Vietnam opens emergency operations center

The Vietnam’s Ministry of Health activated its emergency operations center (EOC) for a preparedness response with support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

This center is part of series actions in response to the World Health Organization (WHO) determination of an international emergency regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Accordingly, US CDC has provided technical and financial support to strengthen the EOC to better prepare for public health emergencies and prevent diseases from spreading in the nation, the region, and the world.

Vietnamese Government leaders and public health workers will better respond in case of a disease outbreak emergency, including upgrading laboratory equipment and information systems to detect outbreaks faster.

“Working together is a very important part of protecting Vietnam and the world from disease outbreaks and with Global Health Security support from US CDC, WHO, and other international organizations, we have strengthened our EOC and enhanced our ability to better detect and respond to disease outbreaks, such as the current Ebola outbreak,” said Dr. Tran Dac Phu, Director General of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, who leads the EOC in Vietnam.

Last year, Vietnam participated in a 6-month Global Health Security demonstration project with the US CDC, WHO, the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and USAID to enhance its capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks.

(Source: CPV)