Bandar Seri Begawan - All sectors must be ready and their preparations coordinated in dealing with the current Influenza A (H1N1) and the threat of future viruses, which could have a deadlier impact than the current one.

Speaking at a workshop on Business Continuity Planning (BCP), Senior Planning Officer of UN Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for Asia-Pacific Ingo Neu highlighted the importance of multi-sector preparedness.

'H1N1 is only the beginning, it's just a matter of time when the next virus comes," he said, adding that the latter could be a more serious threat than H1N1.

Aside from developing a National Pandemic (and Response) Plan, Neu said that the sectors, particularly the critical sectors, need to have their own plans to complement the national plan.

In order to achieve this multi-sector preparedness, key service providers and actors, including the regulators in all sectors, need to develop their BCPs. To assure that the sectoral BCP is developed accordingly, a lead agency needs to be assigned with roles and responsibility to guide and monitor the process in the respective sector.

A system also needs to be set-up to bring the key actors together and identify what they need to develop the plans. Monitoring these plans and testing them was also essential in the process.

Neu said that it was not a bad idea to start from the basics as common sense could be used to cover various aspects of the planning. "You need to have a plan that you can implement and use, but the important issue is to test existing plans," he said.

"Plans are mainly based on assumptions so you need to test these plans to see if they actually work".

"So this is not necessarily rocket science, you can put it together by the end of the year before the second wave happens and you will have 'fluid-sector preparedness," he added.

Neu explained that the work-shop was more to give the participants, whom comprised representatives from the critical services sectors such as food, energy and health services, a better idea of what needs to be done.

However, a one-day work-shop would not suffice in giving them enough knowledge on how to set up their BCPs, he noted, adding that they had to continuously develop and further their knowledge.

If you achieve multi-sector preparedness, you will be assessed by international bodies as "very well prepared," he explained.

He also said that this planning and implementation of best practices would also serve as an opportune time to inculcate the good hygiene and safety culture.

The one-day workshop also saw a presentation on Business Continuity Management for Senior Management by President of Business Continuity Management Institute Singapore Goh Moh Heng.

The workshop was held at the Orchid Garden Hotel.

-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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