Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
This is a proposal to address the components and strategies of the program, “Enhancing Global Health Security: Strengthening Public Health Surveillance Systems and Preparedness Globally.” It is submitted by the Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research Trust (PRSTRT) through one of its largest units, the Puerto Rico Vector Control Unit (PRVCU). The core of this proposal is to address the components using a consortium of the states in the CDC Central American Region (CAR) . The consortium will be organized by the PRVCU and a multidisciplinary and bilingual cadre of clinicians and specialists in public health representing each of the CAR countries. The consortium will be organized with the knowledge and support of the national Ministries of Health of these countries and will act with their imprimatur. The PRSTRT will be the fiduciary agent, the PRVCU the initiating organization, and the consortium will be the decision-making body for the region regarding this project. The consortium will oversee the project’s work to improve public health surveillance systems, strengthen laboratory capacity as well as those public health activities impacted by outbreaks, and to improve emergency and outbreak response capability for public health emergencies and emerging infectious disease threats. The proposal includes an extensive array of activities to address each of these items at both regional and individual national levels. All activities proposed herein are aimed at improving the ability of the CAR to respond to public health threats from infectious disease. The consortium approach will ensure that the region can operate as a coordinated unit, with information exchange on outbreak status, best practices, needs, and priorities. Acting with the consent of the Ministers of Health in each country, the consortium will be able to effect real change within and among change yet will have a significant amount of independence from regional politics. The PRVCU is uniquely qualified to undertake this program. A large percentage of the most severe public health emergencies in recent years has been caused by vector borne diseases and the PRVCU is the largest and most capable vector management organization in the Caribbean Basin. It has a well-trained and highly educated staff who are fully bilingual and share the Latin culture and heritage of the CAR. The leadership of the PRVCU has organized very similar international consortia before and they have worked well for regional applications. The PRVCU has experience in preparing and training rapid response teams, operates a large and complex surveillance network, and has industrial-scale laboratory capability – all of which will be needed for this project. Finally, the PRVCU has a Community Mobilization and Education Team that is especially adept at quickly mobilizing intense community action programs in response to outbreaks of infectious disease, vector borne or otherwise. The project is ambitious but realistic. The team assembled here has a proven track record. The plan is novel and sound. There is thus a high likelihood that this project will result in meaningful improvements in surveillance and outbreak response throughout the CAR.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
