Blog Post by Alvin Eun, staff
This eight-day workshop, co-sponsored by Singapore under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) and organized under the aegis of the Singapore-WHO Joint Training Programme, recognizes the importance of human resource capacity building to equip Asia Pacific countries with the skills to implement more effective integrated national dengue control programmes.
The workshop provided program managers, laboratory personnel and other key program staff with important tools to be able to address dengue outbreak preparedness more effectively. It also provided attendants with a useful platform to share knowledge and experience on dengue surveillance and vector control. The workshop addressed programmatic gaps to strengthen dengue laboratory and vector surveillance in the region, so as to better pre-empt and respond to dengue epidemics. It also emphasized the need for a good surveillance systemduring inter-epidemic periods. The latter is crucial in efforts by countries to lessen or avert any impending outbreaks during peak dengue seasons.
During the workshop which was conducted at the laboratories of Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Chemical & Life Science (Life Sciences), NEA shared Singapore’s experiences in dengue control, building upon the country’s in-depth understanding of the vector, the disease and its transmission dynamics, all key factors in ensuring an evidence based approach behind our operations.
Some 42 participants from 29 countries in the Western Pacific and South East Asia regions attended the workshop, which comprised of two parallel sessions – Laboratory Surveillance and Field Surveillance & Control. The sessions encompass lectures, site visits, laboratory practicals, and hands-on field experience.
