Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.kuenselonline.com/2010/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=19827
tour bhutan
Pandemic preparedness plan ready
22 June, 2011 - Bhutan is now be prepared, mentally and on paper to handle any influenza outbreaks.
What it has is the final draft of a multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness plan that has the roles and responsibilities of each sector chalked out.
Today the country has no equipments and materials in place at the public health laboratory to detect the virus strain when there is a new disease outbreak.
In a high level sensitisation meeting yesterday, officials said a more strong plan is needed for immediate action even though Bhutan might have done ?quite well? in the past.
The multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness planning supports national, local and sectoral capacities to ensure preparedness towards potential pandemic threats to avoid possible severe impacts on health and well being of people.
After an hour long presentation on the responsibilities of each agency, the participants were left confused especially on the plans? implementation.
Health secretary Dasho (Dr) Gado Tshering said the plans needed specifications on how resources would be utilised. ?How will the virus strain be detected??he asked.
Multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness specialist Batsaikhan Zagdragchaa said having plans in place doesn?t mean Bhutan has to have everything in place to deal with any disease out break.
?It doesn?t mean we buy and store all equipments now,? he said. ?We are just prepared for future pandemics.?
Citing an example of a doctor who will not know how to detect a virus immediately during a pandemic even if there are laboratory test kits, the preparedness plan would provided guidelines to help conduct the detection.
?Just the plan alone will not make sense and perform all function,? he said. ?There are many guidelines to assist plans.?
The budget during pandemic periods would be finalised only after the ratification of the Disaster Management bill, director of department of disaster management Namgay Wangchuk said.
Budget mobilisation for this project are of three types, he said, which are His Majesty?s relief fund, emergency mitigation fund and emergency response fund.
By Nirmala Pokhrel
tour bhutan
Pandemic preparedness plan ready
22 June, 2011 - Bhutan is now be prepared, mentally and on paper to handle any influenza outbreaks.
What it has is the final draft of a multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness plan that has the roles and responsibilities of each sector chalked out.
Today the country has no equipments and materials in place at the public health laboratory to detect the virus strain when there is a new disease outbreak.
In a high level sensitisation meeting yesterday, officials said a more strong plan is needed for immediate action even though Bhutan might have done ?quite well? in the past.
The multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness planning supports national, local and sectoral capacities to ensure preparedness towards potential pandemic threats to avoid possible severe impacts on health and well being of people.
After an hour long presentation on the responsibilities of each agency, the participants were left confused especially on the plans? implementation.
Health secretary Dasho (Dr) Gado Tshering said the plans needed specifications on how resources would be utilised. ?How will the virus strain be detected??he asked.
Multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness specialist Batsaikhan Zagdragchaa said having plans in place doesn?t mean Bhutan has to have everything in place to deal with any disease out break.
?It doesn?t mean we buy and store all equipments now,? he said. ?We are just prepared for future pandemics.?
Citing an example of a doctor who will not know how to detect a virus immediately during a pandemic even if there are laboratory test kits, the preparedness plan would provided guidelines to help conduct the detection.
?Just the plan alone will not make sense and perform all function,? he said. ?There are many guidelines to assist plans.?
The budget during pandemic periods would be finalised only after the ratification of the Disaster Management bill, director of department of disaster management Namgay Wangchuk said.
Budget mobilisation for this project are of three types, he said, which are His Majesty?s relief fund, emergency mitigation fund and emergency response fund.
By Nirmala Pokhrel