Shoulder to Shoulder: Accompanying Ministries of Health in Central America in Strengthening Local and Global Health Security

Description

The CDC Central American Region (CAR) for Division for Global Health Protection (DGHP) covers 8 countries (Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic). These countries are packed into a relatively small but biologically and socially diverse area of ~202,000 square miles. The geographic proximity of these countries contributes to frequent movement across borders and with the United States by people, animals and often pathogens, due to travel, trade and migration. Regional capacity to detect and diagnose emerging infections is variable among different countries in Central America and often inadequate especially outside of capital cities. Among the main public health problems facing CAR are limitations to quickly and efficiently review and analyze data and information; challenges with consistent quality in the national reference laboratories; insufficient regulations and standardization of technical and biosafety procedures for quality control and quality assurance; and a lack of integration of epidemiological surveillance, laboratory and hospital systems. Efforts supported through this NOFO should align with both CDC and national goals for CAR. The recipients will work with regional countries to accomplish four key outcomes: (1) Increased and improved public health surveillance systems, (2) Strengthening of non-outbreak-related public health activities impacted by outbreaks (3) Enhanced public health laboratory capacity, and (4) Enhanced outbreak/epidemic response. Additionally, this NOFO aims to increase collaboration among CAR countries for improved regional surveillance and laboratory systems, to enhance existing integrated national public health networks (epidemiology, laboratory, clinical) and finally to develop international-caliber national public health surveillance and response systems that will be regional resources. Activities to support these priorities will require assessment of capabilities, capacities, infrastructure, and training needs, with implementation through mentoring and technical assistance for the purpose of developing national guidelines and providing training in international standards. The long-term direction of this NOFO is to support CAR in buildings capacity and strengthening public health systems in order to secure sustainable public health infrastructure and systems. In addition to Core Global Health Security Priorities “(Component 1), this NOFO will support additional activities when a disease outbreak or other public health emergency reaches a scale that requires a moderate (Component 2, Rapid Response to Small Scale Infectious Disease Outbreaks or Other Public Health Emergencies) or substantial response (Component 3, Rapid Response to Large-Scale Infectious Disease Outbreaks or other Public Health Emergencies)”. Applicants must apply for all three components.

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