On 7 April 2021, Dr. Thanong Virasangphong, Director of Sa Kaeo Provincial Public Health Office, along with Ms. Sayan Kongkoey, Director of Thai Cooperation Branch 1, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), and Dr. Le Chansangvath, Director of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Public Health Office, attended the delivery process of the RT-PCR Laboratory Equipment and SARS-CoV-2 Test Kits to Poipet Hospital in Cambodia at Ban Nong Prue Checkpoint, Phansuek Sub-district, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province.

The delivery of the laboratory equipment is an activity under the Development Cooperation Programme between Thailand and Cambodia on Strengthening Preparedness and Response to Pandemic of COVID-19 on Enhancing Microbiology Laboratory Capacity for COVID-19 and Virus Detection by Quality Management System.

TICA, together with the Department of Medical Sciences  and Sa Kaeo Provincial Public Health Office, have been working hands-in-hands on this project with the objective to enhance laboratory capacity for virus detection of COVID-19 and other emerging diseases at Poipet Referral Hospital. This is based on the belief that in order to handle this pandemic effectively, international cooperation is also important component and that each and every country has to be equipped with the capacity to detect the disease as quickly and efficiently as possible. And with that, regional disease control will effectively and successfully managed.

In addition to the provision for the laboratory equipment, Thai experts from the Department of Medical Sciences have been providing continuous support through online consultation and knowledge transfer on the setting up of the laboratory system via a series of teleconference to laboratory technicians of Poipet Referral Hospital.

Source: Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA)