As Viet Nam approaches elimination, malaria has become rare or non-existent in settled, ethnic majority villages but persists in geographically remote areas inhabited by ethnic minorities. Malaria control is facing a lot of difficulties because of uncontrollable mobilized populations such as forest goers and border crossers. Behavior change of minority groups - to alert populations to need to seek prompt diagnosis and treatment from available services, and to comply with full course of treatment - is challenging and requires persistent efforts using multiple channels with involvement of Commune Health Workers and Community Malaria Action Team members. Here are two typical examples of such engagement in two malaria hotpots of Viet Nam - Lai Chau and Gia Lai.
On May 26, 2023, the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology, and Entomology Quy Nhon (IMPE-QN) had a meeting with international expert groups that have been cooperating with IMPE-QN in research and treatment of malaria, and other infectious diseases in Central Vietnam. The meeting aimed to further enhance groundbreaking applied and fundamental scientific research, cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of malaria, drug-resistant malaria, and some emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that significantly impact human health in Viet Nam.
On May 10, Peter Sands, the Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, stated that the Fund is dedicated to continuing support for Viet Nam in eradicating these three diseases.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong emphasized that more focalized and aggressive interventions should be considered and implemented in confirmed foci of transmissions to eliminate malaria, and close supervision of areas with mobilized and migrant populations.
On December 7th, 2022, the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology Quy Nhon (IMPE-QN) and BK21FOUR Center for Human Resource Development in Bio-Health Industry, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University (GNU), Republic of Korea signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for research collaboration on tropical diseases, especially malaria and parasitic diseases in Viet Nam.