UAE National committee on H1N1 holds meeting

UAE Minister of Health and Chairman of the Supervisory Committee on Combating H1N1 (swine flu) Humaid al-Qattami yesterday stressed that the UAE's leadership gives the highest priority to the health and the safety of the community.
This, he said, include, among other things, providing all capabilities and resources for protection from all diseases and endemics including H1N1.
He underscored coordination and cooperation among all relevant local and federal authorities to counter the disease.
Al-Qattami made his remarks as he chairs the Committee's meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss the measures recently taken to counter H1N1. representatives of several bodies including National Media Council (NMC), the National Crisis Management Committee, Ministry of Water and Environment, Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi and health authorities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
At the meeting, the Minister announced the launch of a dedicated website for the Ministry's daily bulletin which will post the latest updates, information and news on H1N1 in both Arabic and English. A link to the bulletin will be placed on the websites of WAM, National Media Council (NMC) and other relevant governmental bodies.
The committee approved an emergency plan which provides for continuous contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Executive Bureau of Ministers of Health of member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Al-Qattami quoted WHO as saying that eating pork has not been yet proved as a way of transmitting H1N1 to humans.
The committee also discussed the strategic stocks of antiviral medicines for flu treatment and flu prevention as well as a report prepared by Technical Health Committee on Combating H1N1. The committee has designed a guidebook for hospitals on preventing and treating H1N1.
The meeting tasked chairman of the National Crisis Management Committee Khalfan al-Rumaithi with running the crisis management team while NMC was tasked with carrying out the relevant media converge.