Enhancing Community Health Capacity to Proactively Prevent and Control Infectious Diseases and Pandemics

2024-05-04 22:05:00

On 21st–22nd March 2024, the thematic workshop titled “Cross-Border Emerging Infectious Disease Control” was held by Mahidol University, attracting the participation of health experts from across the ASEAN region. Among the participants were representatives from the School of Medicine – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (SoM-VNUHCM), a founding member of the AUN – Health Promotion Network.

The workshop served as a platform to support and contribute proposals from the AUN – Health Promotion Network aimed at realising the ASEAN One Health Initiative, which was adopted by Southeast Asian national leaders in 2023. This initiative seeks to strengthen healthcare systems in order to adapt to and respond to emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases, zoonotic origins, antimicrobial resistance, and the challenges and impacts posed by climate change.

Specialist Doctor Level II. Nguyen The Dung, a distinguished and experienced Vietnamese expert in healthcare management and infectious diseases, and currently Head of both the Microbiology–Parasitology and Infectious Diseases Departments at the School of Medicine – VNU-HCM, presented a key recommendation: to enhance individual and collective health capacities in order to proactively prevent and manage emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

According to this initiative, health-related information and knowledge should be provided regularly and comprehensively to the public. This enables individuals to develop the capacity to protect themselves and their communities from public health threats, including emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

In alignment with the AUN Health Promotion Framework for universities, this approach integrates health education with community outreach activities. The aim is to strengthen health capacity not only within academic institutions but also within surrounding communities and society at large.

(Report and photo by: Quang Huy)