COMMUNICATIONS

Come on Canterbury, get ‘flu ready!

Cantabrians now have their very own source of reliable, locally relevant information about pandemic influenza, thanks to a new Canterbury District Health Board website.

The site – www.fluinfo.org.nz - has up to date information for households, workplaces and the community, as well as those looking for information about pandemic influenza related health issues.

Visitors to the Royal New Zealand Show this week will be able to see the website and the Pandemic Survival Roadshow* at the Christchurch City Council tent on Royal Ave ( near the New Zealand Food and Wine site).

“The website is as much about helping people prepare homes and workplaces and schools as it is about health information,” says Medical Officer of Health Alistair Humphrey. “Pandemic preparedness is much wider than a health issue – it impacts on every area of peoples’ lives.”

The CDHB hopes that the site will provide local health providers a place they can refer people for reliable, accurate advice, and local community groups a place to start and share pandemic-planning experiences.

“Often people don’t know what to believe on websites,” says Dr Humphrey, “and there are so many different sources of information. We want to create a resource that health professionals, community planners and others can use with confidence, and somewhere the whole community can go for information they can trust.”

The site has a uniquely local flavour, featuring well (and not so well) known Cantabrians with their individual takes on what it means to be pandemic-ready.

“We also hope that community groups, schools, individuals and workplaces will share their preparedness stories on the site: we have so much to learn from one another, and there is some incredible work being done in this area.”

Dr Humphrey says that while everything about a future pandemic remains uncertain, there are some good lessons to be learned from past pandemics.

“In the 1918 pandemic, those communities who were best prepared had the highest survival rates. We don’t know when another pandemic will strike or how bad it will be – but one thing we do know for sure is, preparation is our best defence.”

Official pandemic planning has been going on for more than a year in Canterbury and is progressing steadily with planning for a number of scenarios from a mild influenza to something far more serious.

However, Dr Humphrey says that no amount of organisational planning can replace the work that needs to be done at every level of the community.

“Despite all the hi-tech alternatives available today, simple things like impeccable hygiene, the ability to distance ourselves from others and good, solid preparation are the most important things for us all to be thinking about.”

For further information visit www.fluinfo.org.nz

ENDS

*The Pandemic Survival Roadshow was built by Science Alive for Canterbury’s health and emergency management organizations to educate communities about the need to prepare for pandemic influenza. Agencies involved include the Canterbury District Health Board, South Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury Civil Defence Emergency Management Group, Science Alive, Environment Canterbury, territorial authorities and Red Cross. For further information see http://www.pandemicroadshow.org.nz/