Bali urged to be ready to face flu pandemic

Luh De Suryani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Sanur   |  Tue, 05/19/2009 3:10 PM  |  The Archipelago

The National Commission for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness expects Bali and other provinces to be ready to face an influenza pandemic, including the influenza A-H1N1 virus by conducting a pandemic handling simulation.

"Malaysia has confirmed two cases of H1N1 influenza," the commission vice chairman, Emil Agustino, told reporters Monday.

"Indonesian has to take prompt action to prevent the virus from spreading throughout the country."

He was speaking at a workshop on influenza pandemic held in Sanur until Thursday.

Emil said the government had allocated Rp 70 billion (US$6.73 million) to a multi-sectoral fund taken from eight ministries, in order to implement various prevention and preparedness programs for a flu pandemic.

The fund includes Rp 38 billion from the national commission.

"We do not have enough funds to assist pig farmers who are reportedly suffering huge losses because of the news of H1N1 flu outbreak," said Emil.

Bali has been viewed as one of Indonesia's most vulnerable spots to the spread of the H1N1 influenza.

"There is a mistaken belief the disease comes from pork," Emil said.

"As long as it *pork* is well-cooked, people may consume pork dishes."

The workshop, which has been organized in cooperation with the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), covers prevention methods for as well as individuals' preparedness to a global influenza pandemic.

The workshop program includes simulation activities involving officials from transportation agencies and other related institutions from Bali, Java, Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi.

Preventive actions against the spreading of H1N1 Influenza are focused on some important entrance gates like the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten and the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Tuban, Bali.

"The mechanism of the prevention program started with the installment of thermal scanner machines and the distribution of health alert cards to international guests," said Emil.

The commission, he said, will conduct a survey in every province in Indonesia.

"Indonesia has yet to impose travel bans to countries already affected by H1N1, including Mexico," he said.

"This is because the disease's mortality level is very low, less than 1 percent of the total H1N1 influenza cases.

"We have only issued travel advice to people wanting to go abroad, especially to Mexico."

Meanwhile, UNICEF communication specialist Suzanna Dayne said around 50,000 schools in Indonesia would receive educational material about the influenza pandemic.

"School programs are very important when it comes to improving students' awareness of the influenza pandemic," she said.

According to research, around 30 percent of people who use the word "pandemic" do not understand what it means.

She added it was quite difficult to increase people's awareness of the dangers of the influenza pandemic.

Many people think it is a common flu when in fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been worrying about the possible emergence of a new deadlier strand of influenza.

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