Threat Of Killer SARS Remains Warns Minister

Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei Health Minister, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar emphasised that while the killer disease SARS have been successfully contained, its threat remains.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had expressed its caution on the re-emergence of another SARS outbreak in the region during the winter season.

Brunei together with Malaysia, he said, must remain vigilant and use the breathing space to renew both efforts to build up the National Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Response Systems to better respond to any disease outbreak in the future.

Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar emphasised in his opening address that at the 1st bilateral meeting between Brunei and Malaysia on health yesterday at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Jerudong.

Pehin Abu Bakar further said, in the context of both countries, Brunei and Malaysia must take the opportunity to strengthen both information exchange and networking not only for SARS but also for other communicable diseases of public health importance.

Collaboration to strengthen capacity to prevent and control SARS and other new emerging infectious diseases especially in epidemiological surveillance and diagnostic, laboratory support also should be consider.

The two days bilateral meeting agreed to implement recommendations expressed comprehensively relating to the six main issues namely, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases surveillance and control food safety and quality control, pharmaceuticals and cosmetic control tobacco product control, human resource development and cross-border transfer of patients.

The meeting also agreed to establish joint technical working committee/groups and to develop protocols and procedures of the joint work plans.

The bilateral meeting discussed issues on SARS prevention and control activities, as well as other health matters such as management of future outbreaks of SARS, dengue fever and food and water borne diseases, food quality control and safety, drug and cosmetic control, tobacco product control, manpower development, and cross border transfer of patients.

Pehin Abu Bakar mentioned about the proposal for memorandum of understanding in a media conference held after the meeting that it is to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Brunei and Malaysia on matters such as, the exchange of information in the field of health relating to epidemiology, technical and legislative matters, human resource, development, pharmaceuticals, carrying out of disease surveillance programs, control of outbreaks in communicable diseases and food quality control has also been discussed.

When asked about the envision for the long term implication of this bilateral meeting and the ensuing cooperation for both countries, the Malaysian Health, Dato Chua Dingmeng hopes that friendship between Malaysia and Brunei will be deepen in the field of health and medicine and to maximise the policies and strategies that will benefit health status for the people of Malaysia and Brunei.

Among others, the meeting expressed its deep concerns about the regional and global threats and consequences of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, in particulate Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The meeting reaffirmed the collective commitments in combating the challenges including timely information sharing, exchange of expertise, establishing networks, epidemiological surveillance, increased laboratory capacity and the development of diagnostic technology for SARS detection.

It also expressed the desire to enhance cooperation in managing communicable diseases by strengthening current cooperation especially in cross-border epidemiological surveillance through the development of a joint work plan.

It also supporting towards the implementation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and agreed on the exchange of information and capacity building in the area, of smoking cessation programme and tobacco control as well as other areas of health promotion.

It is fully, aware that the future challenges in the health services require improvements in human resource, development to ensure the well-being of respective populations of both countries. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei 

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