RIYADH: Arab countries will adopt a unified plan to fight the spread of the H1N1 virus in the region. Spelling out the recommendations made at a meeting of Arab health ministers in Riyadh yesterday, Saudi Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who chaired the session at the Royal Conference Palace here, said the plan would be based on measures adopted by the Kingdom and other nations in the region.
The ministers recommended the formation of a committee comprising experts to frame the regional plan to combat the swine flu virus. The ministers requested all member countries to make it a priority issue and take early preventive measures.
They urged people traveling from infected regions to Arab countries to cooperate with the quarantine officials at airports and the airline crew to carry out their duties. They also advised people traveling to the affected countries to exercise extra caution since they will be prone to infection.
Emphasizing the need for quick exchange of information on the flu, the ministers recommended the appointment of a liaison officer in each member country to coordinate activities. The officer will in turn coordinate with international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Atlanta-based US Center for Disease Control.
The meeting decided to launch an awareness campaign in all member countries to educate their citizens about causes of the disease, treatment available and preventive measures. The campaign should be carried out with the cooperation of the media, the ministers said.
The member countries will stock up adequate quantities of antiviral drugs to meet any emergencies. The local manufacturers should be encouraged to produce such medicines.
A general secretariat will be set up to monitor developments and coordinate activities. The ministers decided to study the possibility of establishing a regional station to monitor the spread of diseases and imminent natural disasters.
Earlier in his opening address, Al-Rabeeah said the meeting was summoned on a directive from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah who was keen about a joint Arab action plan to fight the virus.
Al-Rabeeah told the ministers that the Saudi Health Ministry has taken all precautionary measures to confront the epidemic. He noted that an integrated national plan was set and based on the recommendations of WHO and the US Center for Disease Control. He said the virus is posing a real challenge to the world as the disease has spread in 21 countries and affected more than 1,400 people.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Bahrain decided to distribute swine-flu brochures at the King Fahd Causeway in an effort to educate the public.
“These brochures will be distributed at the causeway and at all entry points to the country,” Health Ministry spokesman Adel Abdullah said in Manama.
The brochures printed in Arabic and English explain precautionary measures to be taken to avoid any outbreak. Officials said they were also targeting travel agencies and schools for the awareness drive.
“We have also set up three hotlines that will work from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day to assist people regarding queries about the flu. Our operators will be ready to guide them and educate callers about the disease,” Abdullah said.
Members of the Health Emergency Committee to deal with the flu met with their GCC counterparts in Riyadh yesterday where they discussed to use media to spread awareness about the virus. It was also recommended information be exchanged within the region of any suspicion cases or treatment processes. Bahrain authorities have implemented their action plan to deal with the disease with thermal cameras operational at the airport to screen travelers. Last week, Bahrain was the first country in the GCC to register its first swine flu suspected case. The American traveler was later tested negative.
