As well as sharing its scientific information and training public health workers, Fondation Mérieux is also contributing to knowledge sharing by helping set epidemiological monitoring networks.
Euro-Mediterranean Public Health Information System (EMPHIS)
As part of its contribution to the epidemiological surveillance, Fondation Mérieux has coordinated the project EMPHIS. The aim of this program, which brings together ten countries from around the Mediterranean, is to train, inform and monitor three diseases: tuberculosis, leishmaniasis and nosocomial infections. In this framework, a database 'TB' and a geographic information system 'leishmaniasis’ have been developed and are now used in countries affected by this programme.
GABRIEL Network
Created in 2008 by Fondation Mérieux, GABRIEL (Global Approach for Biological Research on Infectious Epidemics in Low income countries) is a network that brings together laboratories in developed and developing countries.
These laboratories work jointly on research projects that deal with infectious diseases having significant impact on public health. They also carry out epidemiological studies that lead to improved surveillance of circulating pathogens. An efficient network of laboratories contributes to the rapid identification of emerging and re-emerging pathogens that are the cause of epidemics.
The global objectif of the GABRIEL network is to assist developing countries in improving their laboratory-based capacity for the detection, characterization and surveillance of pathogens, and to conduct epidemiological studies.
RESAOLAB
The objective of the RESAOLAB programme is to strengthen laboratory capacities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal. The programme is based on three fundamental aspects that constitute a network of laboratories: professional training of laboratory personnel, quality management and epidemiological surveillance.
These functions are transversal to the three countries to share knowledge and expertise of each. Ultimately, the goal is to harmonize practices and establish a sub-regional network of laboratories.
Strengthening of the epidemiological surveillance system
An epidemiological surveillance programme as well as a database common to the three countries will be jointly defined. it will be fed by data from the laboratory networks of each country.
45 national and regional level laboratories (15 per country) will be equipped with computer materials and trained in the use of the internet.. A base will be fed from a information and laboratory management system of which the use will give more reliable data. This operation will come to strengthen the national systems of epidemiological surveillance of each country.
The national reference laboratory capacities will be strengthened. These structures will be able to provide the epidemiological data necessary to the service of epidemiological surveillance of the ministries of health.
WHO Lyon office
Fondation Mérieux instigated the opening of a WHO office in Lyon in 2000 by financially supporting it for five years. The mission of this branch of the WHO is to expand national capacities to detect, warn and act when faced with the emergence of diseases on a potentially epidemic scale. This contributes to improved international health security.
