Chairperson of the ICC CWC 2007 Medical, Health & Anti-Doping Directorate, Dr. Marion Bullock DuCasse, yesterday disclosed that medical and health authorities for the tournament would have instant access to public-health developments in these countries, including the nine Host Venues.

"We are going to make public-health surveillance real-time and web-based. We want to share information as it happens across the countries. This will be supported by the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre and the plan has been extended to 21 countries regionally," she elaborated as the sixth Medical Directorate meeting began in Barbados.

Dr. DuCasse revealed this decision was taken at the recent meeting of CARICOM Health Ministers, held to focus on tournament preparations, and would be among the major items on the agenda for the three-day meeting.

Among other matters scheduled for discussion is the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which includes the naming of an IHR focal point for 24-hour contact.

"This unit will have designated individuals for alert and/or response to any public-health emergency of international concern," she explained.

The Medical Directorate will also discuss service delivery at Medical Stations and Doping Control Stations; hospital services and emergency care; the management of match-day operations with regards to medical services and the implementation of testing for the ICC Anti-Doping Code.

Various officials are slated to make presentations to the directorate, including PAHO Advisor for Disease Preparedness, Hugo Martinez; CARICOM Executive Director - Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jacqulyn Joseph and Director of the Forensic Sciences Centre, Cheryl Corbin.

Meanwhile, the eighth meeting of the ICC CWC 2007 Security Directorate finished yesterday with various critical decisions being determined.

"We've just completed three days of intensive work in which we were able to decide on a number of operational matters and integrated approaches to the public-safety, disaster-management and security roll-out, in conjunction with the Medical Directorate," said ICC CWC 2007 Security Director, John Collymore.

"These critical decisions will be implemented as the tournament approaches and the plans will be underpinned by a structured training programme specially designed for the tournament."

Government Liaison and Security Manager for the Trinidad & Tobago Local Organising Committee (LOC), Trevor Percival, said this meeting of the Security Directorate underlined the "enormous responsibility which we have with regards to ensuring tournament safety".

Source: cricketworldcup.com