Day: November 21, 2022

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, the ‘Antimicrobial Resistance’, AMR is becoming one of the ten global health threats. At least 4.95 million deaths are estimated to be related to AMR in 2019. The Minister of Health in a message in conjunction with the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 emphasized that the matter indeed requires immediate action by all levels of society including global leaders, policy makers and others.

 

According to Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar, antimicrobial resistance is a natural process in microbes or germs that results in the loss of effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments used to treat various microbial infections. However, the process of natural antimicrobial resistance is becoming more difficult to deal with due to the effects of various human activities, which are undesirable in several sectors such as human health, animal and plant health and the environment. The Minister of Health added that the intended activities include inappropriate, uncontrolled and excessive use of antimicrobial drugs; inadequate infection prevention and control measures; poor quality agricultural and food processing practices; and inadequate sewage and waste management.

 

The Minister of Health also advised that each individual has a role to ensure that any antimicrobial treatment taken should be on the advice of a doctor and follow the instructions given. An active role in infection control and prevention includes: avoiding or limiting going out if have symptoms like a cold; wash hands regularly; prioritizing hygiene during the preparation and consumption of food and drinks as well as obtaining vaccinations for certain infections, according to medical condition when necessary.

 

The theme of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week “Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance Together” responds to the global call to take responsibility for dealing with Antimicrobials. The WHO also supports strategies to encourage the prudent use of antimicrobials and strengthen preventive measures to deal with antimicrobial resistance, AMR through collaborative cooperation with a holistic and multi-pronged approach known as “One Health approach”.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

The Ministry of Health is launching the Health Index feature and the Risk Assessment feature in the BruHealth application. This Health Index feature is an initiative to produce an overall health score specific to each individual based on several medical parameters and health risk factor screening. The matter was also shared by the Minister of Health at a similar media conference. Yang Berhormat further explained that the screening for health risk factors uses a validated screening questionnaire and includes parameters related to mental health, nutrition, physical activity and tobacco use. It is hoped that this new feature will help the public to be more aware of the lifestyle risk factors that can contribute to non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders, and therefore, encourage people to take early steps to deal with the problems.

 

Specifically for the Health Index feature, a pilot study will start yesterday and will run for a month. This study will involve 120 individuals who will receive invitation via notification through their respective BruHealth applications to participate in the study. Those who received this invitation notification are welcome to complete the Health Index in the BruHealth application to enable the Ministry of Health to evaluate this new feature. From here on, this feature will be improved and updated before it is fully launched for public use. Meanwhile, the Risk Assessment feature launched in the BruHealth application aims to provide easy access to the public to assess the risk of certain diseases and make an appointment to participate in the National Health Screening Program, NHSP provided by the Ministry of Health.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

The Minister of Health also informed that the country has received 7,200 doses of the Moderna vaccine, Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron on 20th of November 2022 and the next supply is expected to arrive on the 25th and 27th November 2022.

 

According to Yang Berhormat, the bivalent vaccine will be used for booster dose for adults aged 18 and above as well as has already been authorized by the Brunei Darussalam Medicines Control for its use in the country. The use of the bivalent vaccine is also given authorization from medical regulatory authorities from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union, Canada, and Singapore. For those who wish to get the booster dose either as the third dose or the fourth dose can book a vaccination slot at nearby Health Centres through the BruHealth application.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei