Materia Medica Malaysiana

Kelantan’s attitude towards healthcare draws flak

KOTA BARU: The Health Ministry has criticised Kelantan for failing to adopt adequate measures to safeguard the health of the people, so much so that they continuously face outbreaks of diseases.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad claimed that the state and local authorities were weak and not committed to wiping out infectious diseases especially typhoid that hit the state this month.
He said the latest outbreak occurred 20 days ago and had claimed two lives but the Health Department had only been asked to brief Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and the state exco about the situation today (yesterday).
“I am not saying the state is insensitive but if this had happened in other states, they would have asked the Health Department to give a briefing once the first case occurred.
“Here, it has entered the third week but no briefings have taken place. To me, it (yesterday's briefing) is way too late,” he told reporters after an interview with Radio Manis.fm about the typhoid fever.
“A state government and local authorities that are close to the people should have acted much earlier in tackling the problem, including through enforcement, campaigns and lectures and taking the necessary preventive measures.”
As of yesterday, 280 typhoid cases were reported with 128 patients being treated at the Kota Baru Hospital, 28 in Tumpat, 13 in Pasir Mas, 24 in Machang and 16 in Pasir Puteh.
Sixty others are receiving treatment at the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital, nine at the Perdana Hospital and two at the Kota Baru Medical Centre.