Minister of Health chairs meeting of the supervisory committee to combat H1N1

Abu Dhabi, Aug 4, 2009 (WAM) - Minister of Health HE Dr. Hanif Hassan chaired yesterday a meeting of the supervisory committee to combat H1N1 disease in the country. The meeting reviewed the progress of the preventive measures and awareness creation campaigns adopted by the health authorities nationwide.
The committee called on all the hospitals and healthcare institutions to adhere to the directives issues by the Health Ministry in this regard. It also warned that the ministry will take legal actions against any healthcare institution if it failed to fall in line with the ministerial directives as per the Federal Law No.270/1981 pertaining to prevention of epidemics.
The committee also reviewed a detailed report of the current global situation in dealing with the pandemic as well as the measures recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The committee observed that WHO, as well as many countries including USA has stopped announcing the number of influenza infections, as a large number of suspected cases do not necessitate treatment. These countries also do not adopt isolation of patients and treat them by way of dispensing medications, while the doctors make house calls asking the family members of the patient to wear protective masks and receive necessary vaccinations; the committee noted.
The committee also stressed the need for continuing strict adherence to the measures introduced at the country's entry ports. These measures are adopted as a preventive method against the possible threat of the spread of the disease and will continue until the reasons are over, said the committee.