Pandemic Planning – surely a time for reason.

Pam Kermode, Chief Health Visitor, recently organised a meeting of faith groups to discuss their role supporting the health services in the event of a Bird Flu pandemic. Whilst the Isle of Man Freethinkers are not strictly a “faith group”, as their members rely on evidence and reason to explain why things happen in the world, they were nonetheless invited to take part.

Given that many of the members have a scientific background and most enjoy discovering what are the latest developments in science it perhaps doesn’t sound that surprising they should have be asked to contribute.

The delegates were asked to perform their burial services in a timely manner, to ensure their members do not meet in groups or that individuals refrain from visiting the sick and bereaved – on the face of it this may sound harsh – however if a pandemic does take hold limiting exposure to the virus and restricting contact will be cornerstones of preventing the further spread of the disease.

Stuart Hartill represented the Freethinkers and reported to the group at their Darwin Day meeting on Sunday, “We need to adopt a rational approach to a practical problem, Flocking together would not be most sensible thing to do! Going from house to house or meeting in a public place, whilst offering comfort, will only serve to spread the disease – instead our members will use modern communication techniques to keep in touch with each other”.