Influenza A H1N1 Vaccines for Brunei Darussalam

4th November 2009, Wednesday – According to press reports (The Brunei Times, 4th November 2009: Brunei gets first shipment of H1N1 vaccines; Borneo Bulletin/Brudirect, 4th November 2009: First Batch of Flu Vaccine Arrive), 1500 doses of H1N1 vaccines arrived on 2nd November 2009, Monday.

Another 4,500 doses should be received by today (4th November 2009, Wednesday) making the total that are available in Brunei Darussalam to 6000 doses. 476,000 doses will arrive in stages from this December until January 2010.

The vaccinations will be carry out VOLUNTARILY i.e for those who want to get vaccinated.

Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Health, says:

• 900 from the 6000 doses is allocated for Haj pilgrims. Ministry of Health will send doctors to give the vaccines to Hal pilgrims at Mekah and Medinah.
• The remaining 5100 doses (out of the 6000 doses) will be given to frontline workers.
• The vaccines would be given FREE to all residents in Brunei Darussalam, including the foreigners. But, travellers passing through Brunei are not eligible for the vaccines.
• Ministry of Health encourages people to obtain the vaccination.
• Public will be vaccinated AFTER the Ministry of Health’s frontline workers and chronic patients get vaccinated.

Dr Hajah Rahmah binti Haji Mohammad Said, Director-General of Health Services, says:

• One can be vaccinated if only he/she is fever free and in good health.
• Before receiving the vaccination, one have to give their CONSENT and undergo COUNSELLING SESSIONS.
• Children aged 6 months to 10 years needed to be vaccinated twice i.e 4 weeks apart.
• Children aged 10 years above and adults only need one dose.

p/s: I hope I understand the press reports correctly....And, according to The Brunei Times (4th November 2009), Brunei has 1,170 confirmed H1N1 cases. The latest cases are recorded on 26th October 2009.

Further reading:

• Medical News Today (8th October 2009): WHO Emphasizes H1N1 Vaccine Safety
• US News and World Reports (15th October 2009): Opinion: Whether to Get the H1N1 Vaccine.
• World Health Organization (WHO): Vaccines for Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1)
• Flu.Gov: Know To Do About The Flu
• NeuroLogica Blog (17th August 2009): H1N1 Vaccine and GBS
• CNN (1st October 2009): What to know about getting H1N1 vaccine
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC USA): Q&A 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine
• Reuters (6th October 2009): WHO says H1N1 vaccines safe, urges mass take-up
• Public Health Agency of Canada: H1N1 Vaccine Information
• Borneo Bulletin/Brudirect (6th November 2009): Haj Pilgrims Receive Vaccination (Updated: 6th November 2009)

Selamat Hari Guru 2009

3rd November 2009, Tuesday--Brunei Darussalam celebrates Teachers' Day on 23rd September every year. This year the 23rd September falls on 3rd Syawal 1430 Hijrah when pupils and teachers were still on 3rd term school & Ramadan and Syawal special holiday as well as in Aidilfitri celebration mode. Therefore, the celebration ceremony is postponed until 5 November 2009M/17 Zulkaedah 1430H, Thursday.

The ceremony will be held at International Convention Center, Berakas. The theme for this year celebration is "Guru Berkualiti Teras Kecemerlangan Pendidikan" (“Quality Teachers Are The Heart Of Excellent Education”)

Background of Brunei Darussalam’s Teachers’ Day
Teachers’ Day in Brunei Darussalam is held every 23 September since 1991. The 23rd September is also the birthday of Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien. This date is chosen as Brunei Darussalam’s Teachers’ Day to recognise and to remember Al-Marhum’s contribution in education, including the Islamic religious education.

SRTLDB: Teachers' Day Celebration Ceremony 2009

31st October 2009, Saturday --Teachers from Sekolah Rendah Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (SRTLDB), Muara held the Teachers' Day celebration ceremony at Paradise Mangrove Resort, Sungai Belukut on 29th October 2009, Thursday.

Brunei Darussalam celebrates Teachers' Day on 23rd September every year. This year the 23rd September falls on 3rd Syawal 1430 Hijrah when pupils and teachers were still on 3rd term school & Ramadan and Syawal special holiday as well as in Aidilfitri celebration mode. Therefore, the celebration ceremony is postponed until 5 November 2009, Thursday. The ceremony will be held at International Convention Center, Berakas. The theme for this year celebration is "Guru Berkualiti Teras Kecemerlangan Pendidikan"

We, at SRTLDB, celebrated our own day one week earlier due to most us will attend some briefing, workshop, course, etc. in the whole November 2009.

A journey from my school...

First, I took a photo of my latest model car collection in my Suzuki Swift.

Mangrove Paradise Resort

The entrance

The bridge

A view from our event location...Kampung Sungai Bunga.

Kampung Sungai Bunga...one of the resettlement housing scheme on water.

Another view of Kampung Sungai Bunga.

One of the activity on the river...

The blind...

A green boat is passing by....

A boat carrying the gravel from Temburong....

The Ceremony

Our Guru Besar is delivering her speech..."...be a quality teacher," she reminded the teachers.

The packaging of the gift that we received from our Guru Besar.

The gift is unveiled...Kingston 2Gb Data Traveller USB Pendrive.

In addition, we do celebrates the birthday anniversary who are born in October. One of them is me.

This is a special Teachers' Day cake for our Guru Besar and Penolong Guru Besar.

The Menu

Spoon & Fork

Napkin

Chicken soup

Black pepper beef

Roasted chicken with nasi ayam style sauce

Fish head

(Photos: Abdul Rashid bin Haji Tahir. Taken on 29th October 2009, Thursday)

Related Links:

• Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam: Teachers' Day Celebration
• The Daily Brunei Resources: Kampung Sungai Bunga
• Brudirect/ Borneo Bulletin (9Th October 2009) : Mangrove Resort Opens on the Brunei River

Ahad's Burger at University of Brunei Darussalam Convocation Festival 2009

28th October 2009, Wednesday - This afternoon, I went to a bazaar that is held at University Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in conjunction with its Convocation Festival 2009 ("Pesta Konvo"). My "mission" is to get a taste of Ahad's Burger. Ahad's Burger has been introduced to me through a photography forum i.e forum.bruneiforever.com by its members.

I bought 2 variaties of the burgers: beef with cheese and egg & chicken. The beef burger with cheese and egg costs BND2.50 each. The chicken burger costs BND1.50 each.

My first intention to go UBD this afternoon was to attend a public seminar that was held at the Senate Room, Chancellor Hall (in addition to have a taste of Ahad's Burger, of course). So, I ate my burgers at my car. I ate them with a can of Pepsi-Cola. Coca-Coca or Pepsi-Cola and burger do come together in terms of taste.

However, due to certain reasons, I have to cancel my intention to come to the seminar. At least, I get my burgers.




(Photos: Abdul Rashid bin Haji Tahir. Taken on 28th October 2009, Wednesday)

Related Links:

• Brudirect/Borneo Bulletin: Food Bazaar As Part of UBD Convocation Festival by Haji Afiq Haji Julah
• FaceBook: Ahad's Burger

Attending A Briefing On Orientation Workshop for Year 2 Science Teachers (2010 Session)

27th October 2009, Tuesday -- I was attending a briefing on the Orientation Workshop for the Year 2 Science Teacher (2010 session) that was held at the Main Hall of New Ministry of Education Building on 17th October 2009, Saturday. The briefing and then the workshop was organised by Science and Agriculture Unit, Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education.

The Orientation Workshop was then held at Sekolah Rendah Katok A on 21st October to 22nd October 2009 for Group A, and on 24th October & 26th October 2009 for Group B.

I can understand that Sistem Pendidikan Negara Abad 21 (SPN21) emphasises new syllabus for the Science subject and "discovery-enquiry" method of learning Science subject.






(Photos: Abdul Rashid bin Haji Tahir. Taken on 17th October 2009, Saturday)

Related Link

• Blog: Science and Agriculture Unit, Curriculum Development Department, Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam

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