District Health Boards meet to discuss Pandemic Planning

Media Release

16 December 2005

District Health Boards meet to discuss Pandemic Planning

More than 70 people from District Health Boards (DHBs) across the country have attended the latest DHB Emergency Planners Workshop to discuss planning for influenza pandemic.

Amongst those who attended the meeting in Wellington on 15 December were DHB's Emergency planners, Medical Officers of Health and Health Protection Officers.

Some of the topics discussed include:

Vaccines and Antivirals
Ethical issues
Vulnerable people:aged care, disability, mental health and residential care
Culture issues: Maori perspective
Communications and Health Education

Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Jacobs says, "This was a valuable opportunity to discuss the work that is being done by the Ministry of Health on pandemic planning and to answer questions and gather feedback on DHB's pandemic planning.

"It was also a chance to further strengthen the coordinated approach to pandemic planning."