'Avian Influenza Still A Cause For Concern'
By Lyna Mohamad
Bandar Seri Begawan - "The current global issue that is of great concern to us all is the threat of avian influenza and pandemic influenza."
This was stated by the The Brunei minister added that while the threat of SARS has been successfully contained, the threat of other public health issues remains. "It is imperative that we build up our national disease surveillance and outbreak response system, not only to prepare ourselves for the threat of avian influenza and pandemic influenza but also to respond to any disease outbreak and new emerging infectious diseases," he said.
"Apart from emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, we should also consider collaboration to strengthen capacity to prevent and control non-communicable diseases and their modifiable risk factors such as obesity and smoking," Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi said.
He acknowledged the threat of lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes that have huge implications on healthcare costs, adding that a forum on obesity was discussed during the SOM last Wednesday. Currently Brunei and Malaysia have extensive collaborations in health, encompassing areas such as disease control, food safety, pharmaceuticals, manpower development and patient referrals, reflecting the spirit of cooperation based on mutual respects, neighbourliness and mutual benefits, the minister concluded.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Minister of Health Dato' Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek echoed the Brunei Health Minister's view in his speech.
"We are living in a region where there have been many outbreaks of diseases that have left an enormous impact on the health and socio-economic situation in the region," - Dato' Chua said.
"In addition, there are threatss from newly emerging diseases that neither know nor respect boundaries. Therefore, there is a constant need for both countries to cooperate with the aim of strengthening surveillance by developing intelligent and efficient surveillance systems," the Malaysian Health Minister said
This means improving surveillance for diseases in animals and humans, field investigations and diagnostics. As the two countries have many common aspects due to their similar geographical features, weather and people, occurrences of diseases peculiar to both countries would also be common, he added.
Dato' Chua noted that the signing of the MoU on health between the two countries yesterday would take them to a higher level of cooperation and mark another milestone in the cordial relationship.
As neighbours with common borders and faced with common challenges, it is only natural for the two countries to, work together, and the MoU marks a new and important step towards that direction, he added.
-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin, 24 November 2006
