HDSS-Asia Network

SEACO became a founding member of the Asian-HDSS network in March 2020. First Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS)- Asia networking meeting was conducted at Alila Bangsar Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. The meeting aimed to gather the HDSS representatives (Malaysia, Viet Nam, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia) and to reflect upon the importance of the HDSS Network in Asia and to explore means in strengthening regional collaborations.

First Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS)- Asia networking meeting was conducted on 5th March 2020 at Alila Bangsar Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. Funding for the networking meeting was supported by Asia Pacific Observatory on Health System and Policies, WHO South East Asia Office.

Representatives from WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, United Nation University-International Institute for Global Health, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, icddrb) and directors of following HDSS attended the meeting and formed the working group for the establishment of the HDSS Asia Network.

  1. Prof Tin Tin Su (SEACO, Malaysia)
  2. Dr. Sanjay Juvekar (Vadu HDSS, India)
  3. Dr. Quyen Tu Bui (representative of Prof Hoang Van Minh) (Chililab HDSS, Vietnam)
  4. Associate Professor Dr Fatwa Sari Tetra Dewi (Slemann HDSS, Indonesia)
  5. Dr S.M. Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi (Matlab, Bangladesh)

The working group identified the value of Asian Network to the individual HDSS, region and countries, funders and external stakeholders. By drawing on lessons from INDEPTH Network, formulation of constitution and governance were also discussed. Further actions include drafting and signing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Memorandum of Agreement (MOA); Mapping of data and identifying areas of interest for joint manuscripts write up and funding application for research collaboration; and Harmonising data of “regional importance”.

HDSS-Asia Network Meeting

HDSS-Asia Network Meeting at Kuala Lumpur 5 March 2020

HDSS-Asia MOU execution

Five Asian Academic and Research Institutes, representing seven HDSS, had signed an MOU in April 2021.

  • Hanoi University of Public Health [Chililab HDSS]
  • International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr.b), [Matlab HDSS, Chakaria HDSS, and Dhaka Urban HDSS]
  • KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India [Vadu HDSS]
  • Monash University Malaysia, Malaysia [South East Asia Community Observatory-SEACO HDSS]
  • Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sekip Yogyakarta, Indonesia [Sleman HDSS]

Areas of Collaboration

The Member Sites will mutually identify, discuss and decide appropriate areas of interest and collaboration, depending on site priorities and interest. Researchers from each site will provide technical input, advice and collaborate on specific studies and activities. These study areas may include but are not limited to the following broad areas:

  • Surveillance studies
  • Illness and risk-factor burden studies such as cohort studies
  • Health intervention studies and implementation science research
  • Social and behavioural studies
  • Health Technology Assessment

HDSS-Asia sites

HDSS-Asia sites (Seven HDSS covers 600,000 population)