The MBDS (Mekong Basin Disease Surveillance) cooperation is a self-organized sub-regional network commenced in 2001. It is a collaboration effort among six Mekong Basin countries including Cambodia, China, Lao P.D.R, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It aims to strengthen national and sub-regional capabilities in infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response, especially on 18 currently designated priority diseases including Ebola, MERS, Zika, Malaria and Dengue to rapidly and effectively control them.

In collaboration with different Ministries and partners, MBDS member countries are trying to contain coronavirus pandemic situation with respective countries’ National Action Plan, and Infectious Disease Act/Law. Countries provide useful and up- to-date information to public on national portals such as Ministries’ website, social networks, TV and Information Education Communication (IEC) materials.

(Source: : https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/)

MBDS Foundation Activities

MBDS has organized “Regional Collaborative Event Base Surveillance Mobile Application Training” in Bangkok, Thailand on 29 March 2021. Dr. Soawapak Hinjoy, Director, Office of International Cooperation, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand (MBDS Country Coordinator), MBDS cross border health officials and MBDS Secretariat were participated in this training. Currently, 4 MBDS Thailand cross border province (Mukdahan, Chiang Rai, Nan and Nongkhai) reporting all public health events with this mobile application and this training to expansion of another 4 cross border provinces from Thailand (Sakaeo, Trat, Tak and Ranong).

This mobile application is to support the sharing of public health related event-based surveillance information in real time reporting among cross border provinces from MBDS countries. Public health, veterinary health, environmental events, including images and Geo-location are reported in this android mobile operating system. This application development is initiated by Canada’s Global Partnership Program for Cambodia, Lao P.D.R, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV countries) and the expansion to Thailand Cross Border Provinces is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation

Reported by Ms. Jittra Thajeen, Assistant Project Coordinator, MBDS Secretariat

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