Cambodia, US Sign MOU for Promoting Cooperation in Health, Avian Influenza
Posted on: Wednesday, 12 October 2005, 09:01 CDT
Cambodia, US sign MOU for promoting cooperation in health, avian influenza
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and the United States on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for promoting cooperation in health and medical science, especially on avian influenza, and other emerging infectious of public health.
Under the MOU, the methods of cooperation include exchange of information regarding affected areas from an outbreak of avian influenza, technology, biological samples from an outbreak of avian influenza in Cambodia, and visits by scientific delegations.
Both sides agreed that international teams of experts will provide advice and consultation at the request of Cambodia, and corresponding meetings and scientific conferences should also be organized.
At the same time, the US promised to offer support to improve Cambodia's capacity in its fight against the disease. The avian influenza has already killed four Cambodians since a woman was died in February this year.
"There is an urgent need to strengthen national, regional and global surveillance and responses to emerging disease backed by a strong laboratory capacity and a timely information sharing," said Nuth Sokhom, Cambodia's minister of health at the signing ceremony.
"The Asia-Pacific region could become the epicenter of the next influenza pandemic if remedial actions could not take place to control avian influenza at its source," he said.
Concerned that Cambodia and other Southeast Asian nations are not able to respond effectively to possible future outbreaks of avian influenza, a high-level international delegation arrived here on Tuesday to promote an effective response to the disease and to encourage planning for a pandemic.
The delegation was headed by US Health Secretary Mike Leavitt, who was accompanied by World Health Organization Director-General Jong-Wook Lee and about a dozen other top health officials.
The delegation met with Health Minister Nuth Sokhom and would have an audience with King Norodom Sihamoni on Wednesday. The delegation will also travel to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Japan.
US President Bush on May 11 signed an emergency appropriations bill that contain 25 million US dollars to prevent and control the spread of avian influenza in Southeast Asia.
Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS
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