KAZAKHSTAN - IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

UNCLAS ASTANA 000701 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR OES/IHB JKOWALSKI AND IO/T ABLACKWOOD SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AORC PREL WHO KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN - IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS REF: State 33263 ¶1. Summary: In response to reftel, CDC representatives met with the Republican Sanitary and Epidemiological Station (RSES) to discuss implementation of International Health Regulations (IHR) in Kazakhstan. RSES is the point of contact on IHR implementation in Kazakhstan. RSES will coordinate with relevant ministries and the WHO in drafting an action plan on IHR implementation. RSES is interested in receiving the U.S. implementation plan in Russian and believes it is necessary to have a seminar by a WHO expert to explain the IHR concept to local authorities. End summary. ¶2. On April 8, CDC health specialists met with Dr. Stanislav Kazakov, Medical Epidemiologist and IHR coordinator, Republican Sanitary and Epidemiological Station (RSES). According to Dr. Kazakov, Kazakhstan has supported International Health Regulations (IHR) since they were revised in 2005. Kazakhstan understood that IHR regulates not only outbreaks of infectious diseases, but also any events that could present significant harm to humans. That is why the GOK wants to have a joint effort of several ministries, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry for Emergency Situations, Ministry of Economy, and others. ¶3. National Focal Point: The Ministry of Health has appointed the RSES as the National IHR Focal Point. They have sent the organization's coordinates to the World Health Organization (WHO), and they are accessible 24 hours a day. In 2007, Dr. Kenes Ospanov, RSES head, traveled to Lyon to one of the IHR meetings. ¶4. Assessment of Surveillance System: To assess the epidemiological surveillance system in the country, WHO recently sent a questionnaire to the Ministry of Health. The questionnaire was answered and sent back to WHO. Currently, the questionnaire is being analyzed by the WHO. ¶5. Action Plan: According to Dr. Kazakov, the Ministry of Health should work together with the Ministry for Emergency Situations and Ministry of Economy on the National IHR Regulations. However, they have not started yet. Dr. Kazakov thinks that as a starting point, they could use the Strategic Plan for Avian Influenza that they developed three years ago. This Strategic Plan contains a component on rapid reaction to an emerging event that poses a threat to public health and notification of WHO about the event. Currently, they are gathering all relevant regulations of the Ministry of Health and Ministry for Emergency Situations. They plan to analyze these regulations, and then plan next steps. ¶6. U.S. Implementation Plan: RSES thinks that it is necessary to have a seminar where a WHO expeQ will explain the IHR concept to local authorities and CDC could present the American plan of action. RSES is interested in receiving the U.S. implementation plan. The CDC office in Almaty can translate it into Russian and share it with RSES. ORDWAY