southeast asian tropical medicine and parasitology network
TRANSCRIPT
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Parasitology International 5
Southeast Asian tropical medicine and parasitology network
Jitra Waikagul *
Department of Helminthology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
Available online 2 December 2005
Abstract
The SEAMEO TROPMED Network is a regional cooperative network established in 1967 for education, training and research in tropical
medicine and public health under the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization. The Network operates through four Regional Centers
with respective areas of specialization and host institutions: Community Nutrition/Tropmed Indonesia; Microbiology, Parasitology and
Entomology/Tropmed Malaysia; Public Health/Tropmed Philippines; and Tropical Medicine/Tropmed Thailand. To train health workers, to
support research on endemic and newly emerging diseases, and to advocate relevant health policies are the main functions of these centers.
SEAMEO TROPMED Network in collaboration with the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University and other institutions has regularly
organized the Seminar on Food-borne Parasitic Zoonoses every 3–5 years over the past 15 years. The Faculty of Tropical Medicine has organized
the annual Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting since 1996. Full papers of the presentations at these two meetings have been published as
supplementary issues to the Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, an in-house journal of SEAMEO TROPMED
Network. Recently, the Parasitology Association of ASEAN Countries has rotated the hosting of the ASEAN Congress of Parasitology and
Tropical Medicine. These institutional and conference networks will enable closer links, to promote the health of people in the Southeast Asian
region.
D 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Tropical medicine network; Parasitology network; Southeast Asia
1. Introduction
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology are important science
for Southeast Asia. In a number of countries in the region,
parasitic infection and infectious diseases are very high. There
is a need to minimize disease burden in the region. Disease
has no frontier, it can distribute across the border to
neighboring countries. Collaboration among countries in the
region is essential to maximize resource and cost effective-
ness. Human resource development is a major component of
this activity from academic to community levels. For better
management, official centers of specialty are designated and
institutional network is formed. Academe and researchers in
the region are further encouraged to update their knowledge
and formulate linkages to those outside the region by
regularly organized international conferences.
1383-5769/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.parint.2005.11.044
* Tel.: +66 23549100; fax: +66 2643 5600.
E-mail address: [email protected].
2. Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization
(SEAMEO), founded in 1965, is a chartered international
organization for the promotion of regional cooperation in
education, science, technology and culture. Its member
countries are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao
People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philip-
pines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its associate mem-
bers are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and
the Netherlands.
SEAMEO’s highest policymaking body is the SEAMEO
Council (SEAMEC), which is composed of the Ministers/
Secretaries of Education of the member countries. SEAMEO’s
executory functions are performed by the Secretariat located in
Bangkok, Thailand. SEAMEO’s programmes and activities are
carried out in 11 Regional Centres and the SEAMEO
TROPMED Network. The responsibility for operational poli-
cies, programme quality and evaluation rests on a Governing
Board each for SEAMEO Regional Centres and the Network,
consisting of representatives from respective Member States [1].
5 (2006) S297 – S300
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J. Waikagul / Parasitology International 55 (2006) S297–S300S298
3. SEAMEO TROPMED Network
SEAMEO TROPMED Network is a regional cooperation
network established in 1967 for education, training and research
in tropical medicine and public health under Southeast Asia’s
Ministers of Education.With a healthy environment for all in the
21st century as goal, the network set up its vision to be an
international forum for development in health, and its mission is
to develop the capacity of individuals and institutional in
delivering quality healthcare. The objectives of the network
are (i) to train health workers in quality healthcare management
at different levels of the health system, with due regard to
diversities in culture, needs and expectations of people for whom
these services are intended; (ii) to support research on endemic
and newly emerging diseases associated with changing envi-
ronment; (iii) to advocate relevant health policies that are
compatible with equitable and sustainable development; (iv) to
empower communities with the necessary knowledge and skills
for understanding and finding solutions to health problems; (v)
to encourage the use of traditional and modern-day tools for
health promotion and disease prevention whenever and wher-
ever applicable; and (vi) to minimize the economic burden of
disease.
3.1. Organizational structure
The Network operates through four Regional Centers with
respective areas of specialization and host institutions. The
Network Central Office is a coordination office headed by the
Secretary-General/Coordinator, and is based at the Faculty of
Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University in Bangkok. The
Governing Board consists of representatives from the Member
Countries, nominated by respective Ministers of Education and
appointed by the incumbent President to the Council of
Ministers. The Board is responsible for operational policies,
strategic planning, annual evaluation and review of the
Network’s programmes and budgets within the framework of
an approved 5-year development plan [1].
3.1.1. Regional Centre for Community Nutrition
(TROPMED/Indonesia)
Regional Centre for Community Nutrition (RCCN) is a unit
under the jurisdiction of the Indonesian Government’s Ministry
of National Education and is hosted by the University of
Indonesia (UI) in Central Jakarta. The Centre has provided
training since 1970 and has been attended by nutritionist,
health and health-related professionals from Asia, Europe, and
Africa. RCCN offers broad multidisciplinary capabilities in
applied human nutrition for advanced training, research, and
consultancy services [1].
3.1.2. Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology and
Entomology (TROPMED/Malaysia)
The Institute of Medical Research (IMR) in 1967 was
declared Malaysia’s National Centre for Tropical Medicine
under the SEAMEO TROPMED Network. In 1993 at the 28th
SEAMEO Council Conference in Singapore, IMR together with
the other three Centers of the Network became a Regional
Centre. IMR is under the administration of the Ministry of
Health. It promotes regional cooperation through its various
activities such as training, research and development, and
information dissemination in the field of public health and
tropical medicine [1].
3.1.3. Regional Center for Public Health, Hospital
Administration, Environmental and Occupational Health
(TROPMED/Philippines)
In 1968 the College of Public Health (CPH), then known as
the Institute of Hygiene, was selected as the National Center for
Public Health by SEAMEO. The Centre is under the adminis-
tration of the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM), and
autonomous campus under the University of the Philippines
System. It is one of the 9 degree-granting academic units in UPM
[1].
3.1.4. Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine
(TROPMED/Thailand)
The Faculty of Tropical Medicine (FTM), Mahidol Univer-
sity, Bangkok, Thailand is the SEAMEO TROPMED Regional
Centre for Tropical Medicine. The Faculty was established in
1960 to provide higher education in tropical medicine,
parasitology and preventive aspect of endemic diseases. At
that time, it was called the Bangkok School of Tropical
Medicine and was conceived to be a higher learning institution
for Thai medical doctors especially those serving in the rural
areas. It now provides continuing education to doctors,
researchers, and professionals in tropical medicine and public
health in the region and beyond [1].
3.1.5. SEAMEO TROPMED Network Office
The SEAMEO TROPMED Network Office is hosted by the
Government of Thailand and is based in Mahidol University
Bangkok, Thailand. The primary function of the Network
Office is to provide support to the four Regional Centers in
terms of: (i) coordinating the programs and activities; (ii)
maintaining and expanding linkages of the Network with
relevant regional and international organizations, academic
institutions, and development agencies; (iii) increasing access
to markets; and (iv) improving financial status.
The network office managed the scholarships of a total of
48 recipients in 2004 for seven regular postgraduate
offerings in the four Regional Centres. A short course
entitled ‘‘Epidemiology in Health Development’’ is currently
being developed through the coordination or the Network.
This is a collaborative project among the TROPMED/
Philippines, TROPMED/Thailand, Khon Kaen University,
Thailand, and Charite-Universitatsmediz in Berlin and GTZ
as the funding agency. The Network organized training
programmes upon the request to the Member Countries/
development partners. The Network office upon request also
organizes study visits of different groups to the Member
Countries and institutions. In 2004, the Network organized
four study visits for 36 Bangladesh officials on traditional
Medicine and Cardiology.
J. Waikagul / Parasitology International 55 (2006) S297–S300 S299
Aside from serving as a coordinating office, the Network
Central office is also engaged in several regional projects. In the
implementation of all of these projects, human resource
development is the core principle that is being followed. All
strategies and project activities contribute to the development of
human resources of the partner countries. Below are brief
descriptions of the Network’s projects that were implemented/
ended during 2004.
1. Control of HIV/AIDS/STI Partnership Project in Asia
Region (CHASPPAR) is a collaborative project of SEA-
MEO TROPMED Network and GTZ. It is part of the GTZ
Sectoral Project on ‘‘HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in
Developing Countries’’. The goal of the project is to
strengthen the national efforts of partner countries against
HIV/AIDS/STI.
2. Comprehensive Package for HIV/AIDS Preventive Educa-
tion. This collaborative effort among CHASPPAR, SEA-
MEO TROPMED Network, UNESCO and the eight partner
countries intended to integrate the use of the different sets of
materials in comprehensive package for preventive educa-
tion. A comprehensive package is defined as consisting of
training manual for teachers, teaching/learning materials and
monitoring and evaluation instruments.
3. Promoting Health and HIV/AIDS Preventive Education
Messages in Rural Communities. The primary purpose of
this collaborative project between UNESCO and SEAMEO
is to involve the communities in the identification of priority
messages and in defining the means of how these messages
can be more effectively communicated across the intended
audience.
4. ICT and HIV/AIDS Preventive Education in the Cross-
border Areas of the Greater Mekong Subregion. This
technical assistance is funded by Asian Development Bank
(ADB) and addressed the two pressing issues in the
implementation of HIV/AIDS preventive education, i.e.
appropriateness and effectiveness of teaching/learning
materials and teaching methodologies. There are two
international organizations designated as executing agencies
of this project, UNESCO and SEAMEO. The SEAMEO
component focuses primarily on teachers and in-school
youth and addresses indirectly the communities around the
36 lower secondary schools. These schools are located in
nine border areas between the five participating countries
namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Vietnam and
Yunnan province of People’s Republic of China (PRC).
5. Country Policy Analysis on Health Promotion Infrastructure
and Financing. An ‘‘Agreement for Performance of Work
(APW)’’ was signed between WPRO WHO and SEAMEO
TROPMED Network. This agreement mandates the conduct
of a regional workshop to ‘‘discuss issues of health promotion
infrastructure and financing’’ in selected countries in the
region.
6. Research Capability Development of Community Health
Workers in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam
(Health Equity). This project is a joint endeavour of
Rockefeller Foundation, Health Equity Program and SEA-
MEO TROPMED Network. Its goal is to develop self-
reliant communities in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and
Vietnam with the capacity to identify and analyze health
problems and to devise ways and means to solve them
through scientific methods and participatory approaches. It
is envisioned that through research capability building the
community will be on the road to empowerment to gain
mastery of their lives and achieve equity in health.
7. GIS Disease Surveillance System in the Mekong Region. A
collaborative project between Rockefeller Foundation and
SEAMEO TROPMED Network that aims to investigate the
potential for harnessing GIS as a tool to monitor and inform
programmes to prevent and control infectious diseases in the
Mekong region.
8. Strengthening the Implementation of GFATM Activities in
Selected Countries of Southeast Asia: A Regional Initiative.
This regional initiative is under the GTZ BACKUP
Initiative, which aims to support Global Fund processes in
the countries to enable these countries to effectively and
efficiently implement their Global Fund assisted project.
9. Health Promotion Leadreship Training (PROLEAD). PRO-
LEAD is a collaborative project between WHO Western
Pacific Regional Office and SEAMEO TROPMED Net-
work. It is a programme for leaders who promote health. It
provides leaders with opportunities to interact with collea-
gues and mentors in other countries who are engaged in
decision-making in the area of sustainable infrastructure and
financing for health promotion [1].
4. Publication
SEAMEO TROPMED Network published regularly the
SOUTHEASTASIAN Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public
Health. In addition, monographs were published such as: (i)
Mekong Malaria II An Update on malaria Multi-drug
Resistance and Economic Development in the Mekong Region,
supported by WHO/Roll Back Malaria and by European
Commission; and (ii) CHASPPAR: Lessons learned. Proceed-
ings of international meetings were also printed and published
by the Publication Section of the Network [1].
5. Food-borne Parasitic Zoonoses Seminar
The 33rd SEAMEO TROPMED regional seminar held at
the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chiang Mai, Thailand,
14–17 November 1990, was the first international conference
held on food-borne parasitic zoonoses, which emphasized the
enduring and increasing problems attributable to eating habits
of people worldwide [1]. The seminar reviewed the current
status of food-borne parasitic zoonoses in various countries in
Asia, Europe, America and Africa. The impact of these
zoonoses on economics and industry was discussed, as well
as planning research and control strategies. The meeting was
highly successful and there was unanimous consensus that such
meeting be continued.
The second food-borne parasitic zoonoses seminar was held
in Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand on 6–9
J. Waikagul / Parasitology International 55 (2006) S297–S300S300
December 1995, which dealt with current problems, epidemi-
ology, food safety and control. The third seminar was convened
at Bangkok on 6–8 December 2000, which emphasized on
food- and water-borne parasitic zoonoses in the 21st century.
The 1st to 3rd Seminar was held every 5 years; it was discussed
at the 3rd Seminar that the next seminar should be held at every
3 years. The 4th Seminar was held in Bangkok on 2–4
December 2003 in concurrence with the 2nd International
meeting on gnathostomiasis and the Joint International Tropical
Medicine Meeting. The meeting was highly successful with
over 600 participants from 36 countries. The next seminar will
be held in 2006 in Bangkok [2–5].
6. Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting
The Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting (JITMM)
was first organized in 1997. Since then, the JITMM has become
an international annual scientific event to foster a dialogue on
scientific and medical advancement in the field of tropical
medicine. As the name implies, the JITMM is a combination of
several scientific events, which are jointly organized by the
Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok,
Thailand and other local and international institutions, organiza-
tions and professional associations. The JITMM combined
minimally four major events: the Chamlong-Tranakchit Har-
inasuta Lecture; the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Faculty of
Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University; the Annual Scientific
Meeting of the TROPMEDAlumni Association; and the Annual
Scientific Meeting of the Parasitology and Tropical Medicine
Association of Thailand.
The JITMM 2002 was co-hosted by the Faculty of Tropical
Medicine, Mahidol University; Department of Disease Control,
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Bernhard-Nocht Institute
for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany; Parasitology and
TropicalMedicine Association of Thailand; TROPMEDAlumni
Association; SEAMEO TROPMED Network; and the Asian
Centre of International Parasite Control. The Meeting was held
at the Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand on 20–22
November 2002, with 969 participants from 27 countries.
The Chamlong-Trankchit Harinasuta Lecture, to honor the
co-founders of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, is always the
highlight of JITMM. Each year, the Meeting had 8–16
symposia, 3–8 free papers sessions, with a total of 147–185
oral and poster presentations. At the Meeting, 36–75 full
papers were submitted for publication and the editors
selected the papers to be published in the supplement to
the Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public
Health [6,7].
7. ASEAN Congress on Parasitology and Tropical Medicine
In November 2004, the Malaysian Association of Parasi-
tology hosted the first ASEAN Congress on Parasitology and
Tropical Medicine in Kuala Lumpur. The meeting was highly
successful, attended by parasitologists and researchers all
over the world. At the Meeting, representatives of the
Parasitology Associations of Southeast Asian countries decided
to continue rotating hosting the congress. The Parasitology
Associations of Indonesia will host the second congress in
2006.
8. Conclusion
These regional cooperative activities forming both institu-
tional and conference networks will enable closer links within
and outside Southeast Asia. Local personnel are trained to use
modern technology, apply the knowledge gained for research
and disseminate research outcomes at regional meetings. The
loops of these activities involve more and more academe and
health workers. The link expands to support technical
development and scientific advancement in Tropical Medicine
for the benefit of all the people in the Southeast Asian region
and beyond.
References
[1] SEAMEO TROPMED Network—Annual Report 2003/2005/46 pp.
[2] Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 1991;22:1–395.
[3] Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 1997;28(suppl. 1):1–226.
[4] Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2001;32(suppl. 2):1–244.
[5] Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2004;35(suppl. 1):1–336.
[6] Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2003;34(suppl. 2):1–193.
[7] Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 2004;35(suppl. 2):1–58.