Bermuda Measles Outbreak Tabletop Exercise
The Ministry of Health recently organized Bermuda’s Measles Outbreak Tabletop Exercise, stating that “this significant event gathered stakeholders from various sectors to comprehensively assess the Bermuda Public Health Emergency and the Measles Outbreak Preparedness and Response Plans.”
A Government spokesperson said, “Their collective expertise and insights will be instrumental in reviewing and updating the existing preparedness and response plans. By actively participating and engaging in this exercise, Bermuda is demonstrating its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of its citizens.”
“The primary objective of the recently conducted Measles Outbreak Tabletop Exercise was to conduct a thorough and critical review of the existing plans,” said Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Shaun Ramroop.
“Our approach with this exercise was one of learning and improvement, viewing the identification of challenges or potential weaknesses in the plan as an opportunity to enhance our preparedness and resilience. This exercise is vital in bolstering our ability to respond to measles and any potential public health emergencies.”
The Government spokesperson said, “The day-long tabletop exercise was essential to ensure that key stakeholders involved in the Bermuda Measles Outbreak Preparedness and Response Plan were aware of their responsibilities.
“The exercise also tested the operational realities of executing the plan and ensuring that Bermuda has capabilities for all hazards, health emergencies and disaster risk management, including the core capacities needed to fulfill our responsibilities under the International Health Regulations [IHR] 2005. The goal is to ensure that Bermuda builds its own standing capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from humanitarian emergencies and large outbreaks.”
Minister of Health Kim Wilson said, “I am grateful to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer for organizing this tabletop exercise, and I want to thank everyone who participated. Our stakeholder cooperation is crucial for a successful and efficient response to any public health emergency. I would especially like to thank our planning team, the UK Health Security Agency [UKHSA], and the Caribbean Public Health Agency [CARPHA] for their support and guidance in planning and implementing the exercise.
“A lot of work went into this exercise, and all participants had to prepare for it beforehand by reading a huge volume of written materials. The exercise identified lessons beyond the specifics of measles and will be vital in improving our preparedness for any public health emergency.”
The Government spokesperson said, “The Evaluation Team, which includes technical officers from the Caribbean Public Health Agency [CARPHA] and other independent public health specialists, is preparing a post-exercise report with recommendations to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer based on the lessons learnt from the exercise. These recommendations will enable necessary updates to the Bermuda Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, the Measles Outbreak Response Plan and technical documents.”
