Joint statement released on "Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever" achievements during the 2nd anniversary of China-Honduras diplomatic relations

Chairman LEUNG Chun-ying led a delegation to Honduras to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras. The delegation joined Honduran Vice President Doris GUTIÉRREZ, Foreign Minister Eduardo Enrique REINA, Chinese Ambassador to Honduras YU Bo, and CEO Professor CHAN Ying-yang Emily at a celebratory reception for China-Honduras bilateral relations. In his address, Chairman LEUNG highlighted the fruitful cooperation achieved over the past two years, noting significant progress in trade, infrastructure, and healthcare collaboration that has injected new vitality into Honduras' economic development. "Honduran coffee and seafood have become premium ingredients for Chinese consumers", LEUNG stated, "while high-quality Chinese goods have entered countless Honduran households".

On the same day, under the auspices of Foreign Minister REINA, GX Foundation and the Honduran Ministry of Health jointly held a results presentation on their "Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever". CEO, Professor CHAN Ying-yang Emily, and Honduran Vice Minister of Regulation at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Brian ERAZO, shared project outcomes and issued the following joint statement:

In March 2024, on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Honduras, GX Foundation, an NGO established in Hong Kong, China, announced its preparation to launch the “Project for Health Protection against Dengue Fever" (the Project) in Honduras in collaboration with the Honduran Ministry of Health (MoH).

In June 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to launch the Project which marked the first collaboration between the two countries in the medical and public health fields.

The Project focuses on suppressing the mosquito population to reduce the risk of dengue infection by use of physical means and communication strategies to combat dengue, such as mosquito lamps, bed nets, fly traps, and early detection of infection through Rapid Dengue Tests (RDT) to allow early isolation and clinical management of infected individuals.

To date, GX has donated 148,000 RDT kits, 100,000 bed nets, 12,000 mosquito lamps, 200,000 rolls of fly traps, and a substantial amount of educational materials to the Honduran MoH. These supplies were distributed to medical facilities across all 18 provinces of Honduras. Additionally, GX donated electronic and other communication and IT equipment for the MoH to monitor and respond to the changing threats of the epidemic in the various parts of the country.

Actual impacts of the Project combined with community-based engagement strategies were:

1. 82% reduction in dengue cases between Q3 and Q4 2024, bringing the number of cases back to pre-emergency levels within 8 weeks of the peak.

2. 18% weekly decrease in new dengue cases in 2024, a significant improvement compared to the 7% weekly decrease recorded during the 2019 outbreak.

3. 25% drop in overall dengue incidence per 100,000 population in Francisco Morazán, the department with the highest density of GX mosquito lamps (155 lamps per 100,000 population), compared to the same period during the 2019 outbreak.

4. Compared to the 2019 outbreak, proportion of patients with severe dengue dropped by 91.3%, preventing 23,780 severe cases. Percentage of deaths also decreased by 35.7%, despite higher dengue incidence in 2024.

5. Compared to neighbouring countries:

a. Honduras experienced only a 23% rise in incidence rate, while neighbouring countries saw increases of up to +260% compared to 2024.

b. Honduras lowered its severe dengue proportions by 13.43%, while neighbouring countries maintained similar rates to the 2019 outbreak.

c. Honduras achieved a 230% faster reduction in cases than El Salvador, which experienced its dengue peak at the same time (week 32 in 2024).

In view of the significant contribution of the Project as a response to and control of the 2024 dengue outbreak, GX Foundation and the Honduran MoH hereby agree to continue their cooperation as stipulated in the aforesaid MoU.