PRESS RELEASE

February 6, 2007

U.S. Embassy Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response

The peoples of both the United States and Vietnam have been the victims of natural disasters in recent years.  The United States saw great destruction from Hurricane Katrina and Vietnam has been hit by Typhoons Xangsane and Durian.  The United States has also provided USD $12.1 Million in the last two years to help Vietnam confront the epidemic of avian influenza.  We have much to learn from each other with regard to responding to disasters, and we have met in the past to share experiences on how to best protect our citizens.  On February 6, the United States and Vietnam deepened their partnership when the U.S. Embassy hosted a roundtable discussion on a model management system for disaster preparedness and emergency response. 

This roundtable was organized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Global Health Affairs (HHS) with experts from HHS’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Coordinating Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention.  Participants at the roundtable included representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the World Health Organization, and other principal national and international agencies responsible for preparedness and response to disasters.  The visiting experts presented a model system for managing disaster response including a unique software program called Automated Disaster and Emergency Planning Tool (ADEPT).  They solicited advice from participants on the potential use of the system and its software in responding to avian and pandemic influenza and will use that input on future collaboration.

The U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Jonathan M. Aloisi opened the session, noting that the United States and Vietnam have cooperated closely in responding to disasters.  He applauded Vietnam’s efforts to control the spread of avian influenza.  “The government has succeeded because it has taken a strategic, multi-faceted approach to solving the problem,” observed Mr. Aloisi.  He also noted that U.S. and Vietnamese experts have much to learn from one another, citing the roundtable discussion as part of that process.

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