Armenia: Laboratory and Surveillance activities
Armenia is 1 of 6 Member States in the WHO European Region that will receive support from the PIP Framework Partnership Contribution (PC) in the area of Laboratory and Surveillance (L&S) through 2016.
The PIP Framework brings together Member States, industry, other stakeholders and WHO to implement a global approach to pandemic influenza preparedness and response. It aims to:
- improve the sharing of influenza viruses with human pandemic potential; and
- achieve more equitable access for Member States in need of pandemic vaccines and medicines used in a pandemic.
Implementation
The first L&S mission to Armenia funded by the PIP Framework Partnership Contribution was conducted by WHO/Europe in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in October 2014. During this mission, the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDCP), as well as current sentinel sites in Yerevan and Lori Martz were visited. Armenia's sentinel influenza surveillance system was assessed and existing protocols, mechanisms and training for outbreak response were reviewed.
Several recommendations were defined based on the outcomes of the assessments, including the need to revise a national guideline on influenza sentinel surveillance and development of a 'training of trainers' module in outbreak response. WHO/Europe will assist Armenia to implement these recommendations.
