Directive No. 03/2005/CT-BYT on disaster prevention, mitigation, and aftermath recovery work in 2005

DIRECTIVE OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH

Regarding the work on preventing, combating, and mitigating the consequences of natural disasters and catastrophes in 2005

The weather situation this year has been complicated: Severe drought occurred seriously in central provinces, the Central Highlands, and the Mekong Delta; Typhoon No. 1 occurred early in March at low latitudes; tornadoes and hailstorms have occurred since the beginning of the year in many localities across all three regions; Two traffic accidents considered major disasters causing significant loss of life were the derailment of train E1 in Thua Thien-Hue ( ) and the overturning of a vehicle carrying former soldiers in Kon Tum (April ). These incidents required the health sector to make great efforts in search and rescue operations. According to forecasts from the National Hydro-Meteorological Service and information from neighboring countries, Vietnam may be affected by 7 to 8 typhoons in 2005, some with wind speeds exceeding level 12, and flooding will also be more frequent and severe than the average over the years.

Pursuant to Directive No. 12/2005/CT-TTg dated April 8, 2005 of the Government Prime Minister on flood and storm prevention and rescue operations in 2005, the Minister of Health instructs the Directors of Provincial Health Departments under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Government, Heads of units directly under the Ministry to promptly implement the following tasks:of the Government detailing the Law on Foreign Trade Management;1. To fully understand the health status and diseases of the people in current drought-stricken areas and those that may be affected by future natural disasters and catastrophes to plan healthcare services for the people and prevent disease outbreaks. Coordinate with local authorities and other sectors to inspect the provision of clean water and food safety in current drought-stricken areas and those that may face shortages due to future floods.April) causing the health sector to make great efforts in searching for and rescuing victims. According to forecasts from the National Hydro-meteorological Service and information from neighboring countries, Vietnam may be affected by 7 to 8 typhoons in 2005, some with wind speeds exceeding level 12, and there will be more and more severe floods than the average over many years.

2. Organize a review and evaluation of the flood and storm prevention work in 2004, identify strengths and weaknesses, and draw lessons learned regarding preparation and response to natural disasters. Northern provinces must not become complacent due to the lack of large-scale storms in recent years and should strengthen their disaster response and rescue command teams under the direct leadership of unit heads based on the principle of effectiveness and practicality.

3. Develop specific plans to address all possible scenarios of natural disasters and catastrophes at the local and unit levels, ensuring the absolute safety and operation of healthcare facilities through concrete actions such as reinforcing against typhoons, relocating patients, medicines, and medical equipment to safe locations, ensuring that patients and medical staff are not harmed by floods and storms, and preventing damage to medicines, chemicals, and medical equipment due to rain and floods. Form mobile emergency teams equipped with specialized personnel, medicines, medical equipment, and transportation means for both land and water, ready to provide timely assistance before and after disasters. Provinces within flood-prone areas in the northern region must develop specific plans for safely relocating healthcare facilities in flooded areas, setting up emergency stations close to temporary evacuation sites with sufficient first aid medicines, common disease treatment medicines, and medical staff. Implement the principle of "where there are people, there are medical personnel." Coastal provinces should prepare for large typhoons and floods; mountainous provinces should prepare for flash floods to ensure the safety of healthcare facilities and provide timely rescue to victims. Southern provinces should prepare for high water levels in the Mekong River, ensuring rescue of victims and effectively managing disease prevention before and after floods.

4. Must implement the principle of "Four Localizations" in the health sector: On-site Command is having a commander present at the site of the disaster; On-site Force is having medical personnel always ready to rescue the people, performing environmental sanitation and disease prevention work locally; On-site Means is having sufficient medical supplies to meet professional requirements; On-site Logistics is stockpiling fuel for vehicles and generators when power is out, and storing food and other living necessities for patients in case of typhoons and floods. Units directly under the Ministry must be prepared to support disaster-stricken areas according to their professional fields. Central hospitals, universities of medicine and pharmacy should prepare volunteer teams with full transportation, specialized personnel, disinfectants, and medicines ready to mobilize immediately upon orders from the Ministry. Adequate funds, food, and supplies must be prepared for immediate use in disaster areas without adding further burden to the affected localities.

5. Focus on environmental sanitation work during and after natural disasters and catastrophes. Provide sufficient water disinfection medicines and guide the public on proper usage. Mobile teams for epidemic prevention must remain highly alert, monitor and detect epidemics early to contain them immediately; if beyond capacity, report to superiors for timely support, and do not allow the spread of disease. Strengthen propaganda and mobilization to ensure everyone understands and practices proper hygiene and environmental sanitation. Pay attention to the collaboration between military and civilian medical personnel in post-disaster recovery efforts.Where there are people, there are medical staff". Coastal provinces have plans to deal with major typhoons and floods; mountainous provinces must prepare for flash floods to ensure the safety of healthcare facilities and provide timely rescue for victims. Southern provinces must prepare for high water levels in the Mekong River, ensuring prompt rescue of victims and effectively preventing and controlling diseases before and after floods.

4. Must implement the principle of "Four at the Ready"Four at the Ready" applied in the healthcare sector includes: Command at the Ready means having command officers present at the site of natural disasters or emergencies; Force at the Ready means having medical personnel always ready to rescue civilians, thoroughly clean the environment, and prevent and control diseases locally; Equipment at the Ready means having sufficient medicines and medical supplies to meet professional requirements; Logistics at the Ready means stockpiling fuel for vehicles and generators when power is unavailable, storing food, other necessities, and equipment for patients in case of typhoons and floods. Units under the Ministry must be prepared to support areas affected by natural disasters according to their expertise. Central hospitals, medical universities must prepare volunteer teams ready to deploy with transportation, specialized personnel, disinfectants, and medicines upon mobilization by the Ministry. Adequate funds, food, and supplies for immediate use on-site must be prepared without adding further difficulties to disaster-stricken areas.

5. Focus on environmental sanitation work during and after natural disasters and emergencies. Provide sufficient water disinfection chemicals and instruct the public on proper usage. Mobile disease prevention teams must be kept in a state of high readiness, monitoring and early detection of outbreaks to contain them immediately; if beyond capacity, report to superiors for timely support, and do not allow the spread of disease. Strengthen propaganda and mobilization to inform and encourage the public to practice proper hygiene and environmental cleanliness. Pay attention to the collaboration between military and civilian healthcare in mitigating the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies.

6.The Planning-Finance Department shall immediately allocate funds for the month of May 2005 to the Office, which serves as the permanent Secretariat of the Ministry of Health Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command, to implement preparatory activities, stockpile medicines, chemicals, and materials to serve disaster aftermath mitigation efforts and must complete these tasks by June 2005. If there are difficulties, they must promptly report to the Ministry's leadership to seek solutions, ensuring that insufficient funding does not affect the preparation for responding to and mitigating the consequences of natural disasters and catastrophes. Provincial Health Departments under the Central Government must prepare pre-stocked medicines for flood prevention, anti-disease medicines and chemicals, food reserves, and other support equipment to ensure hospital operations for at least one week using local funds, and develop plans to deliver and guide usage in areas frequently affected by natural disasters.

7.The Pharmaceutical Corporation and the Medical Equipment Corporation shall instruct their subordinate companies to prepare: life jackets, pre-stocked medicines, medical equipment, and anti-disease medicines and chemicals to meet the needs of provincial support upon orders from the Ministry. Departments and bureaus under the Ministry of Health, and units directly under the Ministry, according to their functions, have the responsibility to prepare funds, medicines, medical tools, anti-disease chemicals, and specialized personnel to provide support to areas affected by natural disasters and catastrophes based on the Ministry's mobilization orders.

8.Preparations to respond to natural disasters and catastrophes must be completed by May 30 for northern provinces, by June 30 for central provinces, and by July 30, 2005, for southern provinces. The Ministry of Health Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command shall establish a plan to inspect provinces and units within the aforementioned deadlines and report the results to the Ministry's leadership. When natural disasters or catastrophes occur, provinces and units must quickly report to the Ministry of Health Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command about the disaster progression, human and health facility losses, actions taken to mitigate the aftermath, and requests for Ministry support (if necessary). All reports can be made via telegrams, telephone, fax to the Permanent Secretariat of the Ministry of Health Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command.during working hours: 04.8443039; outside working hours and holidays: 04.8293665 or 0913.009.725 - 0983.384.388 and Fax: 04.8464051).

Upon receiving this Directive, localities and units must strictly organize its implementation before the rainy season. The Ministry of Health Disaster Prevention and Rescue Command is responsible for urging and inspecting the implementation of this Directive to report back to the Ministry of Health leadership./.