On December 28-30, 2022, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - Viet Nam Program in collaboration with the Forest Protection Department (FPD) Region III organized a training on “The standard operating protocols in reducing risks of zoonotic disease transmission during counter-wildlife trafficking enforcement operations in Viet Nam.”
Introduction about the standard operation protocol, Ho Chi Minh city, December 2022
The program is designed to provide frontline law enforcement officers with knowledge and skills to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases from animals to humans, thereby better protecting themselves in the process of handling violations related to wildlife through the introduction of “Guidelines for the safe handling of wildlife and wildlife products during counter-wildlife trafficking enforcement operations” and providing good practice guidance based on different wild species. WCS Viet Nam has worked with national experts, who have extensive experience in working with wildlife, especially those rescued from the illegal wildlife trade chains, to adapt the standard operating protocols (SOP) that developed for the Asia region to the actual situation in Viet Nam.
Guideline to wear PPE, Ho Chi Minh city, December 2022
More than 30 participants who are representatives of 14 cities and provinces’ FPD, Environmental Police of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Cat Tien National Park, HCMC University of Agriculture and Forestry, and the FPD Region III attended the training program.
During the training, the participants were updated with the situation of violations related to wildlife protection in the Eastern and Southwestern provinces of Viet Nam and risks of diseases transmission from wildlife to humans. Then, they were introduced about the SOP in reducing risks of zoonotic disease transmission and trained on related skills to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement activities, especially in counter-wildlife trafficking enforcement operations in Viet Nam. The training program also provided an opportunity for participants to exchange and discuss measures to reduce relevant health risks and promote interagency cooperation in combatting the illegal wildlife trade and zoonotic diseases management in Viet Nam.
The training was conducted within the framework of the project “Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Viet Nam” funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State.