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 Thailand and WHO form joint
team on the pandemic
Although the emergence of a
pandemic had been predicted, the current global health emergency caused by
pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 still presents a great challenge to most
countries since the virus is a new variant about which little was initially
known. With nations in the Southeast Asia
region being at different stages of preparedness, a review of the way the
disease is being handled in one country could yield valuable insights to
inform public health responses for the whole region.
The WHO-Thailand Ministry of Public Health Joint Team on
Pandemic H1N1 2009 was therefore established to utilise
WHO technical expertise and Thailand’s
valuable experience in handling this public health threat and undertake a
rapid review of the Thai response strategies. The joint team is a
multi-disciplinary group of technical experts who will assess gaps,
identify country needs, share experience and knowledge about the virus and
give recommendations on how to manage and handle the problems associated
with it.
This multi-disciplinary joint team is conducting rapid
reviews in key strategic areas of the pandemic response:
 Command
and control set-up
Surveillance
and epidemiology
Laboratory
capacity
Risk
assessment and control/prevention measures
Clinical
management
Logistics,
commodities and operations
Public
communications
Special
policies and measures for vulnerable, non-Thai populations residing in Thailand
The
review will document the achievements, strengths and areas where responses
can be enhanced. It will also
provide recommendations on how to close any identified gaps and address
potential upcoming challenges.
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Risk
communications mapping and capacity building assessment 