New strategies to respond pandemic announced

Jakarta, June 30, 2009 - KOMNAS FBPI - The Indonesian government introduced new strategies to cope with pandemic influenza and halting the spread of the A H1N1 novel virus. 

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie is establishing a command and control post to enhance multisectoral coordination that will focus on engaging non health sector to be more active in responding the pandemic. 

The post will be led by his deputy for health, population and environment, Dr. Emil Agustiono, who is known as an expert in disaster mitigation. He is also deputy chief executive of the National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Pandemic Preparedness. The post is established to monitor report and coordinate the emergency response as a means of tackling the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, and support similar posts set up by the health ministry. 

"This is an effort to respond and minimize the impact of the global pandemic threat," said Dr. Agustiono at his new-erected command and control post at the office of the coordinating ministry of people's welfare. Representatives from international partners and donor countries pledge to support the post when they attended the soft launching of the post. 

Mr. Bakrie also introduced a new regulation that would require passengers arriving on international flights to use masks to reduce the risks of the swine flu outbreak. The new regulation was announced after a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare on Monday, chaired by Minister Aburizal Bakrie. Health and Transportation Ministers also attended the meeting. 

Under the regulation, passengers arriving on international flights will be required to wear masks until three days after they arrive in Indonesia. The government will provide the masks in all international airports in Indonesia. The measure was taken after six more people were tested positive with the virus since early this month, adding the Indonesia's number of cases to eight. 

The Transportation Ministry said it will call for hotels and shopping centers to provide masks and disinfectants to curb the outbreak.