Directive No. 03/2008/CT-BYT on Strengthening Disease Prevention and Control Work During Winter-Spring Season

DIRECTIVE

On strengthening disease prevention and control work during the Winter-Spring season

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In recent times, infectious diseases causing dangerous epidemics have continued to complicate in many countries around the world, particularly avian influenza A (H5N1), dengue fever, cholera, viral encephalitis, Ebola, Rift Valley fever...

In Vietnam, in 2007, cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) infection were still recorded in some localities across the country, dengue fever remained at high levels especially in southern provinces, severe acute diarrhea outbreaks including those caused by Vibrio cholerae occurred in some northern provinces, food poisoning incidents caused by microorganisms continued to occur in some localities.

To implement the Prime Minister's directive on strengthening disease prevention and control work; to proactively prevent and control diseases during the Winter-Spring season and Tet holiday, protecting people's health, the Minister of Health issues the following directive:

1. Directors of Provincial Health Departments under the Central Government shall be responsible for:

a) Directing strict surveillance, early detection, and timely handling of infectious disease cases, especially cholera, avian influenza A (H5N1), dengue fever, ..., minimizing mortality rates from infectious diseases, reinforcing mobile epidemic response teams ready to deploy tasks;

b) Directing healthcare facilities under their management to prepare sufficient stocks of medicines, emergency equipment, treatment supplies, etc., to promptly diagnose, admit, and treat patients in case of large-scale outbreaks. Mobile emergency teams must be ready to provide professional support for units in emergency care and patient treatment;

c) For localities with international border gates, they need to strictly check incoming passengers from areas currently experiencing outbreaks or old endemic zones, preventing the entry of diseases. Quarantine agencies must closely cooperate with specialized agencies in inspecting and monitoring imported poultry, food products, and cross-border transportation;

d) Directing the provincial/city Health Education and Communication Centers to coordinate with related units in organizing publicity and education on preventive measures against infectious diseases so that the public understands and voluntarily participates in community-based disease prevention activities;

e) Timely reporting to the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province/city about the development of infectious disease outbreaks and proactive disease prevention and control measures at the local level. Advising the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province on mobilizing all resources of agencies, organizations, and individuals within the province for disease prevention and control work;

g) Strictly implementing the Regulation on Information and Reporting of Infectious Disease Outbreaks issued together with Decision No. 4880/2002/QĐ-BYT dated December 6, 2002, by the Minister of Health;

h) Closely coordinating with related units in implementing disease prevention and control work, especially the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in detecting, reporting, and handling avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks;

i) During the Tet holiday, organize 24/7 epidemic surveillance to monitor and grasp disease situations in the locality, directing epidemic surveillance units to follow regulations strictly;

2. The Preventive Medicine and Environment Department shall be responsible for:

a) Coordinating with the Pasteur Institutes to closely monitor the development of infectious diseases, promptly advising the Minister of Health on directing nationwide infectious disease prevention and control work;

b) Organizing 24/7 epidemic surveillance during the Tet holiday to monitor and grasp disease situations nationwide;

3. The Medical Examination and Treatment Management Department shall be responsible for:

a) Directing tiered treatment. Ensuring good reception, emergency care, treatment, and isolation of patients, reinforcing treatment facilities in case of widespread and prolonged outbreaks;

b) Directing hospitals to prepare sufficient medicines, resuscitation equipment, and necessary supplies for treatment. Minimizing the rate of severe cases and fatalities to the lowest extent possible;

4. The Food Safety and Hygiene Department shall be responsible for:

a) Directing enhanced measures to ensure food safety for the community: communication on food safety to proactively prevent food poisoning and foodborne diseases. Preparing plans, personnel, equipment, materials, medicines, chemicals to promptly address and mitigate impacts when food poisoning occurs;

b) Directing and enhancing supervision of food poisoning risks and foodborne diseases;

c) Directing and enhancing inspections of food safety at food production and trading establishments nationwide, particularly immediate consumption food production facilities, pre-prepared food facilities, beverage, ice cream, and ice production facilities, catering and street food businesses, and collective kitchens;

5. The Planning and Finance Department shall be responsible for:

Consolidating and coordinating state budget resources and domestic and international organization sponsorships for infectious disease prevention and control work, ready to support units and localities in disease prevention and control when requested;

6. The Legal Affairs Department and the Health Education and Communication Center shall be responsible for:

Organizing publicity activities on infectious disease prevention and control, particularly avian influenza A (H5N1), cholera, dengue fever, and diseases commonly occurring in the Winter-Spring season. Enhancing publicity on food hygiene and personal hygiene. Cooperating with specialized units and propaganda agencies to effectively implement publicity, information dissemination, and situation announcements;

7. The Pasteur Institutes shall be responsible for:

a) Readily supporting localities with complex disease situations with epidemic response teams;

b) Directing and participating in early detection and thorough handling of disease clusters. Guiding localities to enhance active surveillance and timely use of chemicals to control outbreaks;

b) Advising the Ministry of Health on directing nationwide infectious disease prevention and control work;

c) Coordinate with the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment in organizing training sessions for units and localities on diagnosing and treating patients infected with infectious diseases;

d) Prepare sufficient disinfectants, equipment, and specialized materials, and implement epidemic control activities promptly and adequately;

e) During the Tet holiday of the Year of the Rat, organize 24-hour emergency duty to monitor and grasp the situation of epidemics occurring in the area;

8. Hospitals shall be responsible for:

a) Preparing sufficient human resources, drug stockpiles, medical equipment, and other necessary means to promptly support localities in diagnosing, admitting, and treating patients when an epidemic occurs;

b) Being ready to support localities and units in emergency treatment activities according to the mobilization by the Ministry of Health;

9. Other units under the Ministry within their assigned functions and tasks shall be responsible for: Coordinating with related units in organizing disease prevention and control activities upon request;

Upon receipt of this Directive, the Heads of units under the Ministry, Directors of Provincial Departments of Health, and Heads of health sectors must immediately organize the implementation of activities and report the results to the Ministry of Health (Preventive Medicine and Environment Bureau)./