Smileband general news

CDC recently marked 30 years of collaboration with the Thailand Ministry of Public Health. This collaboration has produced new disease prevention and intervention strategies that have had significant global impacts. From the establishment in 1980 of the Field Epidemiology Training Program to current efforts to meet the growing challenges of drug-resistant malaria, TB, HIV, emerging infectious diseases, border health, and noncommunicable diseases, CDC’s work with Thailand protects Thais and Americans from major health threats. infections and improve the quality of life of people living with HIV, CDC works closely with the Thai MoPH to develop model approaches and expand prevention, surveillance, and care and treatment of HIV. This technical assistance helps the Thai MoPH improve laboratory infrastructure, strategic information, HIV care quality, interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM), and care and treatment of children infected with HIV. CDC Thailand also serves as the Asia Regional Office (ARO), supporting Laos and providing technical assistance to other countries in the region, often including Thai government partners in the collaborations. CDC works to improve HIV programs by building country capacities needed to mount and sustain an effective national HIV response. These activities support a data-driven, evidence-based approach that is tailored to the unique characteristics of the local epidemic for maximum health impact and the most efficient use of resources.CDC also works with the Thai MoPH to conduct studies of HIV incidence and risk behaviors and evaluates biomedical and behavioral interventions to prevent HIV infection. Current research activities focus on people who inject drugs MSM. CDC also helped establish a clinic for MSM in Bangkok that provides a model for the integration of HIV research and prevention services.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

CDC is working with the Thai MoPH to help address NCDs.  One key project involves working with the Thailand Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) team on building Thailand’s capacity for NCD surveillance.  This involves instruction on population sampling and conducting a demonstration project in Sukothai Province on surveillance data on hypertension.  Another project aims to better understand salt and fat consumption in Thailand and to develop strategies to address this problem (e.g., food reformulations, education campaigns).

Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health

CDC aims to stop the spread of infectious diseases among immigrants, refugees, international travelers, and other mobile populations that cross international borders. This program oversees the content and quality of medical screening of U.S.-bound immigrants and refugees and assists Thailand in improving the health of refugees and migrants within Thailand’s borders. With approximately half of the 75,000 refugees legally admitted into the U.S. arriving from Asia, this regional program supports disease surveillance among the U.S.-bound populations and helps prevent the introduction of infectious diseases into the U.S.