GBP6 million to help Vietnam develop dengue fever forecast

The UK Space Agency's International Partnership Programme (IPP) has decided to allocate GBP6 million for Vietnam to build an early warning system of dengue fever outbreaks.

Patients have to share beds due to overloading during the peak period of the dengue epidemic. (Photo: VNA)

The information was announced by UK Science Minister Sam Gyimah and it is one of the ten projects funded by the UK Space Agency.

Of the amount, 4.1 million GBP comes from official development assistance and the rest is contributed by other partners joining the project.

A group of UK organisations, led by HR Wallingford, will collaborate with Vietnamese partners to develop dengue outbreak early warning tools, thus facilitating effective resource mobilisation and allocation for targeted areas.

The dengue forecast system will also be made to account for different scenarios of climate change under the project. The warning system will include models to evaluate water resources, thus improving water management in cross-border river basin areas.

(Source: NDO)