Novel Coronavirus preparedness plans highlighted by Ministry of Health

Muscat: The Ministry of Health (MoH), represented by the Directorate-General of Diseases Surveillance & Control and the Directorate General of Primary Healthcare organised yesterday (Monday) at the Holiday Hotel an urgent workshop to emphasise on the preparedness of the Directorates-General of Health Services of all Governorates in handling the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China.
The workshop held under the patronage of HE Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al Hosni, MoH Undersecretary for Health Affairs was attended by the directors of departments of Diseases Surveillance & Control, Primary Healthcare and Private Health Institutions in the governorates.
The workshop touched upon several related issues including the National Framework for Preparedness Plan, the North Sharqia Experience, Rapid response plan, health promotion, media and others.
Al Hosni stressed that the Ministry supports the health institutions with the required devices and staff that would enhance them to handle any detected cases.
The training workshop also highlighted the experiences of preparedness in Muscat International Airport, Sohar Seaport, the private health sector and the primary healthcare institutions.
The Ministry of Health is monitoring the current situation of 2019-nCoV in China, as well as the reports issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centre for Diseases Control & Prevention in the USA in order to keep pace with any updates and following-up the emergence of any new case outside China.
MoH has taken precautionary measures in health institutions on how to handle, prevention and control of any suspected cases. It also raises awareness among the health workers, community and travellers to and from China to ensure health security in the Sultanate. The Ministry of Health, Public Authority for Civil Aviation, Oman Airports, Royal Oman Police and port operators are working together to emphasise the preparedness of points of entry (air, sea and land), the health facilities in the Sultanate and training the concerned staff in handling any cases of communicable diseases, as well as developing plans for such situations at the border crossings to reduce contact with others and infection transmission.
MoH has activated the Central Public Health Emergency Committee of 2019-nCoV, in which the Committee reviewed and circulated the manuals (Algorithm) regarding handling the suspected cases of this virus, prevention and infection control policies, and indicative action for points of entry in all health institutions.
MoH’s team has recently visited Muscat International Airport, Sohar Airport Seaport, Duqm Airport and Seaport to review the preparation and response plan at these border crossings.
Through the epidemiological surveillance system of acute respiratory diseases, the Ministry monitored the cases of acute respiratory infection in the past two months and provided an e-reporting system for the government institutions not affiliated to the Ministry, as well as the private health institutions in order to monitor these cases across the governorates.