11TH MOH-AMM SCIENTIFIC MEETING (INCORPORATING THE 18TH NIH

SCIENTIFIC AND ANNUAL NATONAL ETHICS SEMINAR)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

TITLE: CRISIS AND DISASTER- CLOSING THE GAPS, EXECUTING PLANS, ENHANCING RESILIENCE

CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION

2. RECENT DISASTERS IN MALAYSIA

3. ISSUES IDENTIFIED AND SUGGESTIONS

TO OVERCOME THEM

4. HOW OTHER COUNTRIES DEAL WITH THEIR

DISASTERS?

5. REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

Disasters may be either natural or man-made.

Natural disasters include earthquakes, flood, tsunami, and volcanic activity and even disease epidemics.

Man-made disasters include events that are caused by human such as industrial accidents, famine and transport accidents.

Definition:

INTRODUCTION

RECENT DISASTERS IN MALAYSIA

TSUNAMI (2004) HAZE CAMERON HIGHLAND FLOOD 2014 MAJOR FLOOD 2015 EARTHQUAKE IN SABAH

HOW MALAYSIA DEALS WITH DISASTERS

THE ROLES OF NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL AND ARAHAN 20

THE ROLES OF MOH IN MANAGING DISASTERS

ISSUES IDENTIFIED AND SUGGESTIONS TO OVERCOME THEM

1. Inadequate logistical assistance and additional assets at the affected health facilities

- Suggestions: This issue could be overcome with the cooperation from the intra & inter-government agencies, NGOs and even private sectors with organized coordination for efficient mobilization and a clear Chain of Command headed by the MKN.

2. Delay in transmitting the general flood warning to the high-risk MOH facilities had caused extensive damage to the equipment and facilities.

- Suggestion: Proactive meteorological department is essential in determining the impending risks of incoming disasters and “bomba” to issue prompt orders for evacuation.

3. Communication devices were not functioning due to extensive power failure and congestion in the telecommunication lines.

- Suggestion: Contingency power source such as generators were important equipment as the alternative power supply.

4. Lack of profiling of the facilities with high flood risk has dampened the organized preparedness in dealing with the flooding.

- Suggestion: Development of flood prone facility profiling is an utmost priority for all directors of the JKNs.

5. Updating the floods emergency response plan based on the latest SOPs at various levels must be emphasized.

- Suggestion: The MOH workforce benefit from clear communication from leadership regarding deployment to reduce uncertainty and allow opportunity for preparation.

6. Safe Hospitals and Health Facilities Initiative should be included in the disaster preparedness program by the MOH

- Suggestion: Priorities include training for MOH staff prior to other disasters, simulation and to increase familiarity on the protocols/SOP’s available, inter-sectorial collaboration to enhance coordination and to ensure the BCP’s/ERP’s are in place.

HOW OTHER COUNTRIES DEAL WITH THEIR DISASTERS?

Lessons learnt from the Katrina hurricane (New Orleans in 2005) were the importance of a robust medical presence at evacuation shelters, the value of an accurate and timely database of medical needs for shelter occupants.

During West Africa flood in 2008, crisis preparedness and response system was enhanced using the Early Warning, Early Action strategy by the IFRC and the potential benefits from the use of medium-to-long-range forecasts in disaster management were shown.

Regional collaboration e.g. the ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercises (ARF DiREx) is a large scale disaster preparedness training program involving various agencies from the ASEAN countries.

REFERENCES

1. The Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2010: The Numbers and Trends published by The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters

2. Medical Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Local Public Health Preparedness in Action. J Rush Pierce Jr et al. J Public Health Management Practice, 2007, 13(5), 441–446

3. Implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Report of the Secretary-General. United Nations General Assembly. 2014

4. Climate forecasts in disaster management: Red Cross flood operations in West Africa, 2008. Lisette Martine Braman et al. Disasters, 2013, 37(1): 144−164

5. Health Emergency And Disaster Preparedness In Malaysia. Harpal Singh and Shamala Subramaniam. WHO Country Office for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. Vol 40 (suppl 1) 2009.

6. Draf Laporan Post-mortem Banjir 2014 oleh Unit Alam Sekitar (SEKTOR KPAS), KKM.