Press Release: Embassy Hanoi Hosts First-ever Model East Asia Summit

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi hosted the first-ever Model East Asia Summit (Model EAS) for 33 high school and university students at the Embassy’s American Center on August 16, 2013.  Based on the popular American extracurricular activity Model United Nations, the Model EAS program allows students to exchange ideas on policy issues that are relevant…

CAP-Malaria Project Trains Motorcycle Taxi Drivers to Teach Their Passengers about Malaria

The majority of Burmese migrants living along the Thai-Myanmar border take motorcycle taxis to work.  On August 8, 2013, the Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) team in collaboration with Kraburi Vector Bone Disease Control Unit and local police organized a health education training for motorcycle taxi drivers to teach them basic malaria knowledge and build…

LEAF Climate Change Curriculum Development Workshop

The Lowering Emissions in Asian’s Forests (LEAF) program is working with universities across the region to create climate change curriculum in REDD+ and related climate change fields.  The US Forest Service (USFS) works with LEAF to provide strategic technical support  by engaging a team of US forestry education specialists and academics to work with universities…

Health Insurance at the Cambodia-Thailand Border

Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) staff recently met with Provincial Health Center staff in Thailand to plan for the launch of the Thai-Khmer Malaria Patient Card. The card will be piloted at health facilities offering malaria services in the bordering cities of Pailin, Cambodia and Chanthaburi, Thailand. The Thai-Khmer Patient Card is the first insurance…

Getting Ahead of Emerging Infectious Diseases

The USAID-supported Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) program RESPOND project organized a wildlife health capacity assessment forum, August 13 - 15th in Bangkok.  Co-hosted by the Royal Thai Government, Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation; Zoological Park Organization; and Mahidol University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the forum convened over 70 wildlife health professionals from…

Brave Rangers Honored on World Ranger Day

On July 31st, Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) pledged better capacity building and welfare programs for its park rangers at an event marking World Ranger Day in Thailand’s Eastern Forest Complex. The minister recognized that rangers are the front-line of defense and are often poorly equipped and under-trained. Rangers face growing threats…

New Mapping and Remote Sensing Training Improves Sustainable Forest Management in Vietnam

In collaboration with the Con Cuong Forestry Company and Con Cuong Protection Forest Management Board, LEAF recently finalized a new and modernized forest cover and classification map.  Both Con Cuong agencies had previously relied on an outdated map, which severely restricted the effectiveness of overall forest management practices including harvesting, plantation and planning activities.  Dr.…

CAP-Malaria Project Offers Free Blood Tests in Rural Myanmar

Mobile team pays a regular visit to migrant workers at a palm oil plantation site in Tanintharyi Region and Dawei Township.  A Village Malaria Workers (VMW) trained by Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) project opened a temporary clinic at his house. The sign says “VMW is here, anyone is warmly welcomed for free-blood test”.Related link: CAP-MALARIASource:…

Control and Prevention of Malaria’s Cross-Border Activities in Myanmar

Control and Prevention of Malaria (CAP-Malaria) team performed malaria screening among migrant children at the 38 Miles School inside Yuzana palm-oil plantation project site.  Malaria messages were provided to the students through face to face education. Related Website: CAP-MALARIASource:  Health Matters Newsletter RDMA/Office of Public Health

Rebalance to Asia III: Protecting the Environment and Ensuring Food and Water Security in East Asia and the Pacific

Testimony of Gregory Beck, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia, U.S. Agency for International Development before Foreign Relations Committee East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee“Rebalance to Asia III: Protecting the Environment and Ensuring Food and Water Security in East Asia and the Pacific”Chairman Cardin, Senator Rubio, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the…

The Health Policy Project, Technical Exchange on Gender & Health Moves into its Second Phase

 At the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Second Regional Working Group Meeting held in Vientiane in November 2011, representatives from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) requested technical assistance from development partners to strengthen the newly established Division for the Promotion of Women’s Advancement within the Ministry of Health, and support for the Ministry’s gender…

Joint Statement: Sixth LMI Ministerial Meeting

On July 1, 2013, the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and the U.S. Secretary of State and the Secretary-General of ASEAN met in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam for the 6th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting.Ministers endorsed LMI as a forum through which to address complex, transnational development…