I don’t think it would be wise to depend on the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Health (MOH) to take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) from entering the country. The problem is too serious and complicated to risk leaving it to a department whose technical and human resources could not deal effectively with a fast-spreading and dangerous virus.
What is needed is for all relevant health bodies and other sectors including the National Guard, the Ministry of Defense and Aviation, the Department of Public Security, the universities and private hospitals to join forces with the MOH. The group should immediately draw up a comprehensive national strategy while using all its available resources to guard against the disease.
Past policies of denying and ignoring will do us no good and will only help any disease to spread further. The formation of a national commission to handle preventive medicine is an urgent necessity that should be delayed no further. The MOH either has no intention of doing anything or is unable to inject fresh ideas into its departments. Despite the willingness and enthusiasm of the minister himself, his ministry is unable to adjust to medical advances and developments in the fight against contagious diseases.
SARS is rapidly crossing all national borders. As soon as an aircraft from one of the infected countries lands here, it will have arrived in the Kingdom as well. The commission I have suggested should be given powers and be the only body authorized to give statements and enforce education and awareness strategies.
We are not dealing this time with Maltese fever, malaria or Rift Valley Fever. The situation will not admit of any delay or bureaucratic obfuscations. Red tape, whether in the form of complimentary addresses or committee bickering, has no place here. Along these lines, I call your attention to a meeting of the Department Joint Committee after which it took two months simply to approve the minutes because of changes and amendments that had to be introduced to satisfy all members!
Our experience with Maltese fever is another good example. The department proved totally incompetent by refusing to admit the number of cases or to accommodate opinions that contradicted its policy.
We have highly qualified personnel to handle contagious diseases. All we need is to have them operate under one body and provide them the resources required to do the job.
Arab News From the Local Press 23 April 2003
