For Immediate Release
Press Release
The United States, Thailand, and Lao PDR entered a new era of development cooperation by completing the first of several trilateral activities that will improve the lives of the people of Southeast Asia.
Wattanawit Gajaseni, the Deputy Director General of Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Dr. Anupong Sujariyakul, Medical physician, Advisory Level of the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, and USAID Asia Mission Director Dr. Steven G. Olive of the U.S. Embassy Bangkok congratulated 15 participants from Lao PDR and six Thai participants along the Thai-Lao PDR border provinces for successfully completing the joint training to end malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion. The Thai Division of Vector Borne Diseases led and implemented the two-week training from March 20 to 31, 2023, in Bangkok, Phitsanulok Province, and Tak Province.
The Lao participants from Department of Communicable Disease Control (DCDC), Center for Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology (CMPE) and 13 Provincial Communicable Disease Control Units exchanged knowledge and skills of entomological surveillance, control and foci response with the Thai Division of Vector-Borne Diseases. The two week training combined both lecture and field practice in high burden areas of Thailand. The Lao team acquired knowledge, techniques and skills that will be used and adopted in the Lao context upon their return. They thanked the USAID, TICA, Ministry of Public Health of Thailand and the Ministry of Health Laos for this technical capacity strengthening exercise to align regional efforts to achieve Malaria elimination in the Greater Mekong sub-region.
The United States through USAID is honored to expand its development partnership with Thailand, a regional leader in public health, the environment, and digital economy, to co-fund development cooperation projects in third countries across Southeast Asia.
This is the first trilateral activity of several planned under the new USAID – TICA Strategic Partnership Agreement. Our strong relations have improved lives for Thais and Americans alike and continue to make our countries more prosperous and secure.