ABSTRACT
Central Asia is an important hub connecting the Asian continent and European continent, and one of the key regions for China's foreign exchange and cooperation in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Central Asian countries have relatively backward medical conditions, and TCM has become an important part of local healthcare. Regulations on traditional/complementary and alternative medicine have been issued in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan; acupuncture and moxibustion has been covered by medical insurance in Kyrgyzstan; TCM has existed in other Central Asian countries in form of folk medicine. Central Asian countries are extremely rich in medicinal plant resources, but weak in foundation of pharmaceutical industry. Chinese government has signed cooperation agreements on TCM with many Central Asian countries, and the practical cooperation in the field of traditional medicine have continued to expand. At present, the development of TCM in Central Asian countries still faces problems such as weak foundation for the development and utilization of medicinal materials, shortage of professionals talents in TCM education and small scale of TCM clinics. In view of the above, in order to promote the dissemination and development of TCM in Central Asian countries, it is recommended that relevant units promote the establishment of joint laboratories or research centers of Chinese materia medica; give full play to local resource advantages and promote the development of medicinal plant industry; to strengthen the construction of overseas centers of TCM; actively carry out joint education or further education projects, and cultivate localized senior talents.
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Objective To compare the framework of immunization programme and management of vaccine distributionin in China and some Asian countries, and further improve the immunization policy in China. Methods Using literature review, we compared the current status of immunization programme and vaccine distribution in China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Results Vaccine distribution has its own characteristics among Asian countries. Japan started early with a complete supervision system and compensation system. Thailand and Vietnam have also formed an efficient and complete cold chain transportation mode after implementing Expanded Programme on Immunization. Conclusion China can refer to the typical framework of immunization and experience of vaccine distributionfromsome Asian countries, which may improve vaccine accessand production links, standardize vaccine circulation market, and establish an efficient vaccine supervision and traceability system.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Demographic factors, such as age and sex, are associated with the likelihood of exposure to Aedes aegypti, the vector for dengue. However, dengue data disaggregated by both sex and age are not routinely reported or analyzed by national surveillance systems. This study analysed the reported number of incident dengue cases by age and sex for six countries in Asia. METHODS: Data for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka were obtained from DengueNet; the number of male and female dengue cases was available for four age groups ( 15 years) over a cumulative period of six to 10 years. Data for Cambodia (2010) and Malaysia (1997–2008) were obtained from their respective ministries of health. Results: An excess of males was found among reported dengue cases > 15 years of age. This pattern was observed consistently over several years across six culturally and economically diverse countries. DISCUSSION: These data indicated the importance of reporting data stratified by both sex and age since collapsing the data over all ages would have masked some of the male-female differences. In order to target preventive measures appropriately, assessment of gender by age is important for dengue because biological or gender-related factors can change over the human lifespan and gender-related factors may differ across countries.