Commonground
Senior Moderator
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World health body sets up surveys
Thursday, May 15, 2008
THE World Health Organisation's South Pacific office is helping several regional countries establish national Infectious Disease Surveillance Systems, says WHO representative Dr Chen Ken.
Dr Ken said it meant when a disease outbreak occurred in the future, the framework would be in place to diagnose, control and eradicate it.
He said this was important as Pacific island countries were often vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious diseases.
He said WHO was committed to helping the Pacific develop the most efficient systems for dealing with such outbreaks.
Dr Chen said in Fiji, WHO had helped with the investigation and control of infections in the neo-natal intensive care unit of several hospitals.
He said the outbreaks were often difficult to bring under control because new-born babies have very little resistance to infection.
"WHO helped improve the guidelines for nursing staff so that they use the latest international standard. It also brought in emergency supplies of hand disinfectants and IV fluids to quickly help bring the situation under control," he said.
"Also, WHO and the Ministry of Health are setting up a national influenza surveillance system which will help improve the ability to detect epidemics and contribute to global influenza control efforts.
"This is all the more important because of the threat of avian influenza (bird flu) which is circulating in Asia and could spread to the Pacific."
Dr Chen said dengue fever was another disease that was on the increase in the world.
Fiji Times
World health body sets up surveys
Thursday, May 15, 2008
THE World Health Organisation's South Pacific office is helping several regional countries establish national Infectious Disease Surveillance Systems, says WHO representative Dr Chen Ken.
Dr Ken said it meant when a disease outbreak occurred in the future, the framework would be in place to diagnose, control and eradicate it.
He said this was important as Pacific island countries were often vulnerable to outbreaks of infectious diseases.
He said WHO was committed to helping the Pacific develop the most efficient systems for dealing with such outbreaks.
Dr Chen said in Fiji, WHO had helped with the investigation and control of infections in the neo-natal intensive care unit of several hospitals.
He said the outbreaks were often difficult to bring under control because new-born babies have very little resistance to infection.
"WHO helped improve the guidelines for nursing staff so that they use the latest international standard. It also brought in emergency supplies of hand disinfectants and IV fluids to quickly help bring the situation under control," he said.
"Also, WHO and the Ministry of Health are setting up a national influenza surveillance system which will help improve the ability to detect epidemics and contribute to global influenza control efforts.
"This is all the more important because of the threat of avian influenza (bird flu) which is circulating in Asia and could spread to the Pacific."
Dr Chen said dengue fever was another disease that was on the increase in the world.
Fiji Times