The politics of knowledge and information sharing across borders: Infectious Disease Surveillance in the Mekong region

人们日益认识到，跨国专家网络可有助于改善健康和人类发展，并有可能应对传染病控制和环境问题等日益超越国界的许多挑战。近年来，南南合作网络得到了特别重视，南南合作被理解为两个或两个以上发展中国家通过合作交流知识、技能、资源和技术专长，谋求各自或集体发展的进程。事实上，人们认识到，这种办法不仅有助于更可持续的发展道路，而且还可以产生更适合当地情况的知识，以及积极的外部因素，如政治稳定、增强主人翁意识、自力更生和独立。已经开始研究这种网络实际运作情况的研究人员已经查明了可能妨碍有效和有意义合作的问题，包括影响力、信任、权力、跨文化沟通和资源获取的差异等问题。本项目旨在更好地了解这些问题以及它们可能影响知识交流和网络动态的方式。作为一个案例研究，该项目将审查东南亚湄公河流域的疾病监测网络-在经济迅速变化的背景下，该地区一直是国际卫生和发展创新实验的目标。该项目还旨在产生切实的公共卫生影响。湄公河地区是东南亚农村社区生计的重要经济资源，其特点是移民工人和贸易货物的高度流动性。该区域也是包括耐多药疟疾和禽流感在内的严重流行病的热点地区，整个区域的死亡率和发病率都很高，对各国经济产生重大影响，并对全球卫生产生重大影响。尽管在区域一级作出了持续努力，但关键问题仍然存在，例如在发生跨界疫情时缺乏快速沟通和协调的有效渠道。对区域合作的详细研究将为改进区域方案的设计和执行提供参考，包括就如何更有效地分配稀缺资源提供咨询意见。

There is growing awareness that transnational expert networks can contribute to improved health and human development, with the potential to address many challenges that increasingly transcend national boundaries, such as infectious disease control and environmental issues. In recent years, particular emphasis has been placed on networks for South-South cooperation, understood as a process whereby two or more developing countries pursue their individual or collective development through cooperative exchange of knowledge, skills, resources and technical expertise. Indeed, it is recognised that this approach can contribute not only to more sustainable pathways to development, but can also produce knowledge that is better suited to local contexts, as well as positive externalities such as political stability, enhanced sense of ownership, self-reliance and independence.Yet, researchers who have begun to examine the actual working of such networks have identified problems that may hinder effective and meaningful cooperation, including issues of influence, trust, power, cross-cultural communication, and differential access to resources.This project aims to gain a better understanding of these issues and the ways in which they may affect knowledge exchange and network dynamics. As a case study, the project will examine disease surveillance networks in the Mekong basin of Southeast Asia - a region that has been the target of innovative experiments in international health and development, in a context of rapid economic changes.This project also aims to have a tangible public health impact. The Mekong Region is a vital economic resource for the livelihood of rural communities in Southeast Asia, characterised by intense mobility of migrant workers and traded goods. It is also a hotspot of severe epidemics, including multidrug-resistant malaria and avian influenza, with high mortality and morbidity rates throughout the region, significant effects on national economies, and important implications for global health. Despite sustained efforts at the regional level, key problems remain such as the lack of effective channels for rapid communication and coordination in the event of cross-border outbreaks. The detailed study of regional cooperation will provide indications to inform the design and implementation of improved regional programmes, including advice on how to achieve more efficient allocation of scarce resources.