Actively prevent and fight against epidemics

Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Health Ho Van Dung.

Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Health Ho Van Dung said that the infectious disease situation as of August 2024 generally followed the epidemiological cycle, without many fluctuations. Local infectious diseases such as dengue fever had 494 cases, down 68.4%, hand, foot and mouth disease had 403 cases, down 71.2% compared to the same period in 2023 and the 5-year average. The hand, foot and mouth disease situation this year followed the epidemiological cycle, the number of severe cases caused by the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) strain was rare. Typhoid and chickenpox both decreased compared to the same period in 2023. In particular, rabies increased by 1 case, hepatitis B, hepatitis caused by other viruses, and monkeypox all increased compared to the same period. Other dangerous group A infectious diseases have not been recorded in the whole province.

Regarding measles, 292 cases of suspected measles rash fever were recorded (as of August 25, 2024), of which 174 cases tested positive for measles virus. Specifically recorded in Phu Quoc, Ha Tien, Rach Gia cities were 129, 4 and 9 cases respectively; in An Minh district 11 cases, Chau Thanh 6 cases, Vinh Thuan 3 cases, Hon Dat 4 cases; Kien Luong, U Minh Thuong, Giong Rieng, Tan Hiep, An Bien districts each had 1 case.

Kien Giang Provincial General Hospital distributes medicine to people.

- Reporter: How does the health sector direct disease prevention and treatment at medical facilities in the province?

- Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Health Ho Van Dung: Regarding disease prevention, the department synthesizes, analyzes, and forecasts the situation to advise the Provincial People's Committee on methods and solutions to implement disease prevention and control in the province in 2024. The Department of Health directs the Provincial Center for Disease Control to proactively advise on developing a plan to synchronously deploy methods to prevent and control dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, rabies, emerging infectious diseases, measles, etc. in the province.

The province will be proactive in purchasing materials and chemicals for disease prevention and control, proactive in human resources and materials; promptly deploy in the field when there are developments of cases and an increasing trend in the community, control outbreaks, and promptly prevent the spread in the community. The Department of Health will promote communication and health education to people about the importance of disease prevention and vaccination against dangerous infectious diseases with vaccines, environmental sanitation, clean hands, cleaning houses and contact surfaces, signs to recognize disease symptoms; promptly go to medical facilities for examination and treatment. Inter-sectoral coordination is focused on, using and mobilizing resources at the local level and at all levels of government in disease prevention and control in the community.

Regarding treatment, medical facilities need to retrain on treatment regimens according to regulations of the Ministry of Health; prepare well for admission, treatment, ensure medicine, disease prevention and control; classify and route treatment, avoid overload and limit deaths; promptly transfer severe cases, minimize the risk of severe progression and death for patients... The Department will send working groups to support lower levels in treatment at district-level medical centers; improve capacity for grassroots levels in examination and treatment of dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease. Strengthen the connection system between upper and lower levels for severe cases...

Nurses are taking care of patients at Kien Giang Provincial General Hospital.

- Reporter: What is your assessment of the infectious disease situation in the coming time and how will the Department of Health implement prevention and control measures throughout the province?

- Director of Kien Giang Province Department of Health Ho Van Dung: The situation of infectious diseases is still complicated, especially in the rainy season, dengue fever increases according to the epidemic cycle. In the new school year, when children go to school, the possibility of infectious diseases in the classroom can occur.

Emerging infectious diseases can enter the community through borders and localities with many tourists. Vaccine-preventable infectious diseases can re-emerge after a period of interruption in vaccination due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent local shortage of vaccines such as measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, etc.

Regarding solutions, there are the following issues: First, the Department of Health closely monitors the development of the epidemic situation, promptly advises on the development of response plans, and disease prevention and control plans to achieve maximum effectiveness; fully updates professional instructions.

Second, the Department of Health advises authorities at all levels to focus on directing, strengthening inspection, supervision, and mobilizing resources for timely intervention activities to prevent and control diseases such as measles, hand, foot, and mouth disease, and dengue fever.

Third, develop a coordination mechanism between the Department of Education and the Department of Health in monitoring infectious diseases in schools, reporting cases or suspected cases, and implementing timely treatment measures. Coordinate with veterinary forces in monitoring infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Fourth, improve epidemiological surveillance capacity; synchronously deploy key surveillance and regular surveillance; enhance capacity and apply science and technology in monitoring, analyzing and forecasting epidemic situations.

Fifth, the Department of Health will advise the Provincial People's Committee to direct localities to conduct disinfection; distribute and instruct on the use of chemicals for schools, especially at the time of returning to school after long breaks such as holidays, summer vacations...; propagate to parents and students to carry out personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and prevent infectious diseases.

Sixth, organize training for officials in charge of disease prevention and control at district and commune levels on activities and procedures for preventing and controlling measles, hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever.

Seventh, enlist the support of all levels, organizations, political and social organizations... to organize a campaign to destroy mosquito larvae to prevent dengue fever in hot spots of the province such as Rach Gia City, Phu Quoc City and Chau Thanh District.

Eighth, promote communication on disease prevention and control in various forms such as on mass media, crowded places, schools, festivals, distributing leaflets, hanging banners, etc.

- Reporter: What is the current situation of medicine and medical supplies? What solutions does the provincial health sector have for this problem?

- Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Health Ho Van Dung: Currently, the Department of Health has completed the bidding for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies for the province in the period of 2023-2025, accordingly, selecting contractors to supply 2,589 drugs (including pharmaceutical chemicals and herbal medicines) and 1,332 medical supplies (including high-tech and conventional medical supplies). However, there are still a small number of drugs and medical supplies that have not been selected for contractors. With this result, medical facilities are purchasing drugs, medical supplies and biological products to ensure meeting the health care needs of people in the whole province.

Regarding solutions in the coming time, the health sector will continue to make more efforts to effectively carry out bidding for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies, focusing on implementing the following solutions: First, the Department of Health will continue to lead and direct medical facilities to purchase drugs, medical supplies, chemicals, and biological products according to the results of the national and local centralized bidding that are still valid to ensure supply to serve the needs of medical examination and treatment; it is necessary to clearly explain to patients participating in health insurance that the use of drugs and medical supplies must comply with the regulations on classification.

Second, closely monitor the use of drugs and medical supplies at medical facilities to proactively regulate between medical facilities.

Third, the Department of Health will develop a list of centrally purchased drugs, medical equipment, and testing supplies and submit it to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for promulgation as a basis for organizing bidding and purchasing according to current regulations.

Fourth, the Department of Health develops regulations for coordinating the implementation of bidding and purchasing processes for drugs, medical supplies, and chemicals in Kien Giang.

Fifth, the Department of Health guides units to proactively organize the purchase of drugs and medical supplies according to their assigned authority to ensure timely supply for medical examination and treatment.

Sixth, strengthen departments participating in bidding and purchasing work; enhance training and professional development related to bidding and purchasing.

Seventh, strengthen the inspection and supervision of drug supply implementation when there are winning bid results.

- Reporter: Thank you!

Performed by TAY HO

Source: https://www.baokiengiang.vn/dan-hoi-chinh-quyen-tra-loi/chu-dong-phong-chong-cac-loai-dich-benh-22134.html