Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wish to inform the House that Mauritius, as a tropical island state with heavy rainfall, flooding, including urban density and continuous international travel, remains vulnerable to the spread and importation of infectious diseases such as Chikungunya, Dengue and Mpox. My Ministry has therefore reinforced preparedness, surveillance and response mechanism in collaboration with the relevant Ministries and stakeholders. With regard to part (a)(i) of the question, all regional hospitals and designated health institutions are equipped with isolation and treatment facilities for infectious diseases. The New Souillac Hospital serves as the designated admitting institution for highly infectious disease due to its proximity to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Strategic stockpiles of personal protective equipment, disinfectants, medicines, laboratory consumables and infection prevention and control materials are maintained. Laboratory diagnostic capacities have also been strengthened through collaboration with organisations such as the World Health Organisation, the Indian Ocean Commission and Africa CDC. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as regard Area Health Centres and Community Health Centres, these institutions play a key role in early detection reporting, prevention and management of infectious diseases though screening, triage, referral vaccination, health education and surveillance activities. With regard to sanitary officers posted at the airport and port, officers are deployed on a roster basis to screen incoming passengers and vessels. Free pratique is granted to vessels only after clearance by my Ministry. Incoming passengers are required to complete the Mauritius all-in-one Travel form and particulars of travellers arriving from affected countries are transmitted to the 13 regional health offices for follow-up surveillance. Blood and sputum samples are taken whenever required for laboratory analysis. In addition, dedicated general practitioners have been deployed to strengthen surveillance against imported infectious diseases. Enhanced surveillance protocols are implemented for passengers arriving from countries affected by diseases such as Mpox, including physical visits, telephone monitoring and immediate referral procedures where necessary. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, effective prevention and control require coordinated action across several sectors. Mauritius has therefore strengthened intersectoral collaboration under the ‘One Health’ approach involving Ministries responsible for Environment, Agro-Industry, Local Government, Tourism, Education and other relevant stakeholders. A multisectoral committee chaired by me ensures high level coordination for surveillance, vector control, sanitation, risk communication and outbreak preparedness. I am tabling the various measures put in place regarding preparedness to respond to emerging infectious diseases. With regard to part (b) of the question, my Ministry has developed and implemented several preparedness and response plans, including the national operational plans for Leptospirosis, Mpox, Dengue, Chikungunya and viral haemorrhagic fever diseases. These preparedness and response plans are also implemented in Rodrigues. Mauritius is also implementing innovative vector control strategies such as the sterile insect techniques involving the release of sterile male Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes in selected regions to reduce vector populations, risk communication and community engagement activities are carried out through door-to-door sensitisation, schools, community talks and mass media campaigns to encourage behavioural change and elimination of breeding sites.

The hon. Second Member for Rodrigues! RODRIGUES – BUS MODERNISATION SCHEME – SEMI-FLOOR BUSES PURCHASE – SUBSIDY REVIEW