ST. EUSTATIUS–The International Health Regulation (IHR) network conference, hosted by the Public Health Department of St. Eustatius this year, ended on Friday.
Delegates of the public health departments of Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, together with Netherlands National institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM were in attendance.
Dr. Gerwin Schobbe of the St. Eustatius Public Health Department said the subjects that were discussed during the conference included preparedness in relation to international health regulations, the strengthening and accreditation for laboratories service in the former Netherlands Antilles, in particular the smaller islands; best practices and future plans for combating mosquito and other vector control; antibiotic resistance in bacteria; streamlining the reporting to national and international public health entities; waste management; possible public health risks from immigration from Venezuela; and an overview of ongoing research projects.
The IHR network conference is a platform where all public healthcare organizations of the former Netherlands Antilles and the RIVM come together to ensure that the kingdom meets the IHR’s requirements. These rules are drawn up by World Health Organization (WHO) whereby the Dutch kingdom has committed itself by way of a treaty.
The IHR describes international, national and local structures and capacities that regulate the prevention, protection, response and spread of infectious diseases. The IHR also describes international agreements on the actions of sovereign states during an infectious disease outbreak. All this to prevent unnecessary disruption of the international traffic of people and goods.
Participants also used this platform to discuss joint problems of the various public health organizations and the RIVM.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/78164-ihr-conference-closed-on-friday
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