Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Armed Forces Ready to Handle Pandemic
Posted on: Friday, 15 August 2008, 00:00 CDT
KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces will emerge as a major player in giving assistance in case of pandemic influenza, as it has done in times of national disasters and outbreaks.
Armed forces health service director-general Lt-Gen Datuk Dr Sulaiman Abdullah said it was well prepared to assist, be it in terms of human resources, transportation, handling and containing the spread of disease.
"Our experiences in handling major activities during the Nipah virus outbreak and engaging in many non-military operations and exercises have allowed us to develop our own strategies in confronting any outbreak of diseases."
He was speaking after the launch of a three-day seminar on pandemic influenza by United States ambassador to Malaysia James Keith on Tuesday. The event is co-sponsored by the Malaysian and American military.
Keith noted the strong cooperation between Malaysia's public health department's disease control division and its US counterpart.
He said the seminar would give participants an opportunity to share ideas and efforts in preparing for pandemic influenza in the Asia Pacific region.
US Marine Forces Pacific commander Lt-Gen John Goodman said that Asia Pacific countries had made great progress in their preparedness for such an outbreak.
"Even Vietnam and Cambodia have made extraordinary efforts to prepare and combat such an outbreak," he said.
Goodman was impressed with Malaysia's National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan and how the government had roped in all the relevant agencies.
(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health...to_handle_pandemic/index.html?source=r_health
Posted on: Friday, 15 August 2008, 00:00 CDT
KUALA LUMPUR: The armed forces will emerge as a major player in giving assistance in case of pandemic influenza, as it has done in times of national disasters and outbreaks.
Armed forces health service director-general Lt-Gen Datuk Dr Sulaiman Abdullah said it was well prepared to assist, be it in terms of human resources, transportation, handling and containing the spread of disease.
"Our experiences in handling major activities during the Nipah virus outbreak and engaging in many non-military operations and exercises have allowed us to develop our own strategies in confronting any outbreak of diseases."
He was speaking after the launch of a three-day seminar on pandemic influenza by United States ambassador to Malaysia James Keith on Tuesday. The event is co-sponsored by the Malaysian and American military.
Keith noted the strong cooperation between Malaysia's public health department's disease control division and its US counterpart.
He said the seminar would give participants an opportunity to share ideas and efforts in preparing for pandemic influenza in the Asia Pacific region.
US Marine Forces Pacific commander Lt-Gen John Goodman said that Asia Pacific countries had made great progress in their preparedness for such an outbreak.
"Even Vietnam and Cambodia have made extraordinary efforts to prepare and combat such an outbreak," he said.
Goodman was impressed with Malaysia's National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan and how the government had roped in all the relevant agencies.
(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
http://www.redorbit.com/news/health...to_handle_pandemic/index.html?source=r_health