HIS Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and
Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, officially launched the
National Isolation Centre yesterday.
The centre is one of the projects
under the Ministry of Health's strategic plan and is part of the Ninth National
Development Plan.
Built at a cost of $8,472,000,
the National Isolation Centre is located in Tutong District near the Pg Muda
Mahkota Pg Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah (PMMPMHAMB) Hospital.
The centre is equipped with medical
facilities and infrastructure that meet international standards of infection
prevention and control set by the World Health Organisation, a press statement
said.
According to the statement issued
by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the centre is designed to deal with a medical
crisis caused by an epidemic of an existing or emerging infectious disease such
as Influenza A (H1N1 and H5N1) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
The centre will also ensure the
safety, health and well-being of the citizens and residents of this country,
the statement said.
Among the centre's facilities are
a negative pressure system to prevent cross-contamination from room to room, a
specialised isolation room and aeration system, an isolation ward and a triage
area to determine which patients should be seen and treated immediately.
In non-emergency cases, the
National Isolation Centre will be used for the management and placement of
infectious disease cases, such as patients with tuberculosis (TB) and
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the statement said.
Upon arrival at the centre, His
Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Health Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang
Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato
Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof.
Also present to greet His Royal
Highness were MoH senior officials and members of the executive committee of
the National Isolation Centre.
At the start of the launch
ceremony, the Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat were read out.
The Crown Prince then cut the
ribbon to officially open the centre, followed by the signing of a plaque.
HRH then viewed an exhibition
showcasing information about the National Isolation Centre.
HRH was briefed on the drill for
a pandemic by Associate Professor Dr (Mr) Kenneth Kok Yuh Yen and then listened
to a description of the National Isolation Centre's services and facilities by
the acting CEO of the PMMPMHAMB Hospital, Sabri Hj Anuar.
HRH then inspected the centre's
rooms and facilities, accompanied by the health minister.
The Crown Prince also visited the
PMMPMHAMB Hospital, where he met senior staff.
The hospital tour started at the
registration and payment counter and ended at the Pharmacy Services Department.
During his time at the hospital,
HRH was briefed on the Brunei Darussalam Healthcare Information and Management
System.
The briefing was delivered by Pg
Hjh Saadiah Pg Muda Hj Hashim, the acting director of healthcare technology at
the PMMPMHAMB Hospital, and Mohd Jamil Dato Gadong, deputy medical records
officer.
At the end of the tour, His Royal
Highness consented to take part in a group photo with the minister and senior
MoH officials.
NURHAMIZA HJ ROSLAN
The Brunei Times
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