UK donates £3.4 million to help Vietnam fight drug resistance

The British Embassy in Hanoi , in collaboration with Family Health International (FHI 360), co-hosted the launch of Phase II of the UK-funded £3.4 million Fleming Fund Country Support Programme to continue tackling antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam.

Launch of Phase II of the UK-funded £3.4 million Fleming Fund National Support Programme to continue tackling antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam. (Source: British Embassy in Vietnam)

The Fleming Fund is managed by the UK Government to support low- and middle-income countries to improve antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems, increase laboratory capacity and promote the use of quality data to inform decision-making to tackle the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Phase II of the Programme demonstrates the UK’s commitment to Vietnam in its continued efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance. It also reinforces the role and importance of national systems for monitoring antimicrobial resistance, use and consumption in the human , veterinary and environmental sectors.

With the participation of government partners, development organizations and stakeholders, the event highlighted the spirit of cooperation – the guiding principle in the UK Government’s approach to combating antimicrobial resistance, recognized Vietnam’s efforts and demonstrated a shared commitment to addressing one of humanity’s most pressing health challenges.

In his speech, British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew acknowledged Vietnam’s pioneering role in addressing antimicrobial resistance. The Ambassador said: “The UK and Vietnam are both committed to being responsible international partners in antimicrobial resistance management.

Phase II of the Flemming Fund will continue the efforts of both parties to not only improve antimicrobial resistance management in Vietnam but also set a model for other countries facing similar problems, to strengthen global antimicrobial resistance cooperation.”

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Nam, Country Director of FHI 360 in Vietnam, excitedly shared: “We are very pleased to officially announce the Phase II Country Support Program for Vietnam. The Fleming Foundation has played a vital role in enhancing Vietnam’s capacity to address antimicrobial resistance. FHI 360 is committed to working closely with our partners to accelerate the achievements and strive to create sustainable impact in the future.”

From May 2019 to April 2024, FHI 360 worked with government agencies and implementing partners in Vietnam to successfully implement Phase I of the Programme, with funding of £8.8 million. A national antimicrobial resistance surveillance network was established in 17 laboratories, 3 national reference laboratories in the health sector and 3 laboratories in the veterinary sector.

Key achievements include strengthening technical capacity, data management and reporting, biosafety and biosecurity practices, improving information management systems, upgrading infrastructure and providing equipment to laboratories. The event also recognized the effectiveness of intensive training and workshop programs to improve the quality of human resources, and develop operational documents and guidelines on antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

These efforts have paved the way for active surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in pigs and chickens, supporting the national strategy for a One Health approach, promoting a unified approach to knowledge sharing on antimicrobial resistance.

Phase II of the Programme, with a £3.4 million grant commitment, is being implemented in Vietnam from May 2024 to December 2025. The aim is to improve capacity, diagnostics and reporting on antimicrobial resistance and strengthen the National System for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, management of antibiotic use and consumption in the human, veterinary and environmental sectors through a One Health approach.

Phase II will continue to collaborate with FHI 360, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU), PATH, and government partners including the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment (Ministry of Health of Vietnam), the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam), and the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam).

The outcomes of this phase are expected to ensure the quality of antimicrobial resistance data collection and analysis, widespread sharing of post-analytical data results, and sustainable investment in antimicrobial resistance management at the national and global levels.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Fleming Fund is a UK aid programme supporting 25 African and Asian countries to tackle antimicrobial resistance, one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases worldwide.

The Fleming Fund works with organizations around the world to establish and strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems. This is done through coordination and collaboration across national, regional and global support programs, as well as fellowship programs to improve laboratory infrastructure, staff capacity, and data collection and analysis capabilities.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/anh-tai-tro-34-trieu-bang-giup-viet-nam-phong-chong-khang-thuoc-284750.html