Indonesia: Non-medical sectors told to be prepared for bird flu pandemic

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/...ctors-told-be-prepared-bird-flu-pandemic.html

Non-medical sectors told to be prepared for bird flu pandemic

Panca Nugraha , The Jakarta Post , Mataram | Wed, 01/28/2009 3:23 PM | The Archipelago

Preparations for a possible bird flu pandemic must involve sectors outside the health field, for sound cooperation to help mitigate the pandemic's impacts, a top official warned Tuesday.

"All sectors have to possess plans on pandemic preparedness, including the private sector and community groups," said Bayu Krisnamurthi, executive director of the National Commission on Bird Flu Preparedness.

"There is no single country in the world fully ready to face the global pandemic, including Indonesia."

Bayu, who is also deputy for fisheries, maritime affairs and agriculture to the coordinating minister for the economy, was speaking at a regional workshop for Bali and East and West Nusa Tenggara provinces, at the Jayakarta Hotel in Mataram.

Similar workshops will be held in nine other cities involving 14 provinces in Java, Papua and Sumatra islands. The workshop on simulated responses to a bird flu pandemic was supported by the national commission and UNICEF.

West Nusa Tenggara Secretary Abdul Malik said in his address that Tuesday's workshop could be followed up by the drafting of a memorandum of understanding on a handling mechanism for a possible pandemic, "especially since the three provinces have signed an MOU on the acceleration of development in the region during East Nusa Tenggara's golden anniversary on Dec. 20."

 

[tropical]

Re: Non-medical sectors told to be prepared for bird flu pandemic

Re: Non-medical sectors told to be prepared for bird flu pandemic

#1:
"... All sectors have to possess plans ..."


It seems as an previously WHO 2005 guidelines postponed paperwork only ...

 

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Indonesia: Non-medical sectors told to be prepared for bird flu pandemic

NON HEALTH SECTOR GEAR UP FOR PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS

Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, January 27, 2009 - The Government of Indonesia has teamed up with regional administrations to launch a series of workshops aimed to help prepare the country for a pandemic.

KOMNAS FBPI, the National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness, is working in collaboration with UNICEF to conduct a series of ten workshops across the country.

Provincial secretary Abdul Malik said the workshop would help its administration to promote capacity in coping with a potential threat of pandemic flu�to rapidly formulate, finalize and test non health sectors' awareness and ability to mitigate the damage a pandemic could cause.



Government, private and community representatives from West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and Bali provinces are participating at the three-day workshop.

KOMNAS FBPI Chief Executive, Bayu Krisnamurthi stressed the importance of the workshop.

"We can never be fully prepared for a global pandemic, but we can do our best to reduce the impact of such an event and in doing so save lives," said Mr. Krisnamurthi.

"It is important that all sectors have a plan in place," said Mr. Krisnamurthi. Should the pandemic emerges in Indonesia or a neighboring ASEAN country we can expect tens of thousands of people to be affected here. It would severely challenge both the government and private sector. Hospitals would be overrun with patients and schools and businesses would be forced to close. If that happens we need to decide how food and water will be distributed. We must look at how to maintain security and how we can maintain power, gas and telephone services. These are questions each sector must answer." he added.



The three-day workshop includes participants from Bali and NTT and is being hosted by the NTB provincial government .The project is part of UNICEF's pandemic preparedness program which is funded by the Canadian international Development Agency, CIDA.

"Children will be one of the most vulnerable groups in the event of a pandemic", that's why it is vital we work to reduce that threat", said Sinung Kristanto, head of UNICEF's field office.

Experts fear the current H5N1 avian influenza virus could mutate into a form that is easily transmitted between people. At the moment there is no cure. That's why pandemic preparedness has become an issue today. But experts also warn that another virulent virus could emerge at anytime.

The world bank estimates that the next pandemic could kill 71 million people worldwide with losses reaching $3trillion.

"We don't know when or where an outbreak will strike but experts agree we are due. That's why we must urge all public and private sectors to be prepared." added Mr.Krisnamurthi.



The Indonesian government has developed a pandemic preparedness plan in line with the global pandemic strategy. Indonesia works with the UN and other international agencies to mitigate the impact.


The West Nusa Tenggara provincial administration has stepped up efforts to promote pandemic preparedness within the region. It focuses on administrative and technical aspects, including a governor's decree on aivian influenza and assembling a provincial committee to control bird flu, a task force to fight zoonosis , strengthen coordination and scaling up communication.



For further information please contact


Khairul Anwar

West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Committee for Avian Influenza Control

08522 80 88 390



Dian Argarini

KOMNAS FBPI Media Officer

08177 880 25



Arie Rukmantara

UNICEF Indonesia Media Specialist

0818 147 670

http://www.komnasfbpi.go.id/berita_eng.php?id=64