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