The MoU is intended to strengthen the capacity of infection prevention programmes, including conducting risk assessments, developing policies and guidelines, and monitoring and evaluating relevant programmes.
It also aims to improve testing capacity to detect antibiotic-resistance pathogens through training and consultation; exchange isolated strains of bacteria, and share information on best practices and scientific advances in microbiological testing techniques.
The two sides will exchange personnel and materials serving training programmes; organise meetings, conferences and workshops related to infection and drug resistance control, and work in expanding the national supervision system on antibiotic resistance and infection in health care.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Tien highlighted the close cooperation between the health sectors of the two countries, saying that the two sides have given priority to enhancing collaboration in preventive health, human resources training and drug resistance prevention.
She thanked the US Government, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the CDC, while highly valuing cooperation of officials of the CDC office in Vietnam with the Vietnamese health sector.
The Minister expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to effectively cooperate in preventing HIV/AIDS and drug resistance, preventive health, and medical personnel training, and other cooperation activities in the framework of the MoU signed between the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and the HHS in 2017.
For his part, Redfield expressed his joy at achievements made by Vietnam’s health sector, especially in preventing and controlling HIV/AIDS.
Vietnam became the 15th country in the world to receive the US Government’s assistance in the fight against HV/AIDS through PEPFAR in 2004.
He appreciated Vietnam’s policy on expanding the coverage of health insurance to those living with HIV/AIDS and was impressed by the Health Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Vietnam.
He hoped to enhance cooperation between his agency and the Vietnamese side in preventing bird flu, stressing that that Vietnam’s sharing of information related to the influenza strains is very useful for research and production of vaccines across the globe.
During his stay in Vietnam, Redfield visited the Binh Chanh health centre, Cho Ray hospital, Nhi Dong 1 hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, the EOC, and the Hanoi medical University.
