Meeting core capacity requirements for international points of entry
The Ministry of Health leads the programme to ensure New Zealand’s international airports and seaports meet the standards of public health preparedness expected by the international community.
Public health units are working with our international airport and port stakeholders to assess whether they meet the core capacities required under the International Health Regulations 2005. These regulations were developed by a process involving the international community over a number of years. New Zealand participated in this process and has signed up to the International Health Regulations.
Border health core capacities
These core capacities are regarded as critical for preventing the international spread of disease and other public health risks. There are two types of core capacities that are required at our international airports and seaports. These are described in Articles 19–22 and Part B of Annex 1 of the IHR.
Capacities required at all times
These capacities are regarded as ‘business as usual’ and set out some fundamental capacities that all points of entry should have access to on a daily basis.
- Medical service and diagnostic staff and equipment
- Staff and equipment for the recovery and transportation of ill travellers
- Trained personnel for the inspection of aircraft or ships
- A safe environment for users of international airport or seaport facilities, including water, catering facilities, wash rooms, disposal services and an inspection programme
- Trained staff and programmes for vector control (eg, rats and mosquitoes).
Capacities required during a public health emergency of international concern
These capacities focus on being prepared for, and being able to appropriately respond to, significant public health event that could impact on the international community.
- Emergency response planning and coordination
- Communication contact points for relevant airport and ports, public health authorities and other agencies
- Assessment and care for affected travellers, animals and goods by establishing arrangements with medical and veterinary facilities for isolation and treatment
- Space to interview suspect or affected persons away from other travellers
- Assessment and quarantine of suspect or affected travellers at facilities away from the international port
- Recommended control measures to de-insect, disinfect, and decontaminate baggage and other cargo
- Entry/exit control for departing and arriving passengers
- Access to required equipment and protection gear for personnel to transfer travellers with infection/contamination.
Assessing our core capacities
New Zealand international points of entry are currently being assessed to ensure they meet the IHR’s core capacity requirements. The assessment programme is being led by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry has designated local public health units to undertake the assessment process for our international airports and sea ports.
The WHO and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have worked together to develop an assessment and designation process for international points of entry, with a goal of international compliance by the end of 2012. WHO created a standardised tool to assess the capacities of international airports and seaports. This will identify any limitations so that they can be remedied.
Based on a satisfactory report to the Ministry of Health, New Zealand’s international airports and sea ports will then be designated as approved points of entry, a status which will be notified to the international community.
In 2010 a pilot assessment was undertaken at Christchurch International Airport Limited. This work was led by Community and Public Health, and the outcomes of the pilot were shared with other public health units so that the key lessons could be used to help the assessment process at the other points of entry. Assessments are also being carried out at:
- Auckland International Airport
- Wellington International Airport
- Rotorua International Airport
- Hamilton International Airport
- Dunedin International Airport
- Queenstown International Airport
- Whenuapai Air Base
- Ohakea Air Base.
Using the assessment tool
The assessment process is a verification of core capacities at our international points of entry. Most, if not all, of these core capacities will already be in place. As such, the verification will likely focus on existing risk-management strategies and initiatives, such as:
- facilities, equipment, and available medical staff
- food safety plans
- plans and systems around the provision of essential services such as potable water supplies and medical services
- vector control programmes
- contingency plans for emergency events.
The assessment tool is a crucial document to support public health staff in their verification processes. It can be used to map existing core capacities, with cross-references to existing systems, plans, procedures and resources. This systematic process will identify any gaps in the core capacities so that planning staff can remedy them.
The assessment process
The core capacity assessments are being conducted via a staged process that includes the following stages and activities:
-
Preparation stage:
- Ministry to engage with the responsible public health unit
- Notification of the assessment to the airport company’s point of contact
- Data acquisition prior to initial visit.
-
Visit(s):
- Briefing of point of contact and other stakeholders
- Collect plans
- Interview key staff (if necessary)
- Physical inspection of facilities (again only if necessary).
- Analysis phase by the assessment team.
-
Compilation of draft report:
- Back-brief stakeholders.
-
Final report issued:
- Remedial work (if necessary) undertaken and verified.
-
Confirmation of designation:
- the Competent Authority notifies Ministry of Health of the successful assessment
- Ministry notifies ICAO and WHO
- WHO and ICAO publish the airport’s designation.
Page last updated: 16 January 2012
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