By Sim YH
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 13 OCT – Efforts continue to be implemented to improve well-being, health and safety in the healthcare system and the wider community.
Infection prevention is an important pillar in healthcare where the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of infection control and emphasized the strengths and areas that we need to improve.
Reflecting on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Minister of Health, the Honorable Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar stated that the comprehensive infection control programs implemented by Jerudong Park Medical Center (JPMC) and Jerudong Beach Specialist Center ( PJSC) is also very important in managing the epidemic.
Global developments in infection prevention including the development of protocols, vaccines and public awareness of hygiene practices have led to an increase in the safety and well-being of the healthcare system, added Yang Berhormat Dato again when speaking as Chairman and Executive Director of JPMC at the International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) Celebration Ceremony ) which took place at The Empire Brunei, today.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham stated that the country is also facing challenges from antibiotic resistance and inequality in healthcare access, which emphasizes the need for continuous action.
He outlined key strategies to prevent infection including focusing on education, fostering collaboration, adopting technological innovation and ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
In this connection, he called on health care professionals and the public to remain steadfast in their efforts not only during the IIPW program but continue every day to ensure a safer and healthier future for all.
Events for celebration with a theme Moving the Needle on Infection Prevention aims to raise awareness about infection control measures which sees the participation of healthcare professionals from all over the country and international experts together to address the urgent issue of infection prevention.
At the occasion, the Medical Director and Consultant Infectious Diseases Doctor, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore, Dr Leong Hoe Nam delivered two presentations during the plenary session titled Updates on Pneumococcal Disease and Prevention and Real Evidence of the Impact and Effectiveness of HPV Vaccination. He shared the latest research findings and prevention strategies to deal with serious infections and highlighted the success of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in reducing infection rates and improving patient outcomes globally in his presentation.
While General Practitioner, JPMC, Dr. Josephine Paz Arocayos Javina in a presentation entitled Antibiotic Stewardship: JPMC Perspectivehe described the implementation of responsible antibiotic use by JPMC to prevent the rise of antimicrobial resistance.
The event also witnessed presentations from representatives from hospitals in Brunei including the Deputy Head, Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Raja Isteri Pengri Anak Saleha Hospital and Infectious Diseases Consultant, Dr Hajah Riamiza Natalie binti Haji Momin who titled Moving the Needle on Infection Control: What It Means in the Brunei Contextwhere he provides a local perspective on infection prevention initiatives and challenges facing Brunei’s healthcare system.
In addition, Intensivist, Brunei Neuroscience Stroke and Rehabilitation Center (BNSRC), PJSC, Dr Ramghat Mallikarjuna Vishwanathan presented the topic, Overview of Central Line Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI) in Neurocritical Care Unit, where he discussed efforts to reduce hospital-acquired infections, particularly in high-risk critical care settings.
The message at the event this year emphasized the importance of daily actions such as good hand hygiene practices, adhering to the vaccination schedule and understanding the responsible use of antibiotics. By fostering collaborative efforts between health care professionals and the community, efforts to address preventable infections can be strengthened where they will lead to better public health outcomes.
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