3. Expand formal training and outreach to health

care providers. 

A major focus of DoD GEIS during Fiscal Year 2001

was training.  The IOM evaluation of DoD GEIS

strongly recommended this emphasis as a way to

build up much needed local capacity and thus extend

DoD's own internal resources.  All five tropical over 

seas medical research units supported various training

initiatives.  These included not only laboratory and

epidemiology training for internal staff but also out 

reach efforts to host nation partners.  Two of the

greatest success stories have been the ongoing 10 day

sessions on conducting outbreak investigations that

NAMRU 2 has been offering in Southeast Asia and

NMRCD's training of host nation personnel to con 

maintain strong DoD GEIS and MIDRP programs.

duct in vivo antimalarial drug resistance studies.

During FY 2001, 15 officers representing several

With strong support from Southern Command's

disciplines spent approximately 30 days in the envi 

Humanitarian Assistance Program, DoD GEIS was

rons of one of the overseas labs working on various

also able to establish during FY 2001 three pilot

surveillance or research projects.  The yield of the

regions in Peru for a laboratory based surveillance

program since its inception several years ago has

initiative.  This training project has focused on the

been excellent.  Trainees generally return highly

creation of computerized networks for hierarchical

enthusiastic about the work performed at the over 

reporting.  The backbone of the effort is the CDC 

seas research activities and have resolved many of

developed Public Health Laboratory Information

their apprehensions about life for an American family

System (PHLIS) software.  The project has included

stationed in one of these locations.  Four trainees

the donation of more than 50 computers to the

from FY 2000 have already obtained permanent

Peruvian Ministry of Health and assistance with six

assignments at the overseas facilities.

informatics training courses provided to more than 80

public health workers from San Martin and Ayacucho

Also in the vein of training, DoD GEIS supported

departments and from around Lima.  Southern

this year a number of major meetings.  These included

Command also provided resources to continue a

several sessions of the Institute of Medicine Emerging

similar training initiative begun in the Caribbean

Infections Forum and two day long conferences

four years ago and to start a project for all the

conducted in partnership with the U.S. Medicine

countries in Central America.  

Institute for Health Studies.  One of these conferences,

 Vaccine Availability   A Forum for Government

Another primary training focus has been the DoD GEIS

Leaders,  drew approximately 100 policy makers and

Overseas Medical Research Laboratory Training

scientists from the federal government, academia,

Program.  This program exposes junior military

and industry.  The findings highlighted the nation's

officers with a potential for service at the overseas

growing challenges in acquiring or maintaining stocks

research facilities to the scientific satisfactions and

of a variety of critical vaccines.  Many of these are

cultural issues associated with such service.  It is a

 orphan  products with small (e.g., limited to the

necessary investment to help recruit persons into the

military) or no current markets (e.g., certain potential

small cadre of physicians and scientists needed to

bioterrorism agents).  Business disincentives and the

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