1st HIA FOR ASEAN WORKSHOP “UNDERSTANDING HEALTH IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (HIA): A FOUNDATION FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE ASEAN
COMMUNITY
COUNTRY PRESENTATION :
NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
By:
Dr. Jeffrin Yusof
Public Health Medical Officer
Ministry of Health
Brunei Darussalam
Presentation Outline
1. Brief overview on Brunei Darussalam
2. Health Status in Brunei Darussalam
3. Why we should have HIA in Brunei
Darussalam
4. HIA development in Brunei Darussalam
5. Recommendations for promoting HIA in
Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN
6. Challenges in Brunei Darussalam
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
COUNTRY PROFILE
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Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan
Total area : 5,765 sq km
Total population : 414,400 (2010)
Ethnic group : Malay, Chinese, Indigenous and others
Government type : Sultanate constitution (known as Malay Islamic
Monarchy)
• Import : Machinery and Transport Equipments, Manufactured goods,
Foods and Chemicals
• Export : Crude Oil, Natural Gas
• Natural resources : Oil and Gas
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM PROFILE
• Four districts:1. Brunei-Muara
2. Belait
3. Tutong
4. Temburong
• Terrain: To the East - flat coastal
plain rises to mountains; to the
West - hilly lowland with a few
mountain ridges.
• Climate:
Equatorial;
high
temperatures and high humidity,
and rainfall.
• Languages:
Malay,
English,
Chinese,
Iban
and
other
indigenous dialects
HEALTH STATUS IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
• The four leading causes of death which accounted for 50% of the
total deaths are Cancer (malignant neoplasms), Heart Diseases,
Diabetes mellitus and Cerebrovascular Diseases (2010)
• All Brunei citizens have access to free healthcare from public
hospitals
WHY WE SHOULD HAVE HIA IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
WHY WE SHOULD HAVE HIA IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
As part of our National Health Care Plan Strategic Goals:•
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Enhance the quality of health care
Improve the quality of policy-making and management
Enhance cost-effectiveness in Health Service Delivery
Seek innovative ways for health care financing and funding
Promotion of cultural changes in the work place
Enhancing technology and information management
Strengthening the management of the emergence of chronic non communicable
diseases
• Prevention of the re-emergence of ‘old’ communicable diseases
In terms of environmental policy:•
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To maintain sustainable utilization of natural resources
To minimize negative impacts on environment arising from population growth
and human activities
To achieve balanced goals of socio-economic development and sound
environmental quality
HIA DEVELOPMENT IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
In Brunei Darussalam, relevant departments and agencies have developed guidelines,
standards and regulations to protect the environment. The recent development of the
Environment Order by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation has brought
all relevant acts and regulations under one umbrella to address the environmental issues.
Some of the relevant acts / guidelines adopted are listed as follows:• Poison Act: This legislation extends provision to control the import, sale, storage,
handling and use of hazardous chemicals. All chemicals, which are classified under the
scheduled list, are subjected to legislative control by this act. The control of these
chemicals are governed by the issuance of licence to import and store, to keep and sell
by wholesale or retail.
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Land transport Act: This led to the establishment of vehicle inspection centres and
accreditation of workshops. The act also looks into the emissions generated from
vehicles.
• Standard for Industrial Effluents: The guideline outlines the accepted standards to be
observed by all industries and other sources which discharge the effluents directly into
sewage treatment plants and waterways
HIA DEVELOPMENT IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
• Municipal Act and the Miscellaneous Licenses Act: Controls all business activities and
issuances of licences
• Infectious Disease Act: Controls and prevents infectious diseases in Brunei Darussalam
and prevents the entry of such diseases through the various movements of population.
EHD/201
HIA DEVELOPMENT IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
• Public Health (Food) Act, 2000: Controls the quality and safety of imported and locally
produced food products, and assessment of food premises and food handlers.
• Public Health Emergency Operation Plan: Primarily to guide Public Health Personnel in
planning, mitigating and responding to a public health emergency in Brunei Darussalam
according to current best practices and taking into consideration the constraints within
the Department of Health Services.
• Building Guidelines and Requirements, Brunei Darussalam Standard: Subject to
periodical review to the current needs of the local industries to keep abreast of
progress in the industries concerned, for example, health requirements for building
industrial premises.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTING HIA
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM AND ASEAN
BRUNEI
• Identification of stakeholders involved in HIA and proper governance of
HIA by stakeholders and thus having consistency between multi-sectoral
stakeholders in the application of HIA
• Identification and clarification of activities of HIA and EIA is required
whether it needs to be separated or integrated as this involves different
Ministries, namely the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Development,
respectively, in order to prevent duplication
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• Requirement of epidemiological studies, reviews, mapping and
development of methodological processes for HIA
• Capacity building and training further required in the application of HIA
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTING HIA
IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM AND ASEAN
BRUNEI
• Existing policies and guidelines may need to be reviewed to determine
whether HIA is necessary and every HIA in place should be reviewed and
updated if necessary through S.W.O.T analysis (Strength, Weaknesses,
Opportunity, Threats)
• Surveillance and monitoring programmes should be established and
enhanced to gather evidence based data and information, as a reference
in decision making.
• Widespread public awareness on the importance of HIA is necessary
• Enhancing community participation in prevention and health promotion
programmes.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROMOTING HIA
IN YOUR COUNTRY AND ASEAN
ASEAN LEVEL
Sharing and support amongst ASEAN member states and relevant
international organisations in the areas of :
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Capacity building
Expertise
Information sharing
Experience
Advisory
Technology
CHALLENGES IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
• Further expertise and manpower
• Training and capacity building
• Evidence based practices and research
• Understanding of HIA amongst high level multi-sectoral stakeholders
• Funding and resources
• Public awareness and participation
THANK YOU