Dominica to comply with International Health Regulations

Dominica’s Health Minister has pledged that the island will fully comply with International Health Regulations (IHR) by June 2014.

Julius Timothy gave the assurance on Wednesday as he addressed the start of a three-day workshop geared at encouraging and facilitating improved risk communications for public health emergencies in Dominica and the Caribbean.

The workshop dubbed “Risk communication for Public Health Emergencies” is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and is being done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the US Center for Disease Control.

At the end of the workshop participants are expected to formulate a national plan of action for Risk Communication for Dominica, Grenada and St. Lucia.

Timothy said the loss of public confidence, especially during crisis threatens the stability and viability of not only the health sector but of economies and governments as a whole.

“As part of maintaining trust the health sector must inform the public quickly of developments include various sectors in planning, listen and react quickly to stakeholders to address rumors and diminish social turbulence … in this global world viruses and news travel quickly but so does misinformation,” he said. “My ministry is well on its way to achieving the twelve core capacities to obtain international health regulations compliance.”

He said the ministry has produced a draft risk communications plan which will be presented to cabinet for approval.

Meanwhile of Minister for National Security Immigration and Labour, Charles Saverin, told the start of the workshop that Dominica is taking concrete action to address the necessary steps at improving communication for public health emergencies.

He said managing information in times of crisis is critical. “I am aware that health threats can accompany national disasters,” Savarin noted. “I am pleased therefore that we are taking concrete action to address what I believe to be a necessary step at improving communication for public health emergencies for Dominica and the region.”

Savarin further stated that Dominica and the OECS stands to learn from various lessons emerging from countries severely impacted by major medical phenomenal over the past decade.

He went on to add the timely and effective communication is therefore critical in risk reduction and management of emergencies.

“Comprehensive disaster risk management has become a fundamental pillar in the development planning process,” he stated. “The advent of social media and communication technology has placed a premium on proper dissemination of information and misinformation as a high probability for transmission and going viral within a much shorter time span.”

He noted that disasters or crisis remain the single most unpredictable phenomenon challenging small vulnerable economies, particularly in the Caribbean region “and we must work expeditiously to put in place practical and modern policies and protocols to ensure that our response to any crisis is swift, efficient, effective and communicated professionally.”

Savarin welcomed the move to develop a risk communication plan for Dominica and has described it is as “timely.”