today’s flat world, ensuring the health and well-being of all people is a shared responsibility that goes beyond national borders. New diseases such as H5N1 avian influenza and monkeypox have shown that global health security requires more coordinated efforts between countries. These diseases pose a significant threat to the international community due to the increased ease of movement of people, increased trade between countries and the ability to spread diseases rapidly.

Highlighting the significance of the Workshop, Dr. Aiko Kaji pointed out that for the first time, medical experts on animal health and human health from Vietnam and Cambodia participated in a bilateral workshop to discuss preparedness and response to public health emergencies.

“We recommend that the Governments of Vietnam and Cambodia adopt the One Health model to implement multi-sectoral and migration-specific public health interventions. Strengthening the capacity to access the One Health model in border areas is important because these are areas where infectious diseases, including those that can be transmitted from animals to humans, can spread rapidly. As people, animals and goods move across borders, they also carry pathogens with them. Therefore, strengthening the capacity at border checkpoints is increasingly important for disease surveillance and timely implementation of necessary public health interventions,” concluded Dr. Aiko Kaji.

Joint initiatives between IOM and FAO play an important role in promoting the One Health approach. This model is a collaborative, multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach to optimize the health of humans, animals and the environment. It contributes to the effective development of solutions to address health problems between humans, animals and the environment, including zoonotic diseases.