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 At a meeting of Core Group
organized by WHO (SEARO and WPRO) and the Government of Singapore from 8-10
February 2007 in Singapore, the experts and partners finalized a framework
for Asia Pacific Dengue Framework (APDP). A Bi-regional strategic plan and a
road map for establishment of an executive board, secretariate,
and working groups were also agreed. Next, the partnership framework and
strategic plan will be discussed with the dengue programme
managers across Asia and the Pacific in June 2007 and thereafter unveiled at
a high level meeting in Singapore in November 2007 which shall be attended by
policy makers, partners, and other stake holders.
Dengue fever has rapidly emerged as one of the most
important public health problems in countries of Asia-Pacific Region where
nearly 1.8 billion people are estimated to be at risk of this disease. The epidemics of dengue fever are being
reported more frequently and in explosive manner. The disease continues to
spread to new areas including rural settings. Rapid spread of dengue in
Asia-Pacific Region is attributed to globalization, rapid unplanned and
unregulated urban development, poor water storage and unsatisfactory sanitary
conditions.
In a joint statement Dr Samlee Plianbangchang, Regional
Director, South-East Asia Region of WHO and Dr Shigeru Omi, Regional
Director, Western-Pacific Region of WHO stated, “Dengue is an ecological
disease and prevention of dengue is the key to effective control. The key
strategy for prevention and control is vector control through community
participation and mobilization of the community at household and community
level. Partnerships are needed for the success of dengue prevention and
control programmes“.
The thrust in the bi-regional strategic plan shall be on
strengthening of systems in the countries to predict and prevent epidemics,
improve management of cases of dengue, support prevention of dengue through
integrated vector management and community participation. Successful
prevention and control shall be achieved through the scaling up the
application of currently available tools through community involvement
supported by policy and intersectoral
collaboration.
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