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WHO Collaborating Centre for Taxonomy, Immunology and Chemotheraphy of Brugian Filariasis - Parasitology Unit, IDRC. |
WHO Collaborating Centres in Malaysia
The Ministry of Health hosted the 8 th Annual Meeting of the Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre in Malaysia on 7 November 2002 . The meeting was chaired by Dato' Dr. Ismail Merican, Deputy Director of Health , Malaysia . Dr. Stephen Tamplin was present as the WHO Representative for Brunei , Malaysia and Singapore at the meeting. Also present were the Director of Institute for Medical Research (IMR) and the Director of the Infectious Diseases Research Centre, IMR.
The five Heads of the WHO Collaborating Centres (WCC) and representative of the CIS-International Occupational Safety and Health Information System presented the activities of each of the Centres for the year 2001-2002.
The Centres were: -
WCC for Taxanomy, Immunology and Chemotherapy of Brugian Filariasis.
WCC for Ecology, Taxanomy and Control of Vectors of Malaria, Filariasis and Dengue. WCC for Health System Research and Quality Improvement.
WCC for Regulatory Control of Pharmaceuticals.
WCC for Drug Information
CIS-International Occupational Safety and Health Information System.
Four Centres reported a total of 40 research projects conducted during the period of 2001-2002. The research projects were in relation to the term of reference of the Centre. Most of the projects were funded by internal sources. The projects that were supported by WHO were: -
• Development and field-testing of an information exchange system for drug information.
• Epidemology of malaria in relation to entomological parameters in Sekong Province , Laos PDR.
• The structure of sustainable delivery of essential public health elements
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Brugian Filariasis and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Vectors of Malaria, Dengue and Filariasis received a total of 128 and 48, 362 specimens respectively for diagnostic services during the period of 2001-2002. The WCC for Regulatory Control of Pharmaceuticals received a cumulative total of 48,286 product applications for registration in 2001 and 51,098 applications in 2002, an increase of 5.8%.
The breakdowns for the type of applications received in 2002 were scheduled poison (509), non-scheduled poisons (448), cosmetics (214) and traditional products (1,603). The Centres also reported various consultative services provided to national and international agencies.
A total of 41 workshops and short training activities were conducted by the Centres during the period. Another 174, mainly local university students, underwent attachment training in these Centres. The Centres also received 79 visitors, including WHO sponsored fellows.
A cumulative total of 107 reports and proceedings and 23 scientific papers were published in the year 2001-2002 by the Collaborating Centres. Officers at the Centres presented a total of 123 papers in various local and international seminars and conferences.
NAME OF COLLABORATING CENTRE 
WHO Collaborating Centre for Taxonomy, Immunology and Chemotherapy of Brugian filariasis
ACTIVITIES OF COLLABORATING CENTRE
Research activities
The Centre continues to collaborate with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in evaluating the Brugia-Rapid Ò for the diagnosis of brugian filariasis under field conditions. In 2001, the study was carried out in Sarawak and over 2000 samples were tested and compared with the standard microscopy method for microfilaria. The kit detected all microfilaraemic cases (100%) and about 10% of the endemic normal were also positive.
Diagnostic services
The centre continues to provide diagnostic tests for filariasis (IFAT, ICT and Brugia Rapid Test) for the governmental and private hospitals and private laboratories. In the year 2001, out of 40 cases tested by IFAT, 2 cases were positive with papain antigen and one case positive to sonicated antigen whereas for ICT and Brugia Rapid Test, all 40 cases tested were negative.
Training activities
A staff member of the Centre served as facilitator of the first regional training workshop on Mapping of Lymphatic Filariasis, which was held in Bangkok from 4 to 9 February 2001 . The workshop, organised by WHO Geneva in collaboration with SEAMEO-TROPMED Network, was attended by participants from the Mekong-Plus countries ( Cambodia , Indonesia , Laos , Malaysia , Myanmar , Philippines Thailand and Vietnam ).
The Centre, in collaboration with WHO Geneva, organised the SEARO/WPRO Training Workshop for Programme Managers of Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme, the first such training for programme managers under the Global Elimination Programme. A total of 33 participants, observers, facilitators and country officers attended the workshop, which was officially opened by the Honorable Deputy Minister of Health , Malaysia . Participants came from 13 countries in the WPRO and SEARO WHO Regions.
The Centre also collaborated with the Vector-Borne Disease Control Section, Ministry of Health in organising and conducting training workshops for the National Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme. A series of refresher training workshops were carried out for microscopists.
A group of 6 Vietnamese officers on a WPRO Travel Grant visited the centre from 12 to 16 December, 2001 .
Publications and Presentations
The Centre published 4 scientific publications in local and international journals, made 12 presentations and produced 2 technical reports for the 2001-2002 period.
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