Joint MFA-NEA-WHO Press Statement: 2nd Asia-Pacific Dengue Workshop Addresses Weakness In Surveillance Of Virus and Vectors In Region

2nd Asia-Pacific Dengue Workshop Addresses Weakness In Surveillance Of Virus and Vectors In Region

Singapore, 31 August 2010 - Dengue continues to be of great concern globally. In the last 10 years, the Asia Pacific region reported 200,000 to 500,000 dengue cases, with an average of 2000 deaths a year. The figures, likely under-reported, underscore the urgent need for more resources and capacity building to tackle the disease. The 2nd Asia Pacific Dengue Workshop will be held in Singapore as part of regional efforts to respond to the serious dengue situation in the region.

The workshop, organized by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environment Agency under the Singapore WHO Joint Training Programme, will be held in Singapore between 31 August and 8 September 2010. It is a capacity-building programme that supports the Dengue Strategic Plan for the Asia Pacific Region (2008-2015) endorsed by the WHO Member States.

Since the implementation of the Dengue Strategic Plan in 2008, there has been an improvement in disease surveillance and reporting. In the past two years, a new global Dengue Guidelines for Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Control, has been published and introduced to member states. A draft regional integrated vector management strategy has also been developed. However, there is a general consensus that gaps exist in laboratory and vector surveillance and control, which affect countries' response in tackling dengue throughout the Asia Pacific region.

The workshop will focus on strengthening an integrated effort that includes field vector control and surveillance, laboratory viral surveillance and clinical surveillance and management. Preventive efforts during inter-epidemic periods, and the development of warning systems are promoted as they could avert or lessen the impact of dengue outbreaks. Countries tend to focus dengue control efforts during epidemic periods when many people come down with the disease. However as Singapore has learnt, the key to reducing the burden of the disease is to implement preventive year-long surveillance and control efforts.
WHO promotes evidence-based integrated vector management (IVM), which is a key to the control of vector borne diseases. It is a rational decision-making process for the optimal use of resources for vector control. Synergies among the various tools, and various stakeholders are critical to ensure that the activities of other sectors such as urban development, agriculture or water resources do not compromise any vector control programme. IVM also seeks to target multiple diseases using the same system.

In addition, it is recognised that clinical management of dengue could also be improved through providing practical guidance to clinicians, particularly for identification of patients at risk of severe dengue and for appropriate treatment for all dengue patients. The workshop will discuss the clinical utility of the WHO guidelines on dengue and how clinical care can be integrated towards disease prevention.

The aim of this workshop is to enable the participants:
• to build capacity and acquire relevant knowledge and skills in implementing key components of the national integrated dengue control-programmes;
• to promote close collaboration among laboratory investigation field operations and clinical management and surveillance teams
• to encourage dengue laboratory surveillance network within the region; and
• to share clinical management guidelines and best practices for dengue;

During the workshop, participants will be involved in laboratory and field sessions to get hands-on experience on development of operational strategies, use of geographical information systems, mosquito identification, dengue diagnostics and laboratory-based surveillance. This year, the workshop is being extended to include clinical training. Clinical sessions will involve didactic sessions providing an update of the evidence behind current recommendations for clinical management of dengue, as well as sharing country experiences and case studies, and group work on clinical scenarios and cases.

Some 58 participants from 23 countries in the Western Pacific, South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions will be attending the workshop. The workshop is organized in collaboration with Nanyang Polytechnic, Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Centre and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, a public hospital under the Singapore Ministry of Health. Experts from WHO, Singapore, Indonesia, France and Cuba will provide insights into the various concepts and strategies of dengue control and management.

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For media enquiries, please contact:

Michelle Tan
Assistant Director
Corporate Communications
National Environment Agency
DID: 6731 9867
Email: Michelle_Tan@nea.gov.sg

Jean Lim
Senior Executive
Corporate Communications
National Environment Agency
DID: 6731 9855
Email: Jean_Lim@nea.gov.sg

Wendy Teo
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
DID: 6379 8371
Email: Wendy_Teo@mfa.gov.sg

NEA CCD Media mobile: 9088 7378
Media email: media@nea.gov.sg

About National Environment Agency:
Formed on 1 July 2002, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is the leading public organization responsible for improving and sustaining a clean and green environment in Singapore. The NEA develops and spearheads environmental initiatives and programmes through its partnership with the People, Public and Private sectors. It is committed to motivating every individual to take up environmental ownership and to care for the environment as a way of life.

By protecting Singapore's resources from pollution, maintaining a high level of public health and providing timely meteorological information, the NEA endeavours to ensure sustainable development and a quality living environment for present and future generations.

About the Singapore Cooperation Programme:
The Singapore Cooperation Programme was formally established in 1992 to bring together under one framework the various technical assistance programmes offered by Singapore. Over the years, the scope of the SCP has expanded to meet the evolving needs of the recipient countries. When it first started in 1992, the Singapore Cooperation Programme trained less than a thousand participants from about 50 countries. Today, the Singapore Cooperation Programme has trained close to 70,000 participants from 169 countries spanning across the Asia Pacific, Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Apart from bilateral programmes that cater to the needs of recipient countries, the Singapore Cooperation Programme has also forged strong partnerships with 37 developed countries, regional partners and international organisations to run Third Country Training Programmes, leveraging on the strengths of our combined resources and expertise. We have been giving greater emphasis to aligning our programmes and coordinating with our development partners to maximise the outcome of our efforts.

As a responsible international citizen, Singapore remains committed to play its part in sharing our development experience and expertise with developing countries in the spirit of mutual learning and support. Through such collaborations with recipient countries and donor partners, we hope to foster friendships and understanding among countries in this global village. This is in line with the spirit of the Singapore Cooperation Programme, which is also encapsulated in its tagline "Joining Hands, Making Friends".

More details are available on the Singapore Cooperation Website at www.scp.gov.sg.