Asunción, Agencia IP.- The Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed the negotiation minutes today, formalizing the start of the project «Strengthening laboratory and surveillance capacity for communicable disease response in Paraguay.»
This project, funded by KOICA with a 14.5 million US dollar investment, aims to improve Paraguay’s ability to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
The project will focus on strengthening the capacities of the Paraguayan Central Public Health Laboratory (LCSP) and their General Directorate of Health Surveillance (DGVS).
One of the project’s highlights is constructing a new LCSP building with Biosafety Level II. This modern 3,000-square-meter facility will be equipped and furnished to conduct accurate and rapid diagnostics.
The project will run for five years (2024-2029) and consists of four main components:
- Construction of a new laboratory: the project’s core, ensuring a safe and efficient environment for diagnostic testing.
- Strengthening laboratory management: training staff and improving internal processes.
- Strengthening surveillance data management: optimizing systems for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating epidemiological data.
- Development of an information system: a technological tool to comprehensively manage information on infectious diseases.
The Minister of Health, Dr. María Teresa Barán, first expressed her gratitude to the Korean government, especially KOICA, for making this significant goal of a new Central Laboratory building a reality.
Dr. Barán highlighted that projects with KOICA go beyond building infrastructure. While the physical space and equipment are crucial, the project will also provide lasting human resource training, benefiting both Paraguay and the entire region.
«The technology Korea has today is being used globally, and we cannot ignore the advances in medicine we are experiencing today, thanks to health innovation,» Dr. Barán stated.
The Korean Ambassador to Paraguay, Chan-Sik Yoon, emphasized his country’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote the well-being of the Paraguayan population.
Attendees at the event included KOICA’s Country Director, Hyeyoung Shin; the Director of the Central Public Health Laboratory, Dr. Cynthia Vázquez; and representatives from the General Directorate of Health Surveillance (DGVS).