BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Xinhua/Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Mohamed Isham Jaafar, Brunei's minister of health, said on Sunday that strengthening partnerships in infection prevention is a shared responsibility.
"By forging partnerships between healthcare institutions, government, non-profit organizations, and communities, we can create a network of support that responds swiftly and efficiently to outbreaks," the local daily Borneo Bulletin quoted the minister.
“We must confront the disparities in healthcare access, which can hinder efforts in infection control in underserved communities, putting many lives at unnecessary risk.
“The Covid-19 (pandemic) may be behind us, but emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases will continue to test our systems and resilience. We must be vigilant in strengthening surveillance, preparedness and response (by) learning from past mistakes to ensure we do better in the future.”
He also drew attention to equity by saying that “no one should be left behind in the fight against infectious diseases. Addressing social determinants of health and ensuring access to proper healthcare and infection prevention tools for all communities is key to success”.
The minister said at the International Infection Prevention Week in Brunei that new technologies, such as rapid diagnostics, advanced disinfection methods, and artificial intelligence for monitoring infection trends, are crucial in moving the needle forward.
Brunei is an oil-rich South-East Asian country located in the northern part of Borneo Island, with about 340,000 citizens and a high level of social welfare in areas such as healthcare and elderly care. - Xinhua/Borneo Bulletin-ANN
