South-East Asia Regional Conference on Epidemiology

<strong>South</strong>-<strong>East</strong> <strong>Asia</strong> <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Epidemiology | 61
EVIPNet exists as a global social network that interacts at country, regional and global levels to
promote the exchange of ideas, findings and experiences. However, the main focus of its efforts is to
strengthen the capacity and organization of country teams. The country team is usually linked to the
ministry of health or a similar national institution, but it must have sustainable participation of at least
two policy-makers and two researchers and must promote constant consultations with representatives
of civil society.
After five years of experience, the biggest challenge ahead for EVIPNet is to acquire the funding
needed to effectively support the work of country teams and to respond to the increasing demand
of ministries of health around the world to establish new country teams. Therefore, the EVIPNet
Global Steering Group requires that national public health authorities willing to create new country
teams must provide basic human and material resources to strengthen institutional capacities. But the
main requirement would be a strong political will to develop and implement high-quality evidenceinformed
health policies.
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