Canada-Asia Regional Emerging Infectious Disease (CAREID) Project

The Canada-Asia Regional Emerging Infectious Disease (CAREID) project aims to strengthen the capacity of Cambodia, Laos PDR, the Philippines, and Vietnam with collaboration from Thailand to detect and respond effectively to emerging infectious diseases (EIDs). By strengthening regional and national capacity in emerging infectious disease surveillance and response, EID’s will be detected promptly and effectively contained to minimize illness, death and financial loss.

This Canadian project led by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and funded by the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) ($4.3M), is scheduled for completion in December, 2012. It was conceived as a result of SARS and in recognition that globalization has made infectious disease spread possible across the globe within 36 hours.

CAREID focuses on strengthening capacity in the following areas:

• improved surveillance and outbreak investigation and response;
• emergency response preparedness for new disease emergencies and public health events;
• strengthened laboratory systems and capacity; and
• risk communications.

CAREID is engaged in:

• needs assessment;
• capacity development, knowledge and skill transfer through mentoring and coaching, training and workshops, internships and exchanges;
• system and network development, protocols and plans, guidelines, operating manuals, information and technology; and
• the development of supporting policies and procedures (such as for risk communications).

CAREID is aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) Asia/Pacific Regional Strategy on emerging infectious disease which provides a framework for strengthening capacity in early detection, rapid response and preparedness. CAREID coordinates with the WHO, other donors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the region, to ensure project complementarity and avoid duplication of activities. This also ensures long term sustainability of the project's efforts given that some of these NGOs, including the WHO will build on some of the CAREID tools in the future.

Through the CAREID project, PHAC ensures that we meet our obligations under International Health Regulations (IHR) to help the international community prevent and respond to public health risks that can potentially cross borders and threaten people worldwide, thereby ensuring that individuals living in Canada are also better protected.