Press Release

LAUNCHING EVENT

PROJECT “A USER-FRIENDLY DIGITAL PREDICTION TOOL FOR DENGUE PREVENTION IN VIETNAM” (E-DENGUE PROJECT)

HANOI, October 6, 2023 – Today, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE), Vietnam Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the University of Queensland (UQ), Australia, hosted the launch event for the project “A user-friendly digital prediction tool for dengue prevention” (the E-DENGUE Project).

In Vietnam, Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a significant public health issue, with annual case numbers ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. The Mekong Delta region experiences a high incidence of dengue cases and has dengue outbreaks annually leading to significant public health problems and related economic burdens. To date, current dengue surveillance, monitoring, and control measures are mostly reactive due to the absence of an early warning system, thus limiting the implementation of proactive dengue outbreak prevention and control at the community level. To address this issue, UQ has received funding from Wellcome to support the NIHE in conducting the E-DENGUE project to create an effective early warning digital tool for dengue prevention in the Mekong Delta Region. This project was approved by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health under Decision No. 2437/QD-BYT dated June 8, 2023. The project has technical support from multidisciplinary scientists from multiple universities and institutions from Australia, the United States, Japan, and Vietnam. The project aims to develop a user-friendly digital early warning tool that can accurately predict dengue outbreaks at the district and commune level two months in advance in the Mekong Delta Region. This tool will encompass integrated software accessible on both computers and smartphones which can be usable for the local health departments to proactively plan and deploy dengue preventive and control measures in high-risk districts/communes in the 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta region, including Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Can Tho.

To officially implement this project in Vietnam, NIHE collaborating with the UQ to launch the project at NIHE, Hanoi. The event was honored by the executive leaders of the Vietnam Ministry of Health, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and President of the UQ, the Australian Deputy Head of Mission to Vietnam, and the E-DENGUE project members. Representatives from collaborating institutions and delegates from the Provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of all 13 provinces of the Mekong Delta Region also attended the event to support the project implementation.

At the workshop, Deputy Minister of Health, Associate Professor Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, delivered the opening remark, stating, “As a country where dengue hemorrhagic fever is endemic in most provinces and cities nationwide, Vietnam recognizes the importance of scientific advancements and international collaboration in dengue prevention. This effort not only improves the health of the Vietnamese community but also contributes to ensuring regional health, well-being, and safety. This project will contribute to strengthening proactive dengue prevention measures, towards a safer world, a region, a country, and Mekong Delta Region, as well as promote population health and well-being.”

Professor Deborah Terry AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of UQ expressed the commitment of the UQ to global cooperation, including its deep partnership with Vietnam, and highly appreciated the cooperation between the UQ and the NIHE in developing and implementing this important project. In the workshop, Mr. Mark Tattersall, Australia’s Deputy Head of Mission in Vietnam, appreciated the cooperation in the healthcare sector between the Australian and Vietnamese governments in recent years. He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the senior leadership team of the UQ, as well as thanked the scientific researchers who have been instrumental in advancing the E-DENGUE project.

The success of the E-DENGUE project will provide an effective early warning system that can empower decision-makers and communities to scale up prevention and preparedness interventions and redirect resources for outbreak responses. Its success has the potential to extend to regions across the nation and neighboring countries, and internationally.

For additional information, please contact:

Dr. Vu Trong Duoc,

Deputy Head of the Department of Medical Entomology and Zoonosis

National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology

No. 1 Yersin, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

Tel: 0973913118

Email: vtd@nihe.org.vn

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