Pehin Hazair.

There is an urgent need to share experiences and lessons that have been learnt to counter the threat of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and the resurgence of infectious diseases such as dengue, malaria and tuberculosis, which are endemic in the region.

Brunei's Acting Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Paduka Hj Awg Hazair, added the threat due to breaches in safety and quality of food and drugs circulating in the region has also prompted us in BIMST member countries to work together in strengthening each other's capacity in surveillance, control and monitoring of these unsafe products.

The acting minister spoke yesterday at the 12th Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand (BIMST) Public Health Conference 2006.

"Working together is indeed no longer a luxury but a necessity in a globalised and competitive world where infectious diseases do not recognise national boundaries.

"Through close cooperation and collaboration, regionally and internationally, countries are able to learn fast through the exchange of information and experiences in the formulation of plans of action, managing the limited resources within their control effectively and enhancing their expertise in the event of an outbreak of infectious diseases," he said.

Pehin Hj Hazair also said the ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza (H5N1) in poultry and humans in the region is of great concern. These occurrences pose a significant threat to public health with the potential of developing into an influenza pandemic.

The threat necessitates the formulation of action plans to be put in place in preparedness to address the challenges posed by the pandemics. Given the potential impact of the pandemic beyond health, countries in the region will have to work together particularly in the area of capacity building, he added.

Pehin Hj Hazair said public health is also threatened by disasters whether natural or man-made including tsunamis, earthquakes and haze episodes affecting the region.

"We must therefore continue to persevere in our efforts to prevent, where possible, and to mitigate the impacts of such phenomena. This can be done through cooperation across borders and providing assistance when required."

Earlier, Datin Paduka Dr. Hjh Intan, Director-General of Health Services, as the chairperson, said BIMST conferences have been a useful forum for officials to meet annually to strengthen ties and discuss health matters that benefit all through common insights into the regional situation as well as prevention and control of mutual public health problems.

During the opening, Dr Wang Wanjei, Medical Officer for World Health Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila outlined on the HPAI Avian Influenza situation where from 2003 until November 2005, 55 countries have been affected.

From Nov 2003 to 2nd Nov 2006, 256 cases of H5N1 cases have been reported with 152 deaths, the highest in Indonesia with 55.

Fifty countries have reported HPAI outbreak in poultry or wild birds in 2006. Forty eight per cent are from the European region, 26 per cent in Asia, 32 per cent occurred in wild birds and 24 per cent in domestic poultry.

He also highlighted global strategies on reducing human infection, strengthen early warning systems, delay the spread at the source as well as pandemic preparedness to reduce morbidity, mortality and social disruption.

The two-day conference is attended by 70 delegates and observers including seven from Brunei.