On March 24, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the Japanese Government has announced a grant of 1.5 million USD to IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support the Vietnamese Government in managing health risks.

The project focuses on the "One Health" approach to improve preparedness and response capacity for medical emergencies in the border provinces of Ha Giang, Ha Tinh, Dong Thap and An Giang.

About 2 million people in the four provinces will receive communication to raise awareness about disease prevention and self-protection, for example, to recognize the risk of recent outbreaks and spread of H5N1 avian influenza in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki emphasized that this is a great opportunity to improve the health of Vietnamese people, while building multi-sectoral partnerships and creating a healthy future for all.

According to IOM, the project will establish a technical team with representatives from the health, veterinary, plant, border and environmental sectors and local authorities to prepare for public health emergencies.

Suppose, through simulation training on H5N1 flu and rabies outbreaks, officials in the four provinces above will have knowledge and skills to speed up disease detection. The veterinary industry can use mobile diagnostic machines (PCR) to detect diseases as early as possible.

The project also strengthens health cooperation through dialogue, cooperation, and exchange of contingency plans at the borders between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Ms. Kendra Rinas - Head of IOM Mission in Vietnam - emphasized that from the basis of being a close partner of the Ministry of Health, IOM will support the Government of Vietnam in building sustainable health systems.

"Thanks to the support from the Government of Japan, we are leveraging our previously built capacity to prevent, detect and control animal diseases. At the same time, we are strengthening cooperation with the public health sector to apply these achievements in border areas," added Dr. Rémi Nono Womdim, FAO representative in Vietnam.