On December 9, 2023 the International Conferenced “Results and prospects for the cooperation of joint scientific centers for infectious diseases study and prevention in Africa, Asia and South America” took place in St. Petersburg. More than 100 delegates from 23 countries in Africa, Asia and South America took part in the conference. The participants presented 18 reports about the results of research in the field of epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of such infections as EVD, MVD, Lassa fever, malaria, monkeypox, measles, rubella, enterovirus infection, acute respiratory infections, COVID-19, and also noted the effectiveness of close interaction between countries aimed at strengthening national health systems and combating the spread of infectious diseases.
During the event, conference participants:
- Pointed out the need for further development of international cooperation in the field of combating infectious diseases, including strengthening national healthcare systems, improving epidemiological surveillance, as well as active information exchange.
- Emphasized that Russian technologies for epidemiological surveillance, rapid response to emergencies of a sanitary and epidemiological nature and national personnel training are in wide demand in the countries of Africa, Asia and South America.
- Pointed out the high efficiency of Russian-Guinean and Russian-Vietnamese scientific and practical cooperation, including within the joint Centers work in the field of studying particularly dangerous and socially significant infections that are relevant to West Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Expressed confidence that cooperation within the Russian-Burundi and Russian-Venezuelan centers will strengthen the epidemiological surveillance systems in Burundi and Venezuela and has broad potential for training and scientific research.
- Emphasized mutual benefit and equality of scientific and practical cooperation within the joint programs of Russia and partner countries.
- Proposed to develop scientific cooperation, including within bilateral and multilateral associations (consortium).