Are we ready for H1N1 'worst-case scenario'?

HRH Crown Prince calls on all parties to be prepared to face any eventuality

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday questioned the country's preparedness with regards to the recent spread of Influenza A (H1N1), calling for all parties to be ready for the "worst-case scenario".

In the sabda made prior to the National Disaster Council Meeting at the Fire and Rescue Department headquarters, His Royal Highness said that even though we may feel that the situation is under control at the moment, we must be prepared for any eventuality, especially since no proven prevention measure, such as an effective vaccine, has been found yet.

"Are we prepared to face a sudden increase in infections (cases), which is much more than (initially) projected?" His Royal Highness asked. "What steps have been planned if the virus mutates and has greater potential to cause deaths?

"Do we have the logistical capacity and sufficient manpower to implement a mass quarantine?" His Royal Highness added.

These are the questions that we should be asking and contemplating, to which the answers will require the input, ideas and understanding of all the relevant agencies, His Royal Highness said.

As the chair of the National Disaster Council, His Royal Highness highlighted that the number of infected patients would continue to rise and this was a reality that has to be accepted and for the authorities to be ready to address.

His Royal Highness also said that the pandemic is also spreading domestically through the populace and no longer originates from only "import cases".

The Crown Prince spoke of the recent proactive efforts to curb the spread of H1N1 such as the week's closure of schools. It is expected of government agencies to carry out such efforts, to create effective coordinated action and to implement organised and systematic preventative steps, His Royal Highness said.

"Government agencies and the private sector need to prepare their own respective action plans, and at the same time, take preventative measures (such as) ensuring the office and its surroundings are clean and have adequate sanitation facilities," His Royal Highness said.

In the same regard, His Royal Highness added that the public also had its role in fulfilling their responsibility in hindering the spread of the outbreak in the country.

The success of the government's efforts will not be achieved without the involvement and cooperation of every level of society, His Royal Highness said.

"Primary agencies need to collaborate to establish a media centre that is always ready to disseminate the latest information regarding the status of this outbreak," His Royal Highness suggested.

"The dissemination of clear, accurate and concise information is the most effective means to ensure that the public takes advisory issued by the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies seriously."

His Royal Highness also said that screening and other examination procedures should be announced so that the public is not in doubt when it comes to (receiving) the treatment and medical steps which should be taken. ICT services such as SMS as well as the Internet and mass media such as radio and television should also be used to its optimum, His Royal Highness added.

The Crown Prince reiterated that only with such measures in place, the population would be prepared to practise the preventative measures to reduce the risk of infection.

"Therefore, this is where the role of everyone in this council lies: to together produce more ideas as well as share information and experience in gauging the capacity and effectiveness of the country's preparedness in addressing the disaster resulting from this H1N1 outbreak."

The Brunei Times