Brunei And Malaysia Enhance Health Links
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia are exploring areas of cooperation in health. This was revealed during the 2nd Bilateral Working Group Meeting on Health between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, which took place at the Rizqun International Hotel.

In his welcoming remarks, the head of Brunei's delegation, Dr Haji Affendy Bin POKSM DSP Haji Abidin. the Director General of Medical Services, said "As stated in the joint statement of the 3rd Bilateral Ministers of Health Meeting, this meeting will discuss on further strengthening the existing mechanisms and to explore ways for timely information sharing as well as further enhance cooperation and collaboration in the Joint Work Plans which was formulated during the 1st Bilateral technical working group meeting between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia held in Miri."

"The 3rd Bilateral Meeting on Health between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia has also agreed on the proposal to explore potential partnerships in health promotion, especially in addressing the problems of diabetes and obesity in both countries as well as to share national preparedness plans and simulation exercises in addressing threats of pandemic influenza and Avian influenza."

Describing the relationship between the two countries, Dr Hj Affendy said, "Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia have a long history of cooperation on health matters and this meeting continues to build on the mutual benefit of the people of both countries."

On the areas of cooperation, he said, "Today's Bilateral Technical Meeting will consequently give us an opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation on issues related to communicable disease surveillance and control, food safety and quality control, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics control, tobacco product control, human resources development and cross border transfer of patients. In addition, the meeting will also present and discuss other health issues of mutual concern including traditional/complementary medicine and cancer."

A speech was also delivered by Dr Abdul Rashid Bin Kasri, Deputy Director (Non-Communicable Diseases) of Malaysia's Ministry of Health in his capacity as the head of the Malaysian delegation. He said, "During the 3rd Bilateral Meeting, both Health Ministers from Brunei and Malaysia had agreed that the Joint Technical Working Group facilitates and implements the areas of cooperation that had been agreed upon during the 1st Technical Working Group meeting and convene annually. In order to achieve this, we need to ensure that the identified work plans are being implemented, monitored and strengthened."

The new areas of cooperation, he outlined, are sharing information on hand, foot and mouth disease, to explore potential partnership in health promotion, especially in diabetes mellitus and obesity, to share national preparedness plan and simulation exercise and to commence proposals in the area of traditional and complementary medicine. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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