Evaluation on Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic in Taiwan Local Governments in 2008

Yi-Li Shih, Shu-Mei Chou, Yu-Min Chou , Chang-Hsun Chen, Hsiao-Yun Tsai, Peng Kuo, Chia-chi Chang, Yu-ling Chen, Hsueh-Mei Lee

2010 Vol.26 NO.8

Correspondence Author： Yi-Li Shih

Abstract：

Abstract

In order to understand the influenza pandemic preparedness of local governments and provide feedbacks on the preparedness plan through the evaluation activities, Taiwan CDC, therefore, conducted an overall and comprehensive evaluation on the preparedness level of the Preparedness and Response Plan for Pandemic Influenza in local governments, provided them reference and modification, to gradually promote their preparedness levels. The evaluation shows that although 25 counties/cities have worked on the Preparedness and Response Plan for Pandemic Influenza, there is room for improvement in the overall preparedness of the plan and the level of preparedness. There is wide variation, a 40% difference between counties/cities in terms of preparedness. Among the eight strategic categories, i.e. emergency response mechanism, surveillance, community-based infectious disease prevention, use of antivirals, management of personal protection equipments, healthcare preparedness, risk communication, and continuity of local government operation; the emergency response mechanism registered the highest level of preparedness in local governments, and continuity of local government operation recorded the lowest level of preparedness. In addition, the risk communication is the one with the largest difference in preparedness. Since pandemic influenza has a wide variety of impacts to the whole society, it is not a simple issue can be dealt with by a single health department. Therefore, we recommend that the future evaluation should be in a more perspective and broader thinking so that local governments could be directed to incorporate various departments and to develop a full-dimensional plan.