An international forum on A/H1N1 flu prevention opened here on Monday with discussion on mapping out urgent measures to put the flu under control, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

The six-day forum drew representatives of national health agencies, Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from nine countries of Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

The forum, organized by Vietnam Red Cross, aims to strengthen cooperation among countries in putting forward action plans on A/H1N1 influenza prevention with support of Red Cross, Red Crescent agencies, non-governmental organizations and relevant agencies.

The forum takes place at the critical time when many countries and regions across the world are witnessing the complicated development of the A/H1N1 flu. Therefore, the forum will lay out a chance to exchange experience and lessons on designing plans to prevent the spread of the A/H1N1 in communities, said chairman of Vietnam Red Cross Tran Ngoc Tang.

At the forum, participants will set up an information network to be shared by relevant units in the process of coping with the A/H1N1 influenza outbreak which has reached global pandemic levels.

Representatives at the forum called on financial and technical support from developed countries to developing ones in the fight against the global flu pandemic.

Source: Xinhua