Round Table Discussion of Bird Flu

Collaboration of IMAKAHI-CIVAS

It seems that the handlings of bird flu problems in Indonesia are going for the better. This can be seen from the government’s commitment to create a National Committee for Avian Influenza Control and Influenza Pandemic Preparedness (Komnas FBPI) through the government’s decree (Peraturan Pemerintah) No. 07/Year 2006.

Bird flu is a zoonotic disease (an animal disease that can be transmitted to human or visa versa) which is the full responsibility of the veterinarian profession. This shows that handling of bird flu is part of the profession’s responsibility, but there still are some who do not have the same point of view, whether they are from veterinarians or veterinary students thus the appropriate format for bird flu mitigation efforts has not been formulated. Such condition serves as a main hindrance in the struggle to overcome bird flu. With the presence of this problem, IMAKAHI (Indonesian Veterinary Student Association) in collaboration with CIVAS (Center for Indonesia Veterinary Analytical Studies) conducted a discussion to search for the right format in handling bird flu.

This discussion which is themed “Investigate the Difficulties in Avian Influenza Control and Handling in Indonesia”. This discussion was attended by veterinarians from various institutions and veterinary students. This event was held on Wednesday, April 19^th 2006 in PPDH classroom, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University, Darmaga, Bogor.

This event was opened by the Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural Institute, Dr. drh. Heru Setijanto and then continued by a Round Table discussion where in this discussion every participant was given the same right to address their opinion in the handling of Bird Flu. This discussion also presented the initiators of the discussion which are: Dr. drh. Syamsul Bahri (Directorate of Animal Health) representing the government; Dr. drh. I Wayan Teguh Wibawan, MS representing researchers; drh. Tri Satya Putri N, MPhil, PhD from CIVAS; and Agus Jaelani, SKH from IMAKAHI; and as the facilitator of the event was Iwan Berri Prima who was the Head of IMAKAHI 2006-2008.
Also attending the discussion was drh. M. Azar who also was representing the Directorate of Public Veterinary Health. He said that the involvement of his directorate in the handling of bird flu has been as optimal as possible, even though sometimes there are still some overlapping, and what was most unfortunate was the slowness of the government to publish a decree to the Directorate of Veterinary Public Health regarding bird flu handling. Besides that, other participants such as Bambang (from Ragunan Animal Zoo, Jakarta) also said that the government shouldn’t always concentrate on different sectors of poultry but also wild animals which also have the potential for bird flu transmission. drh. Zahid Ilyas (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) stated that full involvement of epidemiology experts is imperative, reflecting that epidemiologically this disease still can not be plotted / explained. drh. Fitri Nur Santi Poernomo (Alumni of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) said that there needs to be solid cooperation from all parties. drh. Agus Lelana (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) stated that if he was the Coordinating Minister of Public Welfare then what should be done in bird flu handling is public involvement based on economy instead of making the public as objects, particularly in terms of compensation and indemnity because their poultry were identified as infected by bird flu. He also stated the importance of clear regulations in macro animal health management. Dr. drh. Retno D. S (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) stated the necessity for further studies, remembering that AI virus is still a mystery and as a concrete measure is the building of a Bio Safety Level 3 Laboratory particularly for researchers in educational institutions thus preventing the occurrence of different results from different laboratories in terms of bird flu assessment. drh. Agus Setiono (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) said that the government should form an integrated laboratory where there are doctors, veterinarians, biologists etc so they can work together to unfold the mysteries of this virus. drh. Mila (CIVAS) stated that other than just veterinary authority or animal health regulations, Indonesia also needs commitment from all parties in handling bird flu and this is supported by concrete evidence and data. For example, control measures in sector 3 and 4 that requires accuracy of the surveillance result data. drh. Memed (Ministry of Agriculture) said that commitment from all parties are necessary and mainly public involvement is an important point in bird flu handling. Luski (student from Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) stated that lecturers/teachers in universities should not just deliver scientific lectures, but also be up to date, even practicum equipment particularly for infectious disease practices (to study AI) should receive attention from the government, either for the sufficiency, technology or effectiveness of the equipments to be used by students. Dr. drh. Denny W. Lukman (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bogor Agricultural University) stated his opinion that clear authority/regulations are necessary in terms of animal disease handling in general, not just bird flu. Veterinary public health should even be the very foundations in zoonotic disease handling. Besides that, the involvement of epidemiology should be of great consideration in disease handling, whether it is animal diseases in general or bird flu in particular.