Brunei gets measles-free verification
BRUNEI has been verified as measles-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), marking a significant milestone in the field of public health for the nation.
Dr Shin Young-Soo, WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, said Brunei’s achievement represented an important step in the progress towards measles elimination in the entire Western Pacific and provided an example for other countries to emulate.
The WHO representative was in the sultanate yesterday to attend a ceremony recognising Brunei’s achievement of measles elimination at the Al-‘Afiah Hall, Ministry of Health (MoH).
“As you know, measles is a serious public health problem globally. Before widespread vaccination, the situation was much worse. Measles used to cause more than 2.5 million deaths a year worldwide,” he said in his speech.
The highly contagious disease remains a leading cause of death among young children, but Dr Shin pointed out these deaths can be prevented easily and economically.
He explained the cost of protecting a child from measles is less than a dollar with safe and effective vaccine that has been in use for 50 years. While children may be at the highest risk, he said anyone who is not protected with both doses of vaccine can become infected.
“The key is to protect enough people so that the virus, which only affects people, will stop spreading,” he said, noting the first step is to immunise 95 % of a population.
To maintain elimination, the regional director said they must ensure that countries and areas have a sensitive surveillance system to detect imported measles cases early as well as ensure that high rates of vaccination are maintained.
All six WHO regions have committed to regional measles elimination goals with five of them, including the Western Pacific, on track to achieve elimination by 2020.
“As we work to stamp out measles globally, regional verification commission will be increasingly important,” said the WHO representative, adding the commission for the Western Pacific is an independent advisory body with 14 members appointed by the WHO Regional Office.
Commenting on Brunei’s immunisation programme, he said it will not only sustain measles elimination, but also work towards eradicating rubella and the threat it poses to unborn babies. The two doses of measles vaccine are part of the routine immunisation programme in the country. In addition, rubella surveillance and combination of measles-rubella vaccines have been integrated into the programme.
“For Brunei Darussalam, measles elimination is one in a long list of accomplishments that have improved the health and well-being of the country’s more than 400,000 people,” said Dr Shin.
Datin Paduka Dr Hjh Norlila Dato Paduka Hj Abd Jalil, Permanent Secretary at MoH, expressed appreciation to WHO for their support to Brunei through its technical assistance and guidance that have contributed to strengthening of healthcare services in the country. “We have and will always look upon the WHO for such guidance and advice,” she said. – Asia News Network