Mercy to the rescue
THE Malaysian Medical Relief Society, or Mercy Malaysia, was established in 1999 to provide medical and humanitarian aid to war-torn Kosova. Since then, it has sent missions to India, Indonesia, Turkey, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq and Sri Lanka.
While many Malaysians have read about Mercy Malaysia's derring-do in medical and humanitarian relief efforts abroad, few realise the extent of the organisation's work in the country.
Mercy's chief operating officer Mohd Shah Awaluddin said its domestic efforts consist of disaster relief, drug rehabilitation assistance and community programmes.
Since Malaysia is a relatively disaster-free country, Mercy's work concentrates on complementing the efforts of the Government and non-governmental organisations in providing relief to victims of disasters such as floods and fires.
"Our services include medical relief in the form of mobile medical clinics, food distribution and other relief items like clothing and blankets," he said.
Given its participation in disaster relief work in foreign lands, the organisation conducts ongoing preparedness training so that members will be ready to respond quickly should the occasion arises.
"These domestic programmes are also a training ground for our volunteers for international relief. We are raising our standard of humanitarian relief and we want to be on par with other countries," he said.
In the area of community work, Mercy despatches mobile medical clinics to rural communities and urban squatter communities.
"Our mobile clinics are quite unique. Apart from providing medical treatment, we have dental and psychological intervention prog-rammes, non-medical motivational programmes for children and distribution of relief items. So it is a hybrid-type of mobile clinic rather than just one that solely provides medicine," Mohd Shah said.
These community and disaster relief programmes are also run by Mercy chapters in Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Sabah. One more will open in Sarawak soon. With the help of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Mercy conducts routine health check-ups at the mobile clinics. It hopes to gradually introduce a dental programme to all its chapters. It has already started its first mobile dental clinic in Grik at its community programme in Kampung Bongor.
Mercy Malaysia is also actively involved in its Drug Rehabilitation Assistance Programme (DRAP) which it launched last year.
"We realised that what we are doing internationally may not be similar to what we have in the country," said Mohd Shah.
Identifying drug addiction as a major problem, Mercy believes that as a homegrown organisation they have to do something about it.
"In our rehab programme, we assist former drug addicts to integrate back into society. We are not actually, at this point in time, rehabilitating or treating active drug addicts," he added.
Working with the National Drug Agency and a few community-based rehabilitation centres like Pengasih and Ulu Langat's Rumah Sahabat, the programme is divided into several units: humanitarian and outreach, economic, medical, training and awareness.
Mercy Malaysia provides assistance through home visits, counselling and motivational programmes.
One such motivational programme which it conducted last year was "Riang Ria Aidilfitri", which gave ex-addicts a chance to mingle with children from a local orphanage.
A shopping trip, conducted under close supervision, was a resounding success, with the ex-addicts playing "big brother" to the children.
They helped the children to colour Hari Raya cards and to select their festive clothing.
"Acceptance of ex-addicts is very difficult because of the stigma of drug addiction," said Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood, president of Mercy.
"The involvement of active drug users in the recent rape and murder of Nurul Huda Abdul Ghani has created more problems and reinforced the stigma against ex-addicts who are sincerely trying to reform."
"We should correct public perception and help them realise that not all drug addicts are rapists and murderers. There are 800,000 drug addicts in Malaysia. Of this number, only a small percentage commit crimes. A significant number are trying hard to be better people."
Programmes such as "Riang Ria Aidilfitri" helped reformed addicts to feel needed and useful to society.
The added benefit of such a match-up, she added, was that it allowed the orphans to enjoy some much-needed attention as well.
Mohd Shah said that rather than blaming drug users for their addiction, a holistic approach should be taken towards their rehabilitation.
Addiction is a debilitating disease which affects both the mental and physical aspects. It is sometimes the result of the inability to cope with the demands of modern living.
"People with hypertension, cancer and diabetes are given the opportunity to be treated and loved. Not so with drug addiction which is a sickness nonetheless," he said.
Another stumbling block which ex-addicts face in successful reinte-gration is securing employment.
According to both Mohd Shah and Dr Jemilah, the present hostile climate towards drug addicts has not improved matters for ex-addicts hoping to integrate back into society. Many lost their jobs after the Nurul Huda incident.
In the meantime, the economic unit of DRAP is busy compiling a database of prospective employers who are willing to hire ex-addicts.
Dr Jemilah has spoken to a few contractors and bricklayers who are willing to train them in manual labour skills.
She hopes that in future, when manpower and funds are stronger, the ex-addicts will be able to venture into construction work.
"My dream is to get them involved in volunteer construction work. In 1999, a Singaporean non-governmental organisation enlisted the help of reformed ex-addicts to rebuild some villages destroyed by the earthquake in Turkey.
"Upon their return to Singapore, society welcomed them back as useful human beings. We would not necessarily have to venture overseas, but we hope we can start doing something similar in the country with Mercy," she said.
Her suggestion was for the ex-addicts to do community service, repairing kampung homes that were damaged or in bad shape.
"We provide the materials to patch up the houses and we give them an allowance so it will improve their morale,"
Mercy has one special request for its DRAP programme: the help of more male volunteers. At present, most of the volunteers are female and the ex-addicts sometimes find it difficult to open up to members of the opposite sex.
Malaysian Medical News: keeping you up to date with news sourced from various online sites, put in one place for your convenience, with a searchable archive
Friday, February 06, 2004
Thursday, February 05, 2004
Check swallow farms for avian flu
Dr Edmond See, Sungai Petani
2:19pm Wed Feb 4th, 2004
I would like to congratulate the government for taking precautionary steps to prevent the current strain of avian influenza from spreading into our country. It is a relief to know that the authorities here have the foresight to include migratory birds in their list of animals suspected of carrying the flu virus, instead of only confining it to poultry such as chickens and ducks.
Although it has not been scientifically proven that wild birds can harbour the germ, it is always safer to be comprehensive rather than lackadaisical in the practice of preventive medicine. Therefore, it is encouraging to note that the authorities are conducting tests in areas where migratory birds converge and the public is being advised to avoid contact with these birds.
However there is one particular field, which the scientists and authorities have failed to recognise as a potential threat to our nation’s health. This is the cultivation and rearing of swallow birds in premises meant for business, in towns all over Malaysia.
In the past few years, buildings have been converted to resemble the habitat of these birds and various methods have been employed to attract the swallow birds to build their nests in these locations.
read more on this interesting letter to Malaysiakini
Dr Edmond See, Sungai Petani
2:19pm Wed Feb 4th, 2004
I would like to congratulate the government for taking precautionary steps to prevent the current strain of avian influenza from spreading into our country. It is a relief to know that the authorities here have the foresight to include migratory birds in their list of animals suspected of carrying the flu virus, instead of only confining it to poultry such as chickens and ducks.
Although it has not been scientifically proven that wild birds can harbour the germ, it is always safer to be comprehensive rather than lackadaisical in the practice of preventive medicine. Therefore, it is encouraging to note that the authorities are conducting tests in areas where migratory birds converge and the public is being advised to avoid contact with these birds.
However there is one particular field, which the scientists and authorities have failed to recognise as a potential threat to our nation’s health. This is the cultivation and rearing of swallow birds in premises meant for business, in towns all over Malaysia.
In the past few years, buildings have been converted to resemble the habitat of these birds and various methods have been employed to attract the swallow birds to build their nests in these locations.
read more on this interesting letter to Malaysiakini
Supplements sale ban poser
The Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association (Madsa) today expressed
surprise over the ban by the Malaysian Medical Association on doctors selling health supplements.
In a Press statement, Madsa, which represents a group of companies selling dietary supplements, said the ban implied that supplements were detrimental to health.
On Monday, MMA president Dr N. Arumugam was quoted as saying that the association had banned doctors from selling health supplements since last April.
Madsa said there were supplements that had been on a typical doctor's prescription list, including iron for anaemic patients, calcium for osteoporosis and folic acid for pregnant mothers.
In fact, some supplements have entered mainstream medicine, such as the omega-3 fish oil used in the prevention of heart disease.
Prestigious medical journals such as the Journal of American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine had also supported the usage of health supplements, Madsa added.
In view of this, it said it was seeking clarification from the MMA on the move, as it ran counter to the Health Ministry's emphasis on the importance of supplements.
The Malaysian Dietary Supplements Association (Madsa) today expressed
surprise over the ban by the Malaysian Medical Association on doctors selling health supplements.
In a Press statement, Madsa, which represents a group of companies selling dietary supplements, said the ban implied that supplements were detrimental to health.
On Monday, MMA president Dr N. Arumugam was quoted as saying that the association had banned doctors from selling health supplements since last April.
Madsa said there were supplements that had been on a typical doctor's prescription list, including iron for anaemic patients, calcium for osteoporosis and folic acid for pregnant mothers.
In fact, some supplements have entered mainstream medicine, such as the omega-3 fish oil used in the prevention of heart disease.
Prestigious medical journals such as the Journal of American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine had also supported the usage of health supplements, Madsa added.
In view of this, it said it was seeking clarification from the MMA on the move, as it ran counter to the Health Ministry's emphasis on the importance of supplements.
90 per cent of patients who underwent open heart operations are smokers :
KUCHING, Feb 4:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smokers made up over 90 per cent of the patients who underwent open heart operations at the Sarawak General Hospital's cardiac centre since its establishment over two years ago.
The hospital's cardiology unit head Dr Sim Kian-hui said today that 672 people underwent operations at the centre since it was opened in October, 2001.
He added the other patients operated on suffered from heart problems arising out of high blood pressure, high level of "bad" cholesterol, diabetes and genetics.
Speaking to reporters after calling on Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, he said most of the patients who went for the open heart surgeries were between 45 and 52 years old.
"This is very disheartening because young people are suffering from heart problems in Malaysia while in western countries, the average ages of people having the heart operations are 65 to 70 years," he said.
Dr Sim and other staff of the cardiac centre met Abang Johari to brief him on the 7th annual scientific meeting of the Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery which is scheduled to be held here from July 9 to 11.
The scientific meeting is expected to be attended by about 400 heart surgeons and medical specialists from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Italy, Japan and Malaysia.
The conference is listed in the Sarawak'a 2004 tourism calendar of events. Themed "Cardiac patients in the era of emerging techniques and technologies", it is organise by the Sarawak General Hospital's Cardiac Centre Staff Association.
Abang Johari said the meeting was in line with the ministry's aim of making Sarawak a health tourism destination. He added that health tourism was a new area Sarawak wanted to develop.
About 3.2 million tourists visited Sarawak last year compared to about three million in 2002.
Abang Johari said the number could be more had it not been for the worldwide outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Iraq War.
"This year, we are projecting about four million arrivals," he said.
KUCHING, Feb 4:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smokers made up over 90 per cent of the patients who underwent open heart operations at the Sarawak General Hospital's cardiac centre since its establishment over two years ago.
The hospital's cardiology unit head Dr Sim Kian-hui said today that 672 people underwent operations at the centre since it was opened in October, 2001.
He added the other patients operated on suffered from heart problems arising out of high blood pressure, high level of "bad" cholesterol, diabetes and genetics.
Speaking to reporters after calling on Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, he said most of the patients who went for the open heart surgeries were between 45 and 52 years old.
"This is very disheartening because young people are suffering from heart problems in Malaysia while in western countries, the average ages of people having the heart operations are 65 to 70 years," he said.
Dr Sim and other staff of the cardiac centre met Abang Johari to brief him on the 7th annual scientific meeting of the Malaysian Association for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery which is scheduled to be held here from July 9 to 11.
The scientific meeting is expected to be attended by about 400 heart surgeons and medical specialists from Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Italy, Japan and Malaysia.
The conference is listed in the Sarawak'a 2004 tourism calendar of events. Themed "Cardiac patients in the era of emerging techniques and technologies", it is organise by the Sarawak General Hospital's Cardiac Centre Staff Association.
Abang Johari said the meeting was in line with the ministry's aim of making Sarawak a health tourism destination. He added that health tourism was a new area Sarawak wanted to develop.
About 3.2 million tourists visited Sarawak last year compared to about three million in 2002.
Abang Johari said the number could be more had it not been for the worldwide outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and the Iraq War.
"This year, we are projecting about four million arrivals," he said.
Wednesday, February 04, 2004
Disinfectant sprays at Sarawak border - FEB 4, 2004
INDONESIAN travellers entering East Malaysia's Sarawak state are being sprayed with disinfectant in a bid to prevent the spread of bird flu.
State Agriculture Department staff at the Serikin checkpoint also sprayed disinfectant on the tyres of vehicles entering the country from Kalimantan, the New Straits Times said.
The department, with the assistance of the police and military, is mounting 24-hour checks along the border with Indonesia to prevent the smuggling of poultry into the country.
Several Indonesians have been turned away for attempting to bring in chicken through Serikin, about 70 km from the state capital Kuching. -- AFP
INDONESIAN travellers entering East Malaysia's Sarawak state are being sprayed with disinfectant in a bid to prevent the spread of bird flu.
State Agriculture Department staff at the Serikin checkpoint also sprayed disinfectant on the tyres of vehicles entering the country from Kalimantan, the New Straits Times said.
The department, with the assistance of the police and military, is mounting 24-hour checks along the border with Indonesia to prevent the smuggling of poultry into the country.
Several Indonesians have been turned away for attempting to bring in chicken through Serikin, about 70 km from the state capital Kuching. -- AFP
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Bird Flu Watch: Malaysia on full alert, says Chua
MUAR, Feb 3:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The country is on full alert against any outbreak of the bird flu, Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said today.
He said tests on chicken farms by the Veterinary Services Department nationwide showed no sign of the virus.
He said security forces at the Malaysia-Thailand border were also stepping up checks to prevent smuggling of chicken products and livestock.
Chua said strict enforcement was needed to stop any attempt to smuggle in dressed chicken from Thailand which is sold at RM3 per kilo there compared to RM5 per kilo in Malaysia.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and will act swiftly if the need arises,” he told reporters after attending two Gong Xi Fa Cai celebrations organised by Chinese associations and community here.
Chua said the ministry was also concerned over the re-emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in China and fears in Vietnam that pigs might have caught the bird flu, which could result in a new and powerful strain that could be passed on to humans.
He called on private hospitals and clinics to notify the ministry immediately of suspected bird flu victims.
In the event of an outbreak here, he said measures similar to those used to contain SARS would be put into effect.
Chua also advised those returning from countries affected with the bird flu or with symptoms such as sore throat, fever and cough, to seek immediate treatment.
MUAR, Feb 3:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The country is on full alert against any outbreak of the bird flu, Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said today.
He said tests on chicken farms by the Veterinary Services Department nationwide showed no sign of the virus.
He said security forces at the Malaysia-Thailand border were also stepping up checks to prevent smuggling of chicken products and livestock.
Chua said strict enforcement was needed to stop any attempt to smuggle in dressed chicken from Thailand which is sold at RM3 per kilo there compared to RM5 per kilo in Malaysia.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and will act swiftly if the need arises,” he told reporters after attending two Gong Xi Fa Cai celebrations organised by Chinese associations and community here.
Chua said the ministry was also concerned over the re-emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in China and fears in Vietnam that pigs might have caught the bird flu, which could result in a new and powerful strain that could be passed on to humans.
He called on private hospitals and clinics to notify the ministry immediately of suspected bird flu victims.
In the event of an outbreak here, he said measures similar to those used to contain SARS would be put into effect.
Chua also advised those returning from countries affected with the bird flu or with symptoms such as sore throat, fever and cough, to seek immediate treatment.
Monday, February 02, 2004
Sabah bans chicken imports from West Kalimantan
KOTA KINABALU Feb 1 - Sabah has imposed an immediate ban on imports of chicken and related products from Indonesia following reports of bird flu outbreak in West Kalimantan.
State Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said the ban covered all types of chicken, turkey, pheasant, quail, geese, rooster, eggs, hatching eggs as well as frozen and processed chicken.
"The ministry is seeking the cooperation of the authorities manning the border between Sabah and Kalimantan, particularly in Tawau, to help enforce the ban," he said in a statement Sunday.
Neighbouring Sarawak has also imposed a similar ban.
Rahim urged traders, air, sea and land passengers from Indonesia not to bring in the banned products into Sabah.
"All enquiries on the ban can be directed to the Sabah Veterinary Services and Animal Industry Department," he said.
Rahim said Sabah was still free from the deadly birdflu virus and his ministry was monitoring all chicken farms in the state to detect any signs of disease.
The ministry would also conduct checks on migratory birds to determine whether they carried the killer virus, he added.
KOTA KINABALU Feb 1 - Sabah has imposed an immediate ban on imports of chicken and related products from Indonesia following reports of bird flu outbreak in West Kalimantan.
State Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail said the ban covered all types of chicken, turkey, pheasant, quail, geese, rooster, eggs, hatching eggs as well as frozen and processed chicken.
"The ministry is seeking the cooperation of the authorities manning the border between Sabah and Kalimantan, particularly in Tawau, to help enforce the ban," he said in a statement Sunday.
Neighbouring Sarawak has also imposed a similar ban.
Rahim urged traders, air, sea and land passengers from Indonesia not to bring in the banned products into Sabah.
"All enquiries on the ban can be directed to the Sabah Veterinary Services and Animal Industry Department," he said.
Rahim said Sabah was still free from the deadly birdflu virus and his ministry was monitoring all chicken farms in the state to detect any signs of disease.
The ministry would also conduct checks on migratory birds to determine whether they carried the killer virus, he added.
Weaker US dollar leads to higher medicine prices
PETALING JAYA: The depreciation of the US dollar will have an “indirect effect” on the price of medicines and health supplements if American manufacturers import raw materials from countries with currencies which have appreciated against the greenback.
Boehringer Ingelheim general manager (Malaysia/ Singapore/ Brunei) Tan Ki Sing said main currencies like the euro, Swiss franc, sterling pound and Australian dollar were becoming stronger.
“Therefore, the cost of products would be higher if manufacturers imported raw materials from European countries and Australia.
“This is the reason for the increase in the price of medicines and health supplements lately,” he added.
Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president John Chang advised consumers to switch to local products if they could not afford the imported items.
“We should support products made in Malaysia as they are also of good quality,” he said.
Fairchem Pharmacy Sdn Bhd pharmacist Elaine Khoo said the price of medicines and health supplements manufactured in the US saw the most obvious rise compared to items from European countries and Australia.
“The price of these items have increased to about 50% last month. In the end, consumers will be the ones who feel the pinch as we have no other way but to pass the cost to them.
“However, it will not affect pharmacies or consumers much as we can always switch to cheaper brands,” she said.
PETALING JAYA: The depreciation of the US dollar will have an “indirect effect” on the price of medicines and health supplements if American manufacturers import raw materials from countries with currencies which have appreciated against the greenback.
Boehringer Ingelheim general manager (Malaysia/ Singapore/ Brunei) Tan Ki Sing said main currencies like the euro, Swiss franc, sterling pound and Australian dollar were becoming stronger.
“Therefore, the cost of products would be higher if manufacturers imported raw materials from European countries and Australia.
“This is the reason for the increase in the price of medicines and health supplements lately,” he added.
Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president John Chang advised consumers to switch to local products if they could not afford the imported items.
“We should support products made in Malaysia as they are also of good quality,” he said.
Fairchem Pharmacy Sdn Bhd pharmacist Elaine Khoo said the price of medicines and health supplements manufactured in the US saw the most obvious rise compared to items from European countries and Australia.
“The price of these items have increased to about 50% last month. In the end, consumers will be the ones who feel the pinch as we have no other way but to pass the cost to them.
“However, it will not affect pharmacies or consumers much as we can always switch to cheaper brands,” she said.
Sunday, February 01, 2004
Yahoo! News - Bird Flu May Have Passed Between Humans
Does this spell bad news for Malaysia and the rest of Asia?:
---------------------------
HANOI, Vietnam - Two sisters who died of bird flu in Vietnam may have caught the disease from their brother, in what would be the first known case of human-to-human transmission of the illness in its current outbreak, the World Health Organization (news - web sites) said Sunday.
The source of the two sisters' infection has not yet been conclusively identified, said Bob Dietz, a WHO spokesman in Hanoi.
"However, WHO considers that limited human-to-human transmission from the brother to his sisters is one possible explanation," he said.
Laboratory tests in Hong Kong verified that the sisters, aged 23 and 30, had been infected by the H5N1 bird flu virus, he said.
Vietnam now has a total of 10 confirmed cases of bird flu — eight of whom have died. One 8-year-old girl remains in a Ho Chi Minh City hospital while a 4-year-old boy has recovered and been discharged.
Seven of the cases are children under 14 years of age.
"The investigation failed to reveal a specific event, such as contact with sick poultry, or an environmental source to explain these cases," WHO said of the sisters' deaths. "At the same time, such exposures cannot be discounted, either."
The two women became sick after attending their brother's wedding reception. Their 31-year-old brother died Jan. 14 but was cremated so no samples were available to determine whether he also had bird flu.
The sisters, whose identities have not been released, were admitted to the Institute of Clinical Research for Tropical Medicine on Jan. 13 and died Jan. 23.
Health officials have said they believe the disease is contracted through contact with sick chickens. Up until now, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Health officials have warned of the danger that the bird flu virus could combine with a human influenza virus. The two flu viruses could swap genes, resulting in a hybrid with the virulence of bird flu and the contagiousness of human flu, triggering a possible global flu pandemic.
Avian influenza has swept through Asia, infecting millions of chickens in at least 10 countries. Thailand has reported two confirmed human deaths. Governments have been scrambling to destroy the infected birds in a bid to contain the epidemic's spread.
There were instances of limited transmission between people of the H5N1 virus during an outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong in 1997 which killed six people. That outbreak never developed into a significant public health threat.
Does this spell bad news for Malaysia and the rest of Asia?:
---------------------------
HANOI, Vietnam - Two sisters who died of bird flu in Vietnam may have caught the disease from their brother, in what would be the first known case of human-to-human transmission of the illness in its current outbreak, the World Health Organization (news - web sites) said Sunday.
The source of the two sisters' infection has not yet been conclusively identified, said Bob Dietz, a WHO spokesman in Hanoi.
"However, WHO considers that limited human-to-human transmission from the brother to his sisters is one possible explanation," he said.
Laboratory tests in Hong Kong verified that the sisters, aged 23 and 30, had been infected by the H5N1 bird flu virus, he said.
Vietnam now has a total of 10 confirmed cases of bird flu — eight of whom have died. One 8-year-old girl remains in a Ho Chi Minh City hospital while a 4-year-old boy has recovered and been discharged.
Seven of the cases are children under 14 years of age.
"The investigation failed to reveal a specific event, such as contact with sick poultry, or an environmental source to explain these cases," WHO said of the sisters' deaths. "At the same time, such exposures cannot be discounted, either."
The two women became sick after attending their brother's wedding reception. Their 31-year-old brother died Jan. 14 but was cremated so no samples were available to determine whether he also had bird flu.
The sisters, whose identities have not been released, were admitted to the Institute of Clinical Research for Tropical Medicine on Jan. 13 and died Jan. 23.
Health officials have said they believe the disease is contracted through contact with sick chickens. Up until now, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Health officials have warned of the danger that the bird flu virus could combine with a human influenza virus. The two flu viruses could swap genes, resulting in a hybrid with the virulence of bird flu and the contagiousness of human flu, triggering a possible global flu pandemic.
Avian influenza has swept through Asia, infecting millions of chickens in at least 10 countries. Thailand has reported two confirmed human deaths. Governments have been scrambling to destroy the infected birds in a bid to contain the epidemic's spread.
There were instances of limited transmission between people of the H5N1 virus during an outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong in 1997 which killed six people. That outbreak never developed into a significant public health threat.
Database on patients with SARS, bird flu symptoms:
A nationwide database on patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and avian flu symptoms is being planned.
Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said the Government was concerned about the reemergence of SARS in China and the avian flu outbreak in 10 countries that had claimed 10 lives. The ministry's concern came in the wake of fears in Vietnam that pigs may have caught the bird flu which could result in a new and powerful strain that could be passed on to humans.
"The compilation of database on patients with SARS and avian flu symptoms is part of our national surveillance programme to ensure no one in the country is infected with the diseases," Chua said at his Chinese New Year open house in Bukit Damansara today.
He said government hospitals, clinics and health centres had been told to start compiling information of patients, including foreigners, coming in with the symptoms. They were also told to ask if the patients had been to countries affected by SARS and avian flu.
"Specimens from patients suffering from the symptoms such as atypical pneumonia will be sent for laboratory tests," he said.
Government hospitals, clinics and health centres have to send their database, including laboratory test results, to their State Health Departments which in turn will send the data to the ministry.
"We will then study if there has been a dip or rise in the number of people suffering from flu, atypical influenza and atypical pneumonia. The report will also reveal whether the victims were suffering from normal pneumonia or whether there is a need for concern," he added.
An AFP report today said that Beijing had reported a new confirmed case of SARS, bringing the number of confirmed cases in China to four.
Meanwhile, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam have reported outbreaks of avian flu in poultry, while Taiwan and Pakistan have reported weaker strains of the virus.
The virus has claimed 10 lives, eight in Vietnam and two in Thailand.
"Private hospitals and clinics will also help in the national surveillance," said Chua.
Asked whether the avian flu was more serious than SARS, Chua said it was not as the flu was transmitted from poultry to humans, and not from human to human.
"Although no cases of SARS or avian flu have been reported so far, the nation is on the alert with tight security at the borders to prevent the smuggling of livestock from affected countries."
A nationwide database on patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and avian flu symptoms is being planned.
Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said the Government was concerned about the reemergence of SARS in China and the avian flu outbreak in 10 countries that had claimed 10 lives. The ministry's concern came in the wake of fears in Vietnam that pigs may have caught the bird flu which could result in a new and powerful strain that could be passed on to humans.
"The compilation of database on patients with SARS and avian flu symptoms is part of our national surveillance programme to ensure no one in the country is infected with the diseases," Chua said at his Chinese New Year open house in Bukit Damansara today.
He said government hospitals, clinics and health centres had been told to start compiling information of patients, including foreigners, coming in with the symptoms. They were also told to ask if the patients had been to countries affected by SARS and avian flu.
"Specimens from patients suffering from the symptoms such as atypical pneumonia will be sent for laboratory tests," he said.
Government hospitals, clinics and health centres have to send their database, including laboratory test results, to their State Health Departments which in turn will send the data to the ministry.
"We will then study if there has been a dip or rise in the number of people suffering from flu, atypical influenza and atypical pneumonia. The report will also reveal whether the victims were suffering from normal pneumonia or whether there is a need for concern," he added.
An AFP report today said that Beijing had reported a new confirmed case of SARS, bringing the number of confirmed cases in China to four.
Meanwhile, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam have reported outbreaks of avian flu in poultry, while Taiwan and Pakistan have reported weaker strains of the virus.
The virus has claimed 10 lives, eight in Vietnam and two in Thailand.
"Private hospitals and clinics will also help in the national surveillance," said Chua.
Asked whether the avian flu was more serious than SARS, Chua said it was not as the flu was transmitted from poultry to humans, and not from human to human.
"Although no cases of SARS or avian flu have been reported so far, the nation is on the alert with tight security at the borders to prevent the smuggling of livestock from affected countries."
‘MedikTV’ goes on call
The programme launch of ‘MedikTV’ gave the VIP guests, including Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Jui Meng, the jitters when one of the production crew passed out on the stage.
Nurfarahin Jamsari, who is the co-host of the weekly medical programme, was about to introduce the crew on stage when one of them had a heart attack. Panic then ruled the floor.
The minister was aghast, and health experts from several specialist hospitals in Klang Valley were awestricken. Should we help?
The MedikTV production crew, one a plastic surgeon and the other an orthopaediatrician, were on hand to perform CPR, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, while others gripped their seats in fear.
The MedikTV senior broadcast journalist survived, of course, as it was just an act, but what if it wasn’t? Would the general public know how to react?
At the press launch, MedikTV asked and made an important statement – don’t ignore your health.
The half-hour programme aired live every Saturday at 5.30pm is packed with crucial health facts to exterminate mythical beliefs on certain medical conditions.
The station’s chief executive officer Datuk Farid Ridzuan said the programme would give the audience an in-depth report on the issues it tackled without the jargon.
“The programme will be informative yet not filled with medical jargon. We want our viewers to be able to understand the diseases or ailments and seek proper treatment,” said Farid.
The programme, however, received feedback on being too brief, giving the audience and the issues discussed limited time on air, despite being well-researched.
“We’re aware of this and if the need arises we will extend the airtime accordingly,” said Farid.
The programme helmed by senior producer Mazlin Nordin underwent four months of research before any production works.
“None of the production crew had medical training, let alone been doctors. But we have to put together this programme, understand the issues and let it reach our viewers,” said Mazlin Nordin.
Mazlin understood the challenge to equip the crew with medical knowledge in order to produce a factual, credible and serious programme like MedikTV.
“The time spent on research was unlike any other programmes that I did before,” said the senior producer whose experiences include producing Majalah 3, Nona and Misteri Nusantara.
“MedikTV’s approach is different. We have to be specific and there’s no room for guessing. Everything is factual, detailed and correct to the issue, right down to pronunciation.”
The MedikTV crew has sought co-operation from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital to advise and counsel.
The hospital generously ‘loaned’ two of its young experts to partake in the show: Dr Mohamed Nasir Zahari and Dr Ismail Saiboon.
Dr Mohamed Nasir co-hosts the programme with Nurfarahin, who regularly appears in Malaysia Hari Ini (TV3 morning talk show) advising on health matters.
Dr Ismail assisted the crew on emergency tips, for example how to perform a CPR and other medical matters featured on the show, right down to correct pronunciation and jargon translations.
“They’re a boon to the show,” said Mazlin.
The programme got the crew donning surgical masks and sterilised robe to film surgeries in operation theatres.
“If the operation takes 10 hours, they will have to stay until the end.”
Patients’ privacy are also looked into as they will have to sign an agreement to be documented on the show.
One thing worries Mazlin – keeping the show human.
“That’s the most challenging aspect of the show. We can get loads of information but to research for a human angle is even more difficult. Without it, the programme will become dry and banal.”
The programme features patients fighting diseases and other conditions. Some cases even lead to tragic aftermaths which altered their whole lives.
“What we offer are insights into the lives of these patients, how to deal with these conditions, and what options are available.
“We also talk on the symptoms of these conditions, so that our audience will be more aware of their health, and therefore help them make better decisions,” said Mazlin.
Popularity of the show is on the rise judging from the call-ins.
“We can only take two calls but the lines are jammed,” she said.
According to Farid, if everything goes well, including viewership rating and interest of sponsors, the programme will be extended and a second season will be considered.
MedikTV is aired every Saturday at 5.30pm.
The programme launch of ‘MedikTV’ gave the VIP guests, including Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Jui Meng, the jitters when one of the production crew passed out on the stage.
Nurfarahin Jamsari, who is the co-host of the weekly medical programme, was about to introduce the crew on stage when one of them had a heart attack. Panic then ruled the floor.
The minister was aghast, and health experts from several specialist hospitals in Klang Valley were awestricken. Should we help?
The MedikTV production crew, one a plastic surgeon and the other an orthopaediatrician, were on hand to perform CPR, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, while others gripped their seats in fear.
The MedikTV senior broadcast journalist survived, of course, as it was just an act, but what if it wasn’t? Would the general public know how to react?
At the press launch, MedikTV asked and made an important statement – don’t ignore your health.
The half-hour programme aired live every Saturday at 5.30pm is packed with crucial health facts to exterminate mythical beliefs on certain medical conditions.
The station’s chief executive officer Datuk Farid Ridzuan said the programme would give the audience an in-depth report on the issues it tackled without the jargon.
“The programme will be informative yet not filled with medical jargon. We want our viewers to be able to understand the diseases or ailments and seek proper treatment,” said Farid.
The programme, however, received feedback on being too brief, giving the audience and the issues discussed limited time on air, despite being well-researched.
“We’re aware of this and if the need arises we will extend the airtime accordingly,” said Farid.
The programme helmed by senior producer Mazlin Nordin underwent four months of research before any production works.
“None of the production crew had medical training, let alone been doctors. But we have to put together this programme, understand the issues and let it reach our viewers,” said Mazlin Nordin.
Mazlin understood the challenge to equip the crew with medical knowledge in order to produce a factual, credible and serious programme like MedikTV.
“The time spent on research was unlike any other programmes that I did before,” said the senior producer whose experiences include producing Majalah 3, Nona and Misteri Nusantara.
“MedikTV’s approach is different. We have to be specific and there’s no room for guessing. Everything is factual, detailed and correct to the issue, right down to pronunciation.”
The MedikTV crew has sought co-operation from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital to advise and counsel.
The hospital generously ‘loaned’ two of its young experts to partake in the show: Dr Mohamed Nasir Zahari and Dr Ismail Saiboon.
Dr Mohamed Nasir co-hosts the programme with Nurfarahin, who regularly appears in Malaysia Hari Ini (TV3 morning talk show) advising on health matters.
Dr Ismail assisted the crew on emergency tips, for example how to perform a CPR and other medical matters featured on the show, right down to correct pronunciation and jargon translations.
“They’re a boon to the show,” said Mazlin.
The programme got the crew donning surgical masks and sterilised robe to film surgeries in operation theatres.
“If the operation takes 10 hours, they will have to stay until the end.”
Patients’ privacy are also looked into as they will have to sign an agreement to be documented on the show.
One thing worries Mazlin – keeping the show human.
“That’s the most challenging aspect of the show. We can get loads of information but to research for a human angle is even more difficult. Without it, the programme will become dry and banal.”
The programme features patients fighting diseases and other conditions. Some cases even lead to tragic aftermaths which altered their whole lives.
“What we offer are insights into the lives of these patients, how to deal with these conditions, and what options are available.
“We also talk on the symptoms of these conditions, so that our audience will be more aware of their health, and therefore help them make better decisions,” said Mazlin.
Popularity of the show is on the rise judging from the call-ins.
“We can only take two calls but the lines are jammed,” she said.
According to Farid, if everything goes well, including viewership rating and interest of sponsors, the programme will be extended and a second season will be considered.
MedikTV is aired every Saturday at 5.30pm.
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Malaysia prevents bird flu outbreak effectively: minister
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The measures taken by the government so far had been effective in preventing outbreak of the bird flu in Malaysia, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said on Friday.
"Although many countries, including our neighbors, have been affected by the outbreak, we are still safe," he told a press conference at his office here.
Chua said Malaysia was prepared to face the outbreak and had taken initial preventive step by banning poultry imports from Thailand, apart from drawing up specific action plans if the disease spread to Malaysia.
He said his ministry had not received any reports of the bird flu or avian flu virus attacking the poultry bred in the country.
So far, 10 people -- eight in Vietnam and two in Thailand -- died of the epidemic, while countries like South Korea, China, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, Pakistan, Chinese Taiwan and Indonesia haveconfirmed the spread of the virus to the World Health Organization(WHO) in Geneva.
Chua said if the outbreak reached Malaysian shores, the first step that must be taken was to destroy the chicken and ducks in the farms to ensure the virus did not infect human beings.
"This step has been taken in Hong Kong, the United States and in the Netherlands not long ago, it proved successful to contain the disease," he said.
Chua also urged livestock breeders to monitor and submit reports to the ministry as soon as possible if they spotted signs of infection in their animals besides carrying out immunization.
The ministry had also ordered hospitals and medical laboratories to be ready to face the possibility of having to dealwith the virus like conducting early diagnosis of the disease, quarantine or monitor the affected areas, he said.
He said the Veterinary Services Department had also been asked to monitor bird sanctuaries and other locations to detect if the bird flu virus was carried by migratory birds.
Earlier, Chua attended a meeting in Bangkok, which discussed the bird flu outbreak along with agriculture and health ministers from the region, besides officers from the European Union, the United States, World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Enditem
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- The measures taken by the government so far had been effective in preventing outbreak of the bird flu in Malaysia, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said on Friday.
"Although many countries, including our neighbors, have been affected by the outbreak, we are still safe," he told a press conference at his office here.
Chua said Malaysia was prepared to face the outbreak and had taken initial preventive step by banning poultry imports from Thailand, apart from drawing up specific action plans if the disease spread to Malaysia.
He said his ministry had not received any reports of the bird flu or avian flu virus attacking the poultry bred in the country.
So far, 10 people -- eight in Vietnam and two in Thailand -- died of the epidemic, while countries like South Korea, China, Cambodia, Laos, Japan, Pakistan, Chinese Taiwan and Indonesia haveconfirmed the spread of the virus to the World Health Organization(WHO) in Geneva.
Chua said if the outbreak reached Malaysian shores, the first step that must be taken was to destroy the chicken and ducks in the farms to ensure the virus did not infect human beings.
"This step has been taken in Hong Kong, the United States and in the Netherlands not long ago, it proved successful to contain the disease," he said.
Chua also urged livestock breeders to monitor and submit reports to the ministry as soon as possible if they spotted signs of infection in their animals besides carrying out immunization.
The ministry had also ordered hospitals and medical laboratories to be ready to face the possibility of having to dealwith the virus like conducting early diagnosis of the disease, quarantine or monitor the affected areas, he said.
He said the Veterinary Services Department had also been asked to monitor bird sanctuaries and other locations to detect if the bird flu virus was carried by migratory birds.
Earlier, Chua attended a meeting in Bangkok, which discussed the bird flu outbreak along with agriculture and health ministers from the region, besides officers from the European Union, the United States, World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Enditem
Friday, January 30, 2004
Don't import chickens with bird flu, farmers told
POULTRY farmers have been told not to import chicken affected by bird flu, Sin Chew Daily reported National Public Health Laboratory consultant virologist Dr Chua Kaw Bing as saying.
He said poultry farmers should learn from the Nipah virus outbreak which was caused by a small group of pig farmers who purchased affected pigs due to low prices.
Dr Chua urged poultry farmers to follow the directive from the Agriculture Ministry and the Health Ministry.
The daily also reported that the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Association of Malaysia as urging poultry farmers to report to the Veterinary Services Department if a large number of chickens died in their farms.
The association’s broiler unit chairman Yap Kim Hwah said this would enable the officers from the department to collect samples for tests to prevent any possible spread of the bird flu.
Yap said locally bred chicken was safe to consume and he had not received any reports of local farms being affected by the bird flu.
He said the department had also instructed the poultry farmers to increase hygiene standards at farms.
Yap said his association would brief members on the directives from the department so that they would carry out the preventative measures.
Nanyang Siang Pau quoted Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein as saying his department would intensify random checks to ensure locally bred chicken would be safe for consumption.
He gave assurance that affected chickens and eggs would not be on sale in the market.
Meanwhile, Sin Chew reported that the United Chinese School Teachers Association, or Jiao Zong, has urged those accepted for study in the Chinese Language section of the Teacher Training Colleges to report to their colleges.
Jiao Zong hoped they would become primary and secondary school teachers after undergoing the training as they could help ease the lack of Chinese language teachers in schools as well as contribute to Chinese education.
--
Note: Dr Chua Kaw Bing is the discoverer of the Nipah virus
POULTRY farmers have been told not to import chicken affected by bird flu, Sin Chew Daily reported National Public Health Laboratory consultant virologist Dr Chua Kaw Bing as saying.
He said poultry farmers should learn from the Nipah virus outbreak which was caused by a small group of pig farmers who purchased affected pigs due to low prices.
Dr Chua urged poultry farmers to follow the directive from the Agriculture Ministry and the Health Ministry.
The daily also reported that the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Association of Malaysia as urging poultry farmers to report to the Veterinary Services Department if a large number of chickens died in their farms.
The association’s broiler unit chairman Yap Kim Hwah said this would enable the officers from the department to collect samples for tests to prevent any possible spread of the bird flu.
Yap said locally bred chicken was safe to consume and he had not received any reports of local farms being affected by the bird flu.
He said the department had also instructed the poultry farmers to increase hygiene standards at farms.
Yap said his association would brief members on the directives from the department so that they would carry out the preventative measures.
Nanyang Siang Pau quoted Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein as saying his department would intensify random checks to ensure locally bred chicken would be safe for consumption.
He gave assurance that affected chickens and eggs would not be on sale in the market.
Meanwhile, Sin Chew reported that the United Chinese School Teachers Association, or Jiao Zong, has urged those accepted for study in the Chinese Language section of the Teacher Training Colleges to report to their colleges.
Jiao Zong hoped they would become primary and secondary school teachers after undergoing the training as they could help ease the lack of Chinese language teachers in schools as well as contribute to Chinese education.
--
Note: Dr Chua Kaw Bing is the discoverer of the Nipah virus
Thursday, January 29, 2004
M'sia prepared to cull chickens if need arises
MALAYSIA said yesterday it remains free of the bird flu that has hit regional neighbours Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia - but is ready to take measures that could include the mass slaughter of chickens should the need arise.
Contingency plans, including practices 'institutionalised after the Nipah outbreak, are already in place', said Health Minister Chua Jui Meng.
In a one-year period over 1998 and 1999, the government oversaw the slaughter of more than a million head of swine, as well as some cats and dogs, in a bid to stem the outbreak of the Nipah strain of the Japanese Encephalitis virus, which claimed about 100 lives.
The Agriculture Ministry's Veterinary Services Department 'already has a plan and we are happy with the plan' in the event that bird flu is detected in Malaysia, Mr Chua said yesterday.
Singapore's Agri-food and Veterinary Authority said on Monday that it will curtail imports of live chickens from Malaysia, estimated at some 120,000 a day, should bird flu spread to Malaysia.
Malaysia's poultry farming industry is almost self-sufficient, and the latest figures from the Agriculture Ministry show the country exported RM580 million (S$259 million) of live poultry, processed chicken and eggs in 2001.
According to data released in the Economic Report 2004 in September last year, the government expects output of eggs and poultry this year to increase 16.2 per cent and 13.8 per cent respectively.
Poultry farmers continued to remain upbeat yesterday, although investors on the Malaysian Securities Exchange (MSEB) sold down poultry-related counters for a second straight day.
'We are not affected as there have been no cases of the virus in Malaysia,' said Alex Ding, group managing director of DBE Gurney. DBE, which is among the top five live-broiler producers in Malaysia, intends to proceed with plans to expand operations to include producing frozen chickens and chicken parts for exports, he said.
DBE's RM14 million initial public offer for a second board listing on MSEB closes this week.
MALAYSIA said yesterday it remains free of the bird flu that has hit regional neighbours Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia - but is ready to take measures that could include the mass slaughter of chickens should the need arise.
Contingency plans, including practices 'institutionalised after the Nipah outbreak, are already in place', said Health Minister Chua Jui Meng.
In a one-year period over 1998 and 1999, the government oversaw the slaughter of more than a million head of swine, as well as some cats and dogs, in a bid to stem the outbreak of the Nipah strain of the Japanese Encephalitis virus, which claimed about 100 lives.
The Agriculture Ministry's Veterinary Services Department 'already has a plan and we are happy with the plan' in the event that bird flu is detected in Malaysia, Mr Chua said yesterday.
Singapore's Agri-food and Veterinary Authority said on Monday that it will curtail imports of live chickens from Malaysia, estimated at some 120,000 a day, should bird flu spread to Malaysia.
Malaysia's poultry farming industry is almost self-sufficient, and the latest figures from the Agriculture Ministry show the country exported RM580 million (S$259 million) of live poultry, processed chicken and eggs in 2001.
According to data released in the Economic Report 2004 in September last year, the government expects output of eggs and poultry this year to increase 16.2 per cent and 13.8 per cent respectively.
Poultry farmers continued to remain upbeat yesterday, although investors on the Malaysian Securities Exchange (MSEB) sold down poultry-related counters for a second straight day.
'We are not affected as there have been no cases of the virus in Malaysia,' said Alex Ding, group managing director of DBE Gurney. DBE, which is among the top five live-broiler producers in Malaysia, intends to proceed with plans to expand operations to include producing frozen chickens and chicken parts for exports, he said.
DBE's RM14 million initial public offer for a second board listing on MSEB closes this week.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Malaysia: High alert against unusual flu cases
MALAYSIA is on high alert for any unusual deaths among its poultry stock and any spike in human flu cases despite barring chicken imports to prevent the avian influenza from entering the country.
Officials said they are prepared to start culling livestock if the bird flu infects animals.
Malaysia produces more than one million chickens a year and Singapore imports live chickens - some 120,000 a day - only from Malaysia.
Malaysian Customs and veterinary officials are keeping an especially close watch on the porous Malaysia-Thai border for any attempt to bring in poultry from Thailand.
'There must be no smuggling of chicken. This happened during the Nipah virus outbreak,' said Health Minister Chua Jui Meng yesterday. When the deadly Nipah virus struck Malaysia's pig population in 1999, unscrupulous farmers breached quarantine rules by smuggling out infected pigs to uninfected farms.
This led to the disease spreading throughout the country. More than 100 farm workers died as a result.
'I want to ask Malaysians not to be tempted by cheap prices and engage in smuggling,' Datuk Chua said.
He said procedures for dealing with any possible outbreak of the avian influenza had been institutionalised and was based on lessons learnt during the Nipah and Sars outbreaks.
Health officials at all government clinics, especially in the rural areas, have been asked to report any unusual flu cases, particularly among farm workers.
Farm workers and government veterinary officials are also on the lookout for unusual deaths among the chicken population.
Datuk Chua said government laboratories have so far only detected the human flu virus among cases sent for tests.
'It is very comforting. So far, there has been no big jump in flu cases,' he added.
The minister will attend a meeting in Bangkok today on the bird flu crisis.
MALAYSIA is on high alert for any unusual deaths among its poultry stock and any spike in human flu cases despite barring chicken imports to prevent the avian influenza from entering the country.
Officials said they are prepared to start culling livestock if the bird flu infects animals.
Malaysia produces more than one million chickens a year and Singapore imports live chickens - some 120,000 a day - only from Malaysia.
Malaysian Customs and veterinary officials are keeping an especially close watch on the porous Malaysia-Thai border for any attempt to bring in poultry from Thailand.
'There must be no smuggling of chicken. This happened during the Nipah virus outbreak,' said Health Minister Chua Jui Meng yesterday. When the deadly Nipah virus struck Malaysia's pig population in 1999, unscrupulous farmers breached quarantine rules by smuggling out infected pigs to uninfected farms.
This led to the disease spreading throughout the country. More than 100 farm workers died as a result.
'I want to ask Malaysians not to be tempted by cheap prices and engage in smuggling,' Datuk Chua said.
He said procedures for dealing with any possible outbreak of the avian influenza had been institutionalised and was based on lessons learnt during the Nipah and Sars outbreaks.
Health officials at all government clinics, especially in the rural areas, have been asked to report any unusual flu cases, particularly among farm workers.
Farm workers and government veterinary officials are also on the lookout for unusual deaths among the chicken population.
Datuk Chua said government laboratories have so far only detected the human flu virus among cases sent for tests.
'It is very comforting. So far, there has been no big jump in flu cases,' he added.
The minister will attend a meeting in Bangkok today on the bird flu crisis.
Monday, January 26, 2004
Malaysia to cooperate with Singapore and ASEAN to contain bird flu
SINGAPORE: Malaysia's Health Minister said his country will work with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to prevent the bird flu from spreading.
Speaking to reporters in Singapore, Mr Chua Jui Meng says ASEAN Health Ministers will meet in Thailand next week to discuss the issue and prevent the smuggling of birds and animals across borders.
"We have banned the imports of meat as well as live chicken from Thailand. That's done by their agriculture ministry and health officers, public health officers are working very closely with the vets to make sure there's no infiltration of any animals or birds illegally.
"The Ministry of Health is helping to advise the farmers to protect themselves in the unlikely event of any infection but there is none so far in Malaysia and we intend to keep it that way," said Mr Chua who was part of the Malaysian delegation on a visit to Singapore led by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.
The deadly strain of avian influenza has killed six people in Vietnam and had infected both humans and chickens in Thailand. - CNA
SINGAPORE: Malaysia's Health Minister said his country will work with Singapore and other ASEAN countries to prevent the bird flu from spreading.
Speaking to reporters in Singapore, Mr Chua Jui Meng says ASEAN Health Ministers will meet in Thailand next week to discuss the issue and prevent the smuggling of birds and animals across borders.
"We have banned the imports of meat as well as live chicken from Thailand. That's done by their agriculture ministry and health officers, public health officers are working very closely with the vets to make sure there's no infiltration of any animals or birds illegally.
"The Ministry of Health is helping to advise the farmers to protect themselves in the unlikely event of any infection but there is none so far in Malaysia and we intend to keep it that way," said Mr Chua who was part of the Malaysian delegation on a visit to Singapore led by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.
The deadly strain of avian influenza has killed six people in Vietnam and had infected both humans and chickens in Thailand. - CNA
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Chicken products from Thailand banned
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia has banned with immediate effect the import of live chicken, eggs and chicken meat from Thailand following an outbreak of bird flu in the kingdom.
Thailand has also voluntarily stopped all chicken exports following the confirmed cases of bird flu in the country today.
Thai medical authorities also announced the first death of a person suspected to have contracted the disease, a 56-year-old man who raised fighting cocks at his home.
Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that he had asked Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein to inform all importers of the ban.
He said the ministry had initially suspended the import of live chicken and eggs several days ago following reports of possible bird flu cases in Thailand.
"With confirmation now, we are banning imports totally," he said. The ban remains effective until further notice.
A similar ban is imposed on Vietnam where another 17 people are believed to be infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza which has also been reported in Japan and South Korea.
Meanwhile, wire agencies confirmed yesterday that two Thais have caught the bird flu which has already killed five Vietnamese.
"The result from the Department of Medical Science said two were positive and one was negative," Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said, referring to tests on three patients.
The two, boys aged six and seven from different provinces west of Bangkok, were in "critical but stable" condition, she said.
Children appear most at risk. No one knows why, but four of the five killed in Vietnam were children.
Bird flu affects people who have come into contact with diseased chicken. The first symptoms are fever and bronchitis.
The World Health Organisation has expressed fears that bird flu could evolve into an epidemic worse than SARS. The European Union, Hong Kong and Bangladesh have also banned Thai poultry.
Leong Hup Holdings Bhd executive director Datuk Francis Lau, one of the country's largest producers of chicken, said that Malaysia was self-sufficient in meeting the country's chicken demand and imports very little chicken meat for processing.
"Malaysia is free from the avian influenza," Lau added.
"We produce RM400 million worth of chicken meat per year, and less than five per cent, about RM20 million worth, is imported.
The Leong Hup Group operations cover poultry breeding, slaughtering, processing and retailing. Its products are marketed under the brand name of "Ayam A1". Its breeder farm is one of the largest in the country producing about 100 million chicks a year, about 26 per cent of the local market.
In Brussels, Alberto Laddo-mada, a European Commission expert in animal health told a news conference, that there was only a tiny risk of people catching bird flu by eating infected poultry meat.
"It's unlikely humans would get the infection from eating poultry meat," Laddomada, said, adding that people were catching bird flu after being in contact with poultry.
There is no evidence of the virus jumping from human to human, a doomsday scenario where bird flu in poultry and the virus in humans would mix to unlease a killer bug similiar to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, he added.
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia has banned with immediate effect the import of live chicken, eggs and chicken meat from Thailand following an outbreak of bird flu in the kingdom.
Thailand has also voluntarily stopped all chicken exports following the confirmed cases of bird flu in the country today.
Thai medical authorities also announced the first death of a person suspected to have contracted the disease, a 56-year-old man who raised fighting cocks at his home.
Agriculture Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that he had asked Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein to inform all importers of the ban.
He said the ministry had initially suspended the import of live chicken and eggs several days ago following reports of possible bird flu cases in Thailand.
"With confirmation now, we are banning imports totally," he said. The ban remains effective until further notice.
A similar ban is imposed on Vietnam where another 17 people are believed to be infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza which has also been reported in Japan and South Korea.
Meanwhile, wire agencies confirmed yesterday that two Thais have caught the bird flu which has already killed five Vietnamese.
"The result from the Department of Medical Science said two were positive and one was negative," Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said, referring to tests on three patients.
The two, boys aged six and seven from different provinces west of Bangkok, were in "critical but stable" condition, she said.
Children appear most at risk. No one knows why, but four of the five killed in Vietnam were children.
Bird flu affects people who have come into contact with diseased chicken. The first symptoms are fever and bronchitis.
The World Health Organisation has expressed fears that bird flu could evolve into an epidemic worse than SARS. The European Union, Hong Kong and Bangladesh have also banned Thai poultry.
Leong Hup Holdings Bhd executive director Datuk Francis Lau, one of the country's largest producers of chicken, said that Malaysia was self-sufficient in meeting the country's chicken demand and imports very little chicken meat for processing.
"Malaysia is free from the avian influenza," Lau added.
"We produce RM400 million worth of chicken meat per year, and less than five per cent, about RM20 million worth, is imported.
The Leong Hup Group operations cover poultry breeding, slaughtering, processing and retailing. Its products are marketed under the brand name of "Ayam A1". Its breeder farm is one of the largest in the country producing about 100 million chicks a year, about 26 per cent of the local market.
In Brussels, Alberto Laddo-mada, a European Commission expert in animal health told a news conference, that there was only a tiny risk of people catching bird flu by eating infected poultry meat.
"It's unlikely humans would get the infection from eating poultry meat," Laddomada, said, adding that people were catching bird flu after being in contact with poultry.
There is no evidence of the virus jumping from human to human, a doomsday scenario where bird flu in poultry and the virus in humans would mix to unlease a killer bug similiar to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, he added.
Saturday, January 17, 2004
MALAYSIA BUSINESS BRIEFS: Pantai Buys Cheras Hospital
KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Malaysian health care group Pantai Holdings Bhd. (8036.KU) is buying hospital operator Cheras Medical Center Sdn. Bhd. for 8.8 million ringgit ($1=MYR3.80) which will be paid through the issuance of 8.3 million new Pantai shares. Pantai is also buying a piece of land and a five-storey hospital building - where Cheras Medical Center operates - for MYR25.4 million, which it will pay for by issuing 24.0 million new shares.
KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Malaysian health care group Pantai Holdings Bhd. (8036.KU) is buying hospital operator Cheras Medical Center Sdn. Bhd. for 8.8 million ringgit ($1=MYR3.80) which will be paid through the issuance of 8.3 million new Pantai shares. Pantai is also buying a piece of land and a five-storey hospital building - where Cheras Medical Center operates - for MYR25.4 million, which it will pay for by issuing 24.0 million new shares.
Friday, January 16, 2004
Health Minister: No avian flu cases in Malaysia
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s poultry industry is not affected by the recent outbreaks of avian flu in the Asia region and the world situation is being watched closely, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
“As far as we are concerned, there is no avian flu in the country. The Institute of Medical Research as well as the laboratory technicians with the Veterinary Services Department are monitoring the situation,” he said.
Chua said the ministry had issued an advisory to the department on guidelines for farmers should there be an outbreak in Malaysia.
“It is a precautionary measure which I am sure is taken by other countries.
“The advisory is based on scientific evaluation, which is part of modern agriculture,” he told reporters after the official opening of the Regulation and Safety of Dietary Supplements in Safeguarding Public Health seminar yesterday.
Asked for details of the advisory, Chua said it was drawn up based on lessons learnt from the JE, Nipah and the recent SARS outbreaks.
“It serves as a reminder to farmers. Usually protective clothing is used to protect the animals as human beings can infect animals.
“But in the event of an outbreak, the clothing can provide protection for farmers. It is part of good agricultural practice,” he said, adding that other measures included preventing importation from affected countries.
Chua said the issue was brought up at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and the Health Ministry and Agriculture Ministry had been directed to take action as required based on current developments.
“The Public Health Division has also been watching the situation closely through the World Health Organisation’s website and is also contacting our counterparts in the affected countries,” he added.
When asked if there was any advice for Malaysians travelling to Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, he said it was not likely that Malaysians would visit chicken farms.
On the three suspected SARS cases reported in Singapore, he said Malaysia was working closely with Singapore to monitor the latest developments.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s poultry industry is not affected by the recent outbreaks of avian flu in the Asia region and the world situation is being watched closely, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
“As far as we are concerned, there is no avian flu in the country. The Institute of Medical Research as well as the laboratory technicians with the Veterinary Services Department are monitoring the situation,” he said.
Chua said the ministry had issued an advisory to the department on guidelines for farmers should there be an outbreak in Malaysia.
“It is a precautionary measure which I am sure is taken by other countries.
“The advisory is based on scientific evaluation, which is part of modern agriculture,” he told reporters after the official opening of the Regulation and Safety of Dietary Supplements in Safeguarding Public Health seminar yesterday.
Asked for details of the advisory, Chua said it was drawn up based on lessons learnt from the JE, Nipah and the recent SARS outbreaks.
“It serves as a reminder to farmers. Usually protective clothing is used to protect the animals as human beings can infect animals.
“But in the event of an outbreak, the clothing can provide protection for farmers. It is part of good agricultural practice,” he said, adding that other measures included preventing importation from affected countries.
Chua said the issue was brought up at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and the Health Ministry and Agriculture Ministry had been directed to take action as required based on current developments.
“The Public Health Division has also been watching the situation closely through the World Health Organisation’s website and is also contacting our counterparts in the affected countries,” he added.
When asked if there was any advice for Malaysians travelling to Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, he said it was not likely that Malaysians would visit chicken farms.
On the three suspected SARS cases reported in Singapore, he said Malaysia was working closely with Singapore to monitor the latest developments.
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Malaysia on high alert against bird flu
KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia is on high alert against the bird flu virus following the recent outbreak of the disease in Vietnam and Japan.
It plans to impose a ban on avian products from all affected countries to try and keep its poultry industry disease-free.
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Malaysia, one of the biggest poultry exporters in Southeast Asia, said its top priority now was to prevent the importation of the disease by banning all avian products from the affected countries.
Health Minister Chua Jui Meng assured the public that Malaysia is free from the disease, according to studies done by the ministry's Institute of Medical Research.
But while the poultry industry is not affected by the current outbreak in Vietnam and other countries, he stressed the need for precautions.
Mr Chua said: "It is our mission and duty to ensure this does not take place in this country. We have sent advisory to departments to advise farmers on actions to be taken in the unlikely event there is avian flu in this country."
Besides preventing the importation of the disease from affected areas, Malaysia chicken farmers are also advised to step up precautionary measures including putting on protective clothings at all time."
Mr Chua said Malaysia's veterinary and health officials were working closely with the World Health Organisation to monitor the situation.
He said no travel advisory would be issued against visiting affected countries as it has not been proven that the bird flu virus can spread from human to human.
With Singapore a major export market for Malaysian chickens and ducks, the Health Ministry assured its closest neighbour that Malaysia will stay as alert when it comes to developments on the bird flu, as for the SARS outbreak. - CNA
KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia is on high alert against the bird flu virus following the recent outbreak of the disease in Vietnam and Japan.
It plans to impose a ban on avian products from all affected countries to try and keep its poultry industry disease-free.
Advertisement
Malaysia, one of the biggest poultry exporters in Southeast Asia, said its top priority now was to prevent the importation of the disease by banning all avian products from the affected countries.
Health Minister Chua Jui Meng assured the public that Malaysia is free from the disease, according to studies done by the ministry's Institute of Medical Research.
But while the poultry industry is not affected by the current outbreak in Vietnam and other countries, he stressed the need for precautions.
Mr Chua said: "It is our mission and duty to ensure this does not take place in this country. We have sent advisory to departments to advise farmers on actions to be taken in the unlikely event there is avian flu in this country."
Besides preventing the importation of the disease from affected areas, Malaysia chicken farmers are also advised to step up precautionary measures including putting on protective clothings at all time."
Mr Chua said Malaysia's veterinary and health officials were working closely with the World Health Organisation to monitor the situation.
He said no travel advisory would be issued against visiting affected countries as it has not been proven that the bird flu virus can spread from human to human.
With Singapore a major export market for Malaysian chickens and ducks, the Health Ministry assured its closest neighbour that Malaysia will stay as alert when it comes to developments on the bird flu, as for the SARS outbreak. - CNA
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
New drug for erectile dysfunction now available: "KUALA LUMPUR: A new oral treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), called tadalafil, is now available in Malaysia.
The drug is said to be effective up to 36 hours after consumption, longer than what is currently available.
�The longer hours of efficacy mean that men with ED do not have to worry so much about when the drug will wear off. Thus, they would be able to regain the spontaneity in sexual intercourse that they once enjoyed,� said Dr Gerald Brock, associate professor of the department of surgery in the urology division at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, who was speaking at the launch of the drug at Carcosa Seri Negara yesterday. "
The drug is said to be effective up to 36 hours after consumption, longer than what is currently available.
�The longer hours of efficacy mean that men with ED do not have to worry so much about when the drug will wear off. Thus, they would be able to regain the spontaneity in sexual intercourse that they once enjoyed,� said Dr Gerald Brock, associate professor of the department of surgery in the urology division at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, who was speaking at the launch of the drug at Carcosa Seri Negara yesterday. "
M'sia's largest private hospital eyeing Brunei
The biggest private hospital operator in Malaysia, KPJ Healthcare Bhd is planning to spread its wings to Brunei Darussalam in the near future.
In a statement, the private hospital said it has initiated talks with relevant authorities in Brunei Darussalam. The hospital is also interested in expanding their healthcare activities to other countries such as the Middle East, China, Indonesia and Singapore.
Initial talks to open doors for the hospital to operate here were held during the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meetings in Kuala Lumpur recently. KPJ Healthcare's managing director Datin Paduka Siti Sa'adiah Sheikh Bakir said since the September 11, 2001 attacks, Middle East countries had shifted their focus away from the US and Europe for healthcare expertise.
KPJ Healthcare started 22 years ago and had developed enormous hands-on experience in almost every aspect of the healthcare business, right from the feasibility and design stage to the implementation and running of operations.
Other than hospitals, KPJ also provides support services such as retail of pharmaceutical products undertaken through PharmaCare Bhd, and a nursing college through Puteri Nursing College Sdn Bhd.
As for design and construction, it has already built a number of hospitals, including the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital and Damansara Specialist Hospital, using its own in-house design and expertise.
"We are already in talking terms with several interested parties locally and abroad to have working relationship in the management, building and commissioning, healthcare technical services, bio-technical engineering support and maintenance of their hospitals," she said.
In Malaysia, KPJ owns 11 hospitals, following the injection of nine from Kumpulan Perubatan Johor Sdn Bhd, Tawakal Holdings Sdn Bhd and Medical Centre (Johore) Sdn Bhd in late 2002.
Since its listing in 1994 until that injection, KPJ had only been operating two hospitals under its wing, the Johor Specialist Hospital and Ipoh Specialist Hospital.
Shortly there will be two more hospitals: one in Kuching will open for outpatient services business soon while the other in Seremban will be operational by April this year.
With the injection, KPJ is set to see improvement in its financial results in 2004. Its nine months to September 2003 showed pre-tax profit of RM17.95 million on turnover of RM375 million.
"Medicines, laboratory resources and even food could be procured through one centre and there should be tremendous savings just from these activities," she said.
She said KPJ had been able to maintain profitability as most of the hospitals in the group were "matured" and their healthy and well-balanced composition had enabled the company to manage its earnings at a profitable level.
The biggest private hospital operator in Malaysia, KPJ Healthcare Bhd is planning to spread its wings to Brunei Darussalam in the near future.
In a statement, the private hospital said it has initiated talks with relevant authorities in Brunei Darussalam. The hospital is also interested in expanding their healthcare activities to other countries such as the Middle East, China, Indonesia and Singapore.
Initial talks to open doors for the hospital to operate here were held during the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meetings in Kuala Lumpur recently. KPJ Healthcare's managing director Datin Paduka Siti Sa'adiah Sheikh Bakir said since the September 11, 2001 attacks, Middle East countries had shifted their focus away from the US and Europe for healthcare expertise.
KPJ Healthcare started 22 years ago and had developed enormous hands-on experience in almost every aspect of the healthcare business, right from the feasibility and design stage to the implementation and running of operations.
Other than hospitals, KPJ also provides support services such as retail of pharmaceutical products undertaken through PharmaCare Bhd, and a nursing college through Puteri Nursing College Sdn Bhd.
As for design and construction, it has already built a number of hospitals, including the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital and Damansara Specialist Hospital, using its own in-house design and expertise.
"We are already in talking terms with several interested parties locally and abroad to have working relationship in the management, building and commissioning, healthcare technical services, bio-technical engineering support and maintenance of their hospitals," she said.
In Malaysia, KPJ owns 11 hospitals, following the injection of nine from Kumpulan Perubatan Johor Sdn Bhd, Tawakal Holdings Sdn Bhd and Medical Centre (Johore) Sdn Bhd in late 2002.
Since its listing in 1994 until that injection, KPJ had only been operating two hospitals under its wing, the Johor Specialist Hospital and Ipoh Specialist Hospital.
Shortly there will be two more hospitals: one in Kuching will open for outpatient services business soon while the other in Seremban will be operational by April this year.
With the injection, KPJ is set to see improvement in its financial results in 2004. Its nine months to September 2003 showed pre-tax profit of RM17.95 million on turnover of RM375 million.
"Medicines, laboratory resources and even food could be procured through one centre and there should be tremendous savings just from these activities," she said.
She said KPJ had been able to maintain profitability as most of the hospitals in the group were "matured" and their healthy and well-balanced composition had enabled the company to manage its earnings at a profitable level.
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Malaysia remains SARS-free
KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia, which remains SARS-free, will closely monitor the situation abroad as China reported a new suspected case today.
Health Ministry's Disease Control Division deputy director Dr Cheng Hoei Hom said Malaysia need not worry as all precautions have been put in place to ensure the disease did not reappear here.
She said the World Health Organisation had not issued any warnings yet as they were still confirming with China on the suspected case.
It was reported today that health officials in the southern province of Guangdong said a 20-year-old waitress was under quarantine at a hospital with SARS-like symptoms.
KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malaysia, which remains SARS-free, will closely monitor the situation abroad as China reported a new suspected case today.
Health Ministry's Disease Control Division deputy director Dr Cheng Hoei Hom said Malaysia need not worry as all precautions have been put in place to ensure the disease did not reappear here.
She said the World Health Organisation had not issued any warnings yet as they were still confirming with China on the suspected case.
It was reported today that health officials in the southern province of Guangdong said a 20-year-old waitress was under quarantine at a hospital with SARS-like symptoms.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Practise hygiene, travellers told
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians travelling to China should practise a high level of personal hygiene and avoid coming in contact with people having Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) symptoms such as coughing, Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said.
He said that precautionary measures were necessary though the current situation did not warrant a travel restriction.
He gave this advice after the Chinese Health Ministry confirmed that a 32-year-old man down with SARS symptoms had the virus yesterday.
In an immediate response, Communicable Disease Control director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said that Malaysia would have to wait for World Health Organisation (WHO) advice on the next course of action.
However, he said the ministry had activated its surveillance and screening for SARS while hospitals were on alert.
“We are keeping tabs on the situation and doing all we need to do at the moment,” he said.
On a 31-year-old Malaysian woman isolated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Sunday upon her return from Guangzhou on Saturday with high fever, cough and sore throat, Chua said she was found to be healthy yesterday.
He said she would not be discharged until doctors were satisfied it was safe for her to leave.
“As of today, the patient’s fever was down, her chest X-rays were clear and she had no symptoms of SARS,” Chua said.
A ministry official said the woman was diagnosed to have suffered from viral fever, adding that results of specimens sent for testing at Institute of Medical Research would be known in a few days.
Chua said the ministry started screening passengers from Guangdong at four international airports - KLIA, Bayan Lepas, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching – since Saturday.
“Of the 3,270 screened so far, only one had fever,” he said, adding that the 31-year-old woman had visited Guangdong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai before returning to Guangzhou to board a flight back to KLIA.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians travelling to China should practise a high level of personal hygiene and avoid coming in contact with people having Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) symptoms such as coughing, Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said.
He said that precautionary measures were necessary though the current situation did not warrant a travel restriction.
He gave this advice after the Chinese Health Ministry confirmed that a 32-year-old man down with SARS symptoms had the virus yesterday.
In an immediate response, Communicable Disease Control director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said that Malaysia would have to wait for World Health Organisation (WHO) advice on the next course of action.
However, he said the ministry had activated its surveillance and screening for SARS while hospitals were on alert.
“We are keeping tabs on the situation and doing all we need to do at the moment,” he said.
On a 31-year-old Malaysian woman isolated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Sunday upon her return from Guangzhou on Saturday with high fever, cough and sore throat, Chua said she was found to be healthy yesterday.
He said she would not be discharged until doctors were satisfied it was safe for her to leave.
“As of today, the patient’s fever was down, her chest X-rays were clear and she had no symptoms of SARS,” Chua said.
A ministry official said the woman was diagnosed to have suffered from viral fever, adding that results of specimens sent for testing at Institute of Medical Research would be known in a few days.
Chua said the ministry started screening passengers from Guangdong at four international airports - KLIA, Bayan Lepas, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching – since Saturday.
“Of the 3,270 screened so far, only one had fever,” he said, adding that the 31-year-old woman had visited Guangdong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai before returning to Guangzhou to board a flight back to KLIA.
Friday, January 02, 2004
Malaysia and S'pore screen Guangdong passengers for SARS
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia has begun screening airline passengers from China's southern Guangdong province following news of a SARS case there, a report said on Wednesday.
Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said staff had been put on full alert and had begun the screening process and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) preventive measures.
"So far, we have screened more than 440 passengers from Guangdong and all were given clean bills of health," Ramlee Rahmat, director for communicable disease control, was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.
There are two flights daily from Guangdong into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The health checks began on Monday.
All travellers from Guangdong are required to fill out health declaration cards, Ramlee added.
The SARS virus returned to haunt China for the first time in six months as a health official from Guangdong on Tuesday announced a suspected case in the province had been upgraded to a confirmed case.
SARS triggered a worldwide health crisis after emerging in Guangdong in November last year, causing 774 deaths and more than 8,000 infections, the vast majority in Asia.
The disease spread globally, devastating economies across Asia with travel and tourism sectors losing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, passengers from Guangdong are being subjected to stepped-up fever screening at Singapore's Changi Airport because of the suspected SARS case in the Chinese province, the health ministry said Wednesday.
A ministry spokeswoman said the special checks began on Saturday after China's health ministry announced a 32-year-old man in the southern province of Guangdong was a suspected SARS case.
"It's just a precautionary measure," she told AFP.
Arriving passengers from other countries normally pass in front of high-tech thermal scanners after they enter the terminal building.
Those from Guangdong are also being screened at the aerobridge which connects the plane to the terminal in addition to the normal checks.
"So they are screened twice," the spokeswoman said.
Fever is an initial symptom of SARS.
Feng Shaoming, spokesman for the Guangdong Centre for Disease Control, told AFP on Tuesday that the case was confirmed to be SARS, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it needed more time to complete its own diagnosis.
Feng said three experts from the WHO were in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou and were going over the test results.
Singapore has been praised for implementing the toughest measures to contain SARS earlier this year. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said the city-state is better prepared this time for any recurrence of the epidemic.
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysia has begun screening airline passengers from China's southern Guangdong province following news of a SARS case there, a report said on Wednesday.
Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said staff had been put on full alert and had begun the screening process and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) preventive measures.
"So far, we have screened more than 440 passengers from Guangdong and all were given clean bills of health," Ramlee Rahmat, director for communicable disease control, was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.
There are two flights daily from Guangdong into Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The health checks began on Monday.
All travellers from Guangdong are required to fill out health declaration cards, Ramlee added.
The SARS virus returned to haunt China for the first time in six months as a health official from Guangdong on Tuesday announced a suspected case in the province had been upgraded to a confirmed case.
SARS triggered a worldwide health crisis after emerging in Guangdong in November last year, causing 774 deaths and more than 8,000 infections, the vast majority in Asia.
The disease spread globally, devastating economies across Asia with travel and tourism sectors losing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, passengers from Guangdong are being subjected to stepped-up fever screening at Singapore's Changi Airport because of the suspected SARS case in the Chinese province, the health ministry said Wednesday.
A ministry spokeswoman said the special checks began on Saturday after China's health ministry announced a 32-year-old man in the southern province of Guangdong was a suspected SARS case.
"It's just a precautionary measure," she told AFP.
Arriving passengers from other countries normally pass in front of high-tech thermal scanners after they enter the terminal building.
Those from Guangdong are also being screened at the aerobridge which connects the plane to the terminal in addition to the normal checks.
"So they are screened twice," the spokeswoman said.
Fever is an initial symptom of SARS.
Feng Shaoming, spokesman for the Guangdong Centre for Disease Control, told AFP on Tuesday that the case was confirmed to be SARS, but the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it needed more time to complete its own diagnosis.
Feng said three experts from the WHO were in Guangdong's provincial capital Guangzhou and were going over the test results.
Singapore has been praised for implementing the toughest measures to contain SARS earlier this year. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said the city-state is better prepared this time for any recurrence of the epidemic.
Thursday, January 01, 2004
Malaysia woos health tourists from Middle East
KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Malaysia unveiled plans Tuesday to become a medical hub for Muslims with promises of halal meals at hospitals and doctors who pray before performing surgery.
The government will launch a publicity campaign in the Middle East early next year to encourage patients to seek health care in this Southeast Asian nation instead of traditional destinations in the West, where officials said some Muslims fear encountering anti-Arab sentiment and distrust.
"We'll be the world champion in getting people to come enjoy our medical services," Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Fadzir said Tuesday at a ceremony where health institutions agreed to boost efforts to attract foreigners.
Officials will organise information roadshows in the Middle East, publish brochures, screen commercials on the popular Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera and invite health authorities to Malaysia to endorse its facilities, said Abdul Kadir.
Former Malaysian diplomat Syed Hussein Al-Habsee said the campaign would focus on the Persian Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, where he said health infrastructure lagged behind Malaysia.
Officials will emphasise that halal food is served in major hospitals, special prayer rooms are available and Muslim doctors hold prayers before operations, Syed Hussein said. Travel packages will include hassle-free visa and interpreter services.
Each year Malaysia treats about 100,000 foreign patients, mostly from nearby Muslim countries Indonesia and Brunei, said Ridzwan Bakar, head of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia.
Patients from the Middle East have risen since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, with many bringing their families and spending at least two weeks in the country, Ridzwan said.
Foreign patients come for a variety of procedures, including heart bypass operations, hip transplants, infertility treatment, corrective laser eye surgery, dental work and cosmetic operations.
Treatment also comes comparatively cheap - a heart bypass patient would spend less than US$7,000 in Malaysia, double that amount in neighbouring Singapore and 10 times more in the United States, Ridzwan said.
The sector, which Malaysia calls "health tourism," brought 150 million ringgit (US$40 million) in revenue last year. Officials hope to triple it to more than 540 million ringgit (US$140 million) by 2005.
KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - Malaysia unveiled plans Tuesday to become a medical hub for Muslims with promises of halal meals at hospitals and doctors who pray before performing surgery.
The government will launch a publicity campaign in the Middle East early next year to encourage patients to seek health care in this Southeast Asian nation instead of traditional destinations in the West, where officials said some Muslims fear encountering anti-Arab sentiment and distrust.
"We'll be the world champion in getting people to come enjoy our medical services," Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Fadzir said Tuesday at a ceremony where health institutions agreed to boost efforts to attract foreigners.
Officials will organise information roadshows in the Middle East, publish brochures, screen commercials on the popular Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera and invite health authorities to Malaysia to endorse its facilities, said Abdul Kadir.
Former Malaysian diplomat Syed Hussein Al-Habsee said the campaign would focus on the Persian Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, where he said health infrastructure lagged behind Malaysia.
Officials will emphasise that halal food is served in major hospitals, special prayer rooms are available and Muslim doctors hold prayers before operations, Syed Hussein said. Travel packages will include hassle-free visa and interpreter services.
Each year Malaysia treats about 100,000 foreign patients, mostly from nearby Muslim countries Indonesia and Brunei, said Ridzwan Bakar, head of the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia.
Patients from the Middle East have risen since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, with many bringing their families and spending at least two weeks in the country, Ridzwan said.
Foreign patients come for a variety of procedures, including heart bypass operations, hip transplants, infertility treatment, corrective laser eye surgery, dental work and cosmetic operations.
Treatment also comes comparatively cheap - a heart bypass patient would spend less than US$7,000 in Malaysia, double that amount in neighbouring Singapore and 10 times more in the United States, Ridzwan said.
The sector, which Malaysia calls "health tourism," brought 150 million ringgit (US$40 million) in revenue last year. Officials hope to triple it to more than 540 million ringgit (US$140 million) by 2005.
Health aid criteria eased
THE Finance Ministry has agreed to make it easier for applicants to receive aid from its Chronic Disease Fund, by raising the eligibility condition of RM600 monthly household income to RM1,500, Utusan Malaysia reported.
The easier condition is expected to be approved next month, it said quoting Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Suleiman Mohamed.
The decision was made following a discussion between the Finance and Health Ministries after a report revealed that there were no takers for the RM100mil fund, due to the strict criteria of rejecting applicants whose monthly household income exceeded RM600.
Dr Suleiman said RM600 was impractical as the poverty rate was RM1,200 in urban areasand RM300 in rural areas.
To date, he said, his ministry had only received RM1mil from the fund, which had yet to be used, as none of the applicants were eligible for it. He said the ministry would receive RM5mil from the fund next year.
“With the criteria eased, certainly more applicants will be eligible for it.”
Utusan Malaysia quoted a source, as saying that the Health Ministry’s RM1mil allocation this year could not be brought forward to next year because the money was in the form of management expenditure and no time frame was set to use up the annual allocation.
THE Finance Ministry has agreed to make it easier for applicants to receive aid from its Chronic Disease Fund, by raising the eligibility condition of RM600 monthly household income to RM1,500, Utusan Malaysia reported.
The easier condition is expected to be approved next month, it said quoting Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Suleiman Mohamed.
The decision was made following a discussion between the Finance and Health Ministries after a report revealed that there were no takers for the RM100mil fund, due to the strict criteria of rejecting applicants whose monthly household income exceeded RM600.
Dr Suleiman said RM600 was impractical as the poverty rate was RM1,200 in urban areasand RM300 in rural areas.
To date, he said, his ministry had only received RM1mil from the fund, which had yet to be used, as none of the applicants were eligible for it. He said the ministry would receive RM5mil from the fund next year.
“With the criteria eased, certainly more applicants will be eligible for it.”
Utusan Malaysia quoted a source, as saying that the Health Ministry’s RM1mil allocation this year could not be brought forward to next year because the money was in the form of management expenditure and no time frame was set to use up the annual allocation.
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Wired News: Herbicide Ban Faces Challenges: "Herbicide Ban Faces Challenges"
Wow. A Malaysian health related item makes it to Wired!
TELUK INTAN, Malaysia -- Six years have passed since Malaysian plantation worker Eswari last used the herbicide paraquat, but she still loses fingernails because of what she says is residual poisoning damage.
Ex-colleagues still spraying paraquat and other chemicals on Malaysian oil palms complain of rashes, nosebleeds and irritation of the skin, eyes and reproductive organs.
They pin their hopes for relief on a phased, national ban of the popular weed killer due to take complete effect by 2005.
Planters and paraquat makers, which include Swiss chemicals giant Syngenta, are contesting the ban with media ads and studies on the product's merits and costs of its withdrawal.
Anti-paraquat campaigners want other developing states to follow Malaysia's lead, particularly those in the tropics.
Their case got harder in October, when an EU committee voted to re-register Syngenta's paraquat product Gramoxone in the face of objections from a minority of the bloc's 15 nations. EU members Austria, Denmark, Finland and Sweden all have bans on the chemical, while Germany has severe restrictions.
The Pesticides Action Network, or PAN, says the vote was a blow for tropical farm workers facing riskier conditions than those in Europe's tighter-regulated, temperate climes.
"It's so different in tropical countries, the conditions of work for plantation workers in Asia in general are very hazardous," PAN Executive Director Sarojeni Rengam says.
Western peers, driving closed tractor cabs, do not face the same prolonged exposure to pesticides. "These are poisonings that can be prevented. It's exposure that with the ban can be easily prevented," she adds.
Paraquat is fatal if swallowed, causing painful death by crippling the lungs and central nervous system. While that makes for grisly suicide headlines, says Sarojeni, the main issue is one of insidious poisoning.
"When you look at the statistics, it looks very skewed toward suicides but that's not the reality on the ground, where the problem is occupational exposures."
Syngenta, which declined to provide someone for interview, said in written replies to questions that surveys of long-term paraquat users in the tropics showed no ill-effects to health. It said the chemical could be employed safely by following straightforward handling norms applying to all pesticides.
Paraquat, as a highly soluble salt, was rapidly excreted, meaning regular sprayers faced no risk of cumulative poisoning.
PAN says the product, which acts by direct plant contact, is used on about 50 crops in more than 120 countries worldwide. The group estimates as much as 70 percent of all paraquat sales are to developing countries, with Asia taking 40 percent.
Syngenta would not give details on annual sales, although its 2002 annual report put revenue from sales of non-selective herbicides such as Gramoxone at $650 million. The United States was the largest consumer of the chemical, followed by China, it said.
M.R. Chandran, chief executive of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association, has decades of experience on plantations. He says paraquat is rapidly rain fast and quick to act, making it particularly suitable for use in the tropics. The MPOA wants the ban reversed, saying its impact over 10 years will be $710 million in revenue losses and higher costs to estates and small holders.
Chandran says workers often have only themselves to blame for exposure, ignoring basic hygiene such as hand washing.
"They take it for granted that they are immune to the chemical. It's not just paraquat that will give you this, other chemicals will also cause similar symptoms."
He points to health monitoring systems required for all workers, including regular checkups, a system he says depends on companies following the rules. But he adds that no one should spray paraquat all the time.
"Continuous use of paraquat, of course, we do say we do not advocate it."
He also criticizes chemical companies that give away baseball caps, golf balls and drums of free product with large purchases.
"What they should be doing is to give safety equipment for free and to work on safety equipment for the tropics. They have the means to do so, these big companies."
Syngenta said its checks with plantation owners and small holders showed suitable equipment was available for hot climates. It said the company had helped develop a poncho garment for use in countries like Malaysia. Local sprayers reject protective kit as unwearable.
Outside Teluk Intan, a country town on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia surrounded by oil palms, the soft-spoken Eswari says sprayers must defend the ban or see it fail.
"If people like us give support for the ban it will survive," says the 34-year-old mother of one, an ethnic Tamil whose family came to Malaysia a couple of generations back. "Otherwise, it will be dropped."
Wow. A Malaysian health related item makes it to Wired!
TELUK INTAN, Malaysia -- Six years have passed since Malaysian plantation worker Eswari last used the herbicide paraquat, but she still loses fingernails because of what she says is residual poisoning damage.
Ex-colleagues still spraying paraquat and other chemicals on Malaysian oil palms complain of rashes, nosebleeds and irritation of the skin, eyes and reproductive organs.
They pin their hopes for relief on a phased, national ban of the popular weed killer due to take complete effect by 2005.
Planters and paraquat makers, which include Swiss chemicals giant Syngenta, are contesting the ban with media ads and studies on the product's merits and costs of its withdrawal.
Anti-paraquat campaigners want other developing states to follow Malaysia's lead, particularly those in the tropics.
Their case got harder in October, when an EU committee voted to re-register Syngenta's paraquat product Gramoxone in the face of objections from a minority of the bloc's 15 nations. EU members Austria, Denmark, Finland and Sweden all have bans on the chemical, while Germany has severe restrictions.
The Pesticides Action Network, or PAN, says the vote was a blow for tropical farm workers facing riskier conditions than those in Europe's tighter-regulated, temperate climes.
"It's so different in tropical countries, the conditions of work for plantation workers in Asia in general are very hazardous," PAN Executive Director Sarojeni Rengam says.
Western peers, driving closed tractor cabs, do not face the same prolonged exposure to pesticides. "These are poisonings that can be prevented. It's exposure that with the ban can be easily prevented," she adds.
Paraquat is fatal if swallowed, causing painful death by crippling the lungs and central nervous system. While that makes for grisly suicide headlines, says Sarojeni, the main issue is one of insidious poisoning.
"When you look at the statistics, it looks very skewed toward suicides but that's not the reality on the ground, where the problem is occupational exposures."
Syngenta, which declined to provide someone for interview, said in written replies to questions that surveys of long-term paraquat users in the tropics showed no ill-effects to health. It said the chemical could be employed safely by following straightforward handling norms applying to all pesticides.
Paraquat, as a highly soluble salt, was rapidly excreted, meaning regular sprayers faced no risk of cumulative poisoning.
PAN says the product, which acts by direct plant contact, is used on about 50 crops in more than 120 countries worldwide. The group estimates as much as 70 percent of all paraquat sales are to developing countries, with Asia taking 40 percent.
Syngenta would not give details on annual sales, although its 2002 annual report put revenue from sales of non-selective herbicides such as Gramoxone at $650 million. The United States was the largest consumer of the chemical, followed by China, it said.
M.R. Chandran, chief executive of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association, has decades of experience on plantations. He says paraquat is rapidly rain fast and quick to act, making it particularly suitable for use in the tropics. The MPOA wants the ban reversed, saying its impact over 10 years will be $710 million in revenue losses and higher costs to estates and small holders.
Chandran says workers often have only themselves to blame for exposure, ignoring basic hygiene such as hand washing.
"They take it for granted that they are immune to the chemical. It's not just paraquat that will give you this, other chemicals will also cause similar symptoms."
He points to health monitoring systems required for all workers, including regular checkups, a system he says depends on companies following the rules. But he adds that no one should spray paraquat all the time.
"Continuous use of paraquat, of course, we do say we do not advocate it."
He also criticizes chemical companies that give away baseball caps, golf balls and drums of free product with large purchases.
"What they should be doing is to give safety equipment for free and to work on safety equipment for the tropics. They have the means to do so, these big companies."
Syngenta said its checks with plantation owners and small holders showed suitable equipment was available for hot climates. It said the company had helped develop a poncho garment for use in countries like Malaysia. Local sprayers reject protective kit as unwearable.
Outside Teluk Intan, a country town on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia surrounded by oil palms, the soft-spoken Eswari says sprayers must defend the ban or see it fail.
"If people like us give support for the ban it will survive," says the 34-year-old mother of one, an ethnic Tamil whose family came to Malaysia a couple of generations back. "Otherwise, it will be dropped."
Sunday, December 28, 2003
Indonesia, Malaysia Ban U.S. Beef Imports
KUALA LUMPUR, December 28 (IslamOnline.net) - The Malaysian and Indonesian governments banned beef imports from the U.S. because of the discovery of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease in the country, news agencies said Sunday, December 28.
The two countries also ordered shops selling U.S. imported beef and U.S. processed beef products to withdraw the commodity from the market with immediate effect.
Malaysia’s Health Ministry’s Food Quality Control Division Director Dr Abdul Rahim Mohamad asserted that ban was effective since last Wednesday, reported the Bernama news agency on Sunday.
He said from last January to September, the country imported 120,126.01 kg of frozen boneless meat of bovine animals from the U.S., 0.21 per cent of the total import of frozen boneless meat of bovine animals.
Dr Abdul Rahim added that the ban was imposed under Section 13(1) of the Food Act 1983 and the statement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the BSE presumptive sample taken last December 9.
A British laboratory said Thursday that a Holstein cow in the U.S. state of Washington was found to have the BSE, which eats away brain tissue, causing madness and death in cows.
The ban would not affect Malaysia’s supply of beef as U.S. imports only made up about 0.3% of the total imports.
Malaysia’s main supply of beef comes from India and Australia, said the Director General of Malaysia’s Veterinary Services Department Saturday, December 27.
"Malaysia’s main supply of beef comes from India and Australia, so the effect of the ban will be very little," he said.
Asked when the ban would be lifted, he said the department would monitor the situation and react accordingly.
U.S. Embassy public affairs counselor Karl Stoltz said the U.S. would be working closely with local authorities to ensure restoration of public confidence in its beef products.
Malaysia Bans
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities cautioned all government agencies as well as the beef industry and public to adhere to the ban to ensure Malaysians were not exposed to the deadly disease.
"We have asked the customs and excise office to prevent the import of processed beef products from the U.S. indefinitely, starting Saturday," Antara news agency reported quoting a statement by the Indonesian Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM).
The ban is indefinite and importers, traders, supermarkets and other retail stores were given severe warning of stiff actions if the ban was not respected.
"We will take legal measures against those who defy the order," BPOM said, adding that it was confident importers, distributors and retail stores would abide by the ban, which is a blow to the U.S. exports to Indonesia.
Indonesia imports U.S. $9 million of fresh U.S. beef annually and processed beef products worth $62 million a year.
Processed beef products include canned beef and other preserved foods and drinks such as sausage, milk and cheese.
Indonesia also imports beef and processed beef products from Australia and New Zealand.
According to the BPOM, the last direct import of U.S. processed beef products, some 440 kilograms of beef powder, was on September 2003 and was destined to be used in some sausage and burger patties.
Government officials are said to be conducting field observations on U.S. beef and processed beef products starting next week.
The consumers were also warned to check the labels of products to know the country of origin before buying beef products.
Other countries that have temporarily banned U.S. beef include China, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, Jamaica, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.
Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines have not given any indication that they may ban U.S. beef.
BSE ravaged Europe's cattle industry in 2001 and is thought to have caused the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans who eat infected meat.
KUALA LUMPUR, December 28 (IslamOnline.net) - The Malaysian and Indonesian governments banned beef imports from the U.S. because of the discovery of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease in the country, news agencies said Sunday, December 28.
The two countries also ordered shops selling U.S. imported beef and U.S. processed beef products to withdraw the commodity from the market with immediate effect.
Malaysia’s Health Ministry’s Food Quality Control Division Director Dr Abdul Rahim Mohamad asserted that ban was effective since last Wednesday, reported the Bernama news agency on Sunday.
He said from last January to September, the country imported 120,126.01 kg of frozen boneless meat of bovine animals from the U.S., 0.21 per cent of the total import of frozen boneless meat of bovine animals.
Dr Abdul Rahim added that the ban was imposed under Section 13(1) of the Food Act 1983 and the statement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the BSE presumptive sample taken last December 9.
A British laboratory said Thursday that a Holstein cow in the U.S. state of Washington was found to have the BSE, which eats away brain tissue, causing madness and death in cows.
The ban would not affect Malaysia’s supply of beef as U.S. imports only made up about 0.3% of the total imports.
Malaysia’s main supply of beef comes from India and Australia, said the Director General of Malaysia’s Veterinary Services Department Saturday, December 27.
"Malaysia’s main supply of beef comes from India and Australia, so the effect of the ban will be very little," he said.
Asked when the ban would be lifted, he said the department would monitor the situation and react accordingly.
U.S. Embassy public affairs counselor Karl Stoltz said the U.S. would be working closely with local authorities to ensure restoration of public confidence in its beef products.
Malaysia Bans
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities cautioned all government agencies as well as the beef industry and public to adhere to the ban to ensure Malaysians were not exposed to the deadly disease.
"We have asked the customs and excise office to prevent the import of processed beef products from the U.S. indefinitely, starting Saturday," Antara news agency reported quoting a statement by the Indonesian Food and Drug Control Agency (BPOM).
The ban is indefinite and importers, traders, supermarkets and other retail stores were given severe warning of stiff actions if the ban was not respected.
"We will take legal measures against those who defy the order," BPOM said, adding that it was confident importers, distributors and retail stores would abide by the ban, which is a blow to the U.S. exports to Indonesia.
Indonesia imports U.S. $9 million of fresh U.S. beef annually and processed beef products worth $62 million a year.
Processed beef products include canned beef and other preserved foods and drinks such as sausage, milk and cheese.
Indonesia also imports beef and processed beef products from Australia and New Zealand.
According to the BPOM, the last direct import of U.S. processed beef products, some 440 kilograms of beef powder, was on September 2003 and was destined to be used in some sausage and burger patties.
Government officials are said to be conducting field observations on U.S. beef and processed beef products starting next week.
The consumers were also warned to check the labels of products to know the country of origin before buying beef products.
Other countries that have temporarily banned U.S. beef include China, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, Jamaica, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.
Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines have not given any indication that they may ban U.S. beef.
BSE ravaged Europe's cattle industry in 2001 and is thought to have caused the fatal variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans who eat infected meat.
Saturday, December 20, 2003
Govt to look into S’wak’s concern
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung Thursday said concerns expressed by the Sarawak Government over claims that criminals from the peninsula are being banished to the State will be looked into.
However, he said the Federal Government would not put criminals under restricted residence to Sarawak and Sabah unless they lived there.
“I do not think this (claims by the Sarawak Government) is what has taken place,” he said at a media conference after receiving a delegation from China’s Labour and Social Security Ministry at his office, here.
Chor said he had, in fact, had a discussion on the matter with the Secretary of Security and Public Order Division Datuk Hamzah Md Ros.
He said this when asked to comment on a statement by the Member of Parliament for Lambir, Aidan Wing, at the State Legislative Assembly sitting recently that banishing of criminals from the peninsula to the State should be stopped on security grounds.
On reports that a man in Taiwan had come down with the feared Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), he said this should not cause alarm.
“This is a very special case and it does not mean that SARS is coming back to threaten the safety and health of our community in this part of the world,” he said.
He said governments in the region would surely have taken adequate measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Chor expressed confidence that the spread of the disease would not reach the scale that was seen earlier this year and put full faith in the Government to handle the situation.
Taiwan health authorities said a 44-year-old SARS researcher at a military hospital had tested positive for the virus and was probably infected in the laboratory where he worked.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the case appeared to be isolated.
The man was in Singapore from Dec 7 to Dec 10 for a medical conference. Hours after returning to Taiwan, he started to run a fever - one of the first symptoms of the virus.
On Thursday’s visit, the Deputy Minister told the visitors from China to spread the message that Malaysia welcomed with open arms tourists and students from the republic with the understanding that they would abide by the law of the land when in this country.
In particular, Chor said he drove home the point that Chinese women should stay away from criminal activities such as prostitution when in Malaysia, with the excuse that they needed money after overstaying. - Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung Thursday said concerns expressed by the Sarawak Government over claims that criminals from the peninsula are being banished to the State will be looked into.
However, he said the Federal Government would not put criminals under restricted residence to Sarawak and Sabah unless they lived there.
“I do not think this (claims by the Sarawak Government) is what has taken place,” he said at a media conference after receiving a delegation from China’s Labour and Social Security Ministry at his office, here.
Chor said he had, in fact, had a discussion on the matter with the Secretary of Security and Public Order Division Datuk Hamzah Md Ros.
He said this when asked to comment on a statement by the Member of Parliament for Lambir, Aidan Wing, at the State Legislative Assembly sitting recently that banishing of criminals from the peninsula to the State should be stopped on security grounds.
On reports that a man in Taiwan had come down with the feared Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), he said this should not cause alarm.
“This is a very special case and it does not mean that SARS is coming back to threaten the safety and health of our community in this part of the world,” he said.
He said governments in the region would surely have taken adequate measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Chor expressed confidence that the spread of the disease would not reach the scale that was seen earlier this year and put full faith in the Government to handle the situation.
Taiwan health authorities said a 44-year-old SARS researcher at a military hospital had tested positive for the virus and was probably infected in the laboratory where he worked.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the case appeared to be isolated.
The man was in Singapore from Dec 7 to Dec 10 for a medical conference. Hours after returning to Taiwan, he started to run a fever - one of the first symptoms of the virus.
On Thursday’s visit, the Deputy Minister told the visitors from China to spread the message that Malaysia welcomed with open arms tourists and students from the republic with the understanding that they would abide by the law of the land when in this country.
In particular, Chor said he drove home the point that Chinese women should stay away from criminal activities such as prostitution when in Malaysia, with the excuse that they needed money after overstaying. - Bernama
Free antiretroviral treatment for AIDS patients: "PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry will provide free antiretroviral (ARV) treatment for AIDS patients once the Government starts bringing in cheaper generic drugs from India next year.
Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said his ministry was in the last stages of drawing an agreement with Indian drug producer, Cipla, to buy the generic ARV medicine.
“The Cabinet has decided to buy the drugs where it is cheapest. Once we have access to those drugs, we want to give it free. Beginning from January, we should start buying. We would like to extend it to all those who cannot afford it,” said Chua during a media briefing yesterday on Malaysia's HIV/ AIDS situation.
ARV treatment or HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) was introduced in 1996, and has been shown to suppress the replication of the virus.
The lower the viral load of the individual, the lesser the risk of transmitting HIV to others. Although not a cure, treatment has enabled HIV-positive people to live longer and lead healthy lives.
Patients on the treatment usually take a combination of three drugs.
At present, the Government is providing one free ARV drug to AIDS patients treated in government hospitals, subject to certain conditions such as adherence to their drug regime.
Chua said that the details on the rollout of the free ARV treatment had not been worked out yet, but it was based on the principle of accessibility.
The first step, he said, would be to make cheaper anti-HIV drugs available by bringing in generic drugs under governmental rights.
It costs the Government about RM800 a month to treat an AIDS patient, but using the Indian generic drugs will reduce the cost to RM188 a month for a patient. It now costs the Government RM3mil to treat 1,500 HIV/AIDS patients a year.
Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) executive director Indra Nadchatram said: “Treatment offers hope. It allows our HIV-positive people to live healthy, productive lives. It will also encourage people to come forward to be tested, which will offer opportunities for counselling as well as preventive education.
“The MAF looks forward to the Government's new initiative to expand its current one-drug policy to a coverage of two-drugs and eventually, all three drugs that are required for the HIV treatment cocktail,” she said.
The MAF has been complementing the Government's treatment efforts with their “People Living with HIV/ AIDS Drug Assistance Scheme”, which helps patients buy ARV drugs.
Only two developing countries are currently offering free ARV treatment to its people –Brazil and Bostwana. South Africa has announced that it intends to give free ARV treatment, but the rollout has yet to be implemented. "
Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said his ministry was in the last stages of drawing an agreement with Indian drug producer, Cipla, to buy the generic ARV medicine.
“The Cabinet has decided to buy the drugs where it is cheapest. Once we have access to those drugs, we want to give it free. Beginning from January, we should start buying. We would like to extend it to all those who cannot afford it,” said Chua during a media briefing yesterday on Malaysia's HIV/ AIDS situation.
ARV treatment or HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) was introduced in 1996, and has been shown to suppress the replication of the virus.
The lower the viral load of the individual, the lesser the risk of transmitting HIV to others. Although not a cure, treatment has enabled HIV-positive people to live longer and lead healthy lives.
Patients on the treatment usually take a combination of three drugs.
At present, the Government is providing one free ARV drug to AIDS patients treated in government hospitals, subject to certain conditions such as adherence to their drug regime.
Chua said that the details on the rollout of the free ARV treatment had not been worked out yet, but it was based on the principle of accessibility.
The first step, he said, would be to make cheaper anti-HIV drugs available by bringing in generic drugs under governmental rights.
It costs the Government about RM800 a month to treat an AIDS patient, but using the Indian generic drugs will reduce the cost to RM188 a month for a patient. It now costs the Government RM3mil to treat 1,500 HIV/AIDS patients a year.
Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) executive director Indra Nadchatram said: “Treatment offers hope. It allows our HIV-positive people to live healthy, productive lives. It will also encourage people to come forward to be tested, which will offer opportunities for counselling as well as preventive education.
“The MAF looks forward to the Government's new initiative to expand its current one-drug policy to a coverage of two-drugs and eventually, all three drugs that are required for the HIV treatment cocktail,” she said.
The MAF has been complementing the Government's treatment efforts with their “People Living with HIV/ AIDS Drug Assistance Scheme”, which helps patients buy ARV drugs.
Only two developing countries are currently offering free ARV treatment to its people –Brazil and Bostwana. South Africa has announced that it intends to give free ARV treatment, but the rollout has yet to be implemented. "
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Race to control cancer in 12 years
PENANG: The Health Ministry aims to control or even eliminate certain types of cancers by 2015, as the major types of malignancies affecting Malaysians are preventable and curable.
Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said it was alarming that Malaysia recorded among the highest rates of nose, throat and cervical cancers in the world.
“For instance, lung cancer, the leading cancer among Malaysian men and fourth major cancer among women, can be significantly reduced if more people heed our anti-smoking call,” he said, adding that tobacco also caused other tumours including cancers of the throat, kidney and mouth.
Top priority would be given to prevention through health education as well as early detection and treatment, he said in his speech that was read out by parliamentary secretary S. Sothinathan at the launch of the first five-year report from the Penang Cancer Registry (PCR) yesterday.
Chua said cervical cancer could be prevented through good sexual hygiene and that breast cancer could also be prevented through a diet rich in fruits and vegetable and low in saturated fats.
Similar to the findings of the National Cancer Registry Report (NCR), he said the five-year PCR report (1994-1998) also showed that the incidence of cancer was highest among the Chinese and that stomach cancer was most prevalent among Indians.
“This interesting observation should be further investigated to determine the reason behind the ethnic differences,” he said.
He said the ministry would collaborate with the National Cancer Institute of the United States to reduce suffering and deaths due to cancer.
Based on the data from the NCR and PCR, the ministry would now look into identifying sub-groups in the population that were at high risk of cancer and the local risk factors involved in various cancers, he said.
PENANG: The Health Ministry aims to control or even eliminate certain types of cancers by 2015, as the major types of malignancies affecting Malaysians are preventable and curable.
Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said it was alarming that Malaysia recorded among the highest rates of nose, throat and cervical cancers in the world.
“For instance, lung cancer, the leading cancer among Malaysian men and fourth major cancer among women, can be significantly reduced if more people heed our anti-smoking call,” he said, adding that tobacco also caused other tumours including cancers of the throat, kidney and mouth.
Top priority would be given to prevention through health education as well as early detection and treatment, he said in his speech that was read out by parliamentary secretary S. Sothinathan at the launch of the first five-year report from the Penang Cancer Registry (PCR) yesterday.
Chua said cervical cancer could be prevented through good sexual hygiene and that breast cancer could also be prevented through a diet rich in fruits and vegetable and low in saturated fats.
Similar to the findings of the National Cancer Registry Report (NCR), he said the five-year PCR report (1994-1998) also showed that the incidence of cancer was highest among the Chinese and that stomach cancer was most prevalent among Indians.
“This interesting observation should be further investigated to determine the reason behind the ethnic differences,” he said.
He said the ministry would collaborate with the National Cancer Institute of the United States to reduce suffering and deaths due to cancer.
Based on the data from the NCR and PCR, the ministry would now look into identifying sub-groups in the population that were at high risk of cancer and the local risk factors involved in various cancers, he said.
Two foreign firms keen to set up vaccine plants
KUALA LUMPUR: Two foreign companies have expressed interest to set up vaccine production plants in the country to address the shortage of vaccine supply in future, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
He said the two companies from South Korea and India would brief Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about their intention to set up high-tech vaccine plants.
“Currently, the amount of vaccines produced in the world is limited.
“We have to look into our own vaccine production, as we don’t have any vaccine manufacturing plants. This will be done through participation of foreign companies,” he said during a visit to witness a demonstration on the use of a microwave endometrial ablation machine at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday.
He said the Government would encourage the companies to set up the plants in the Biovalley in Dengkil, Selangor.
Chua said the plants would complement research and development projects by the National Institute for Natural Products and Vaccinology so that the country would become self-sufficient in the production of vaccines.
On the Fujian flu that swept through Europe and the United States and hit Hong Kong, Chua said the World Health Organisation had informed him that Malaysia and other parts of the Asian region were free from the Fujian flu virus.
He said the public should not be duly alarmed over the outbreak in the United States.
However, he said Malaysians, particularly children and the elderly, planning to travel to Hong Kong, China and Taiwan should get the flu vaccine.
He said the ministry was aware that there was a shortage of flu vaccine in the country as the amount produced was limited and the vaccine was mostly used in countries that experience a flu season such as those in the northern hemisphere.
“For example, the United States requires 70 million to 80 million doses every year but when there is an epidemic, more people would go for vaccination,” he said.
He added that when a flu epidemic occurred in the United States, the supplier could not export the vaccine.
KUALA LUMPUR: Two foreign companies have expressed interest to set up vaccine production plants in the country to address the shortage of vaccine supply in future, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
He said the two companies from South Korea and India would brief Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about their intention to set up high-tech vaccine plants.
“Currently, the amount of vaccines produced in the world is limited.
“We have to look into our own vaccine production, as we don’t have any vaccine manufacturing plants. This will be done through participation of foreign companies,” he said during a visit to witness a demonstration on the use of a microwave endometrial ablation machine at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department in Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday.
He said the Government would encourage the companies to set up the plants in the Biovalley in Dengkil, Selangor.
Chua said the plants would complement research and development projects by the National Institute for Natural Products and Vaccinology so that the country would become self-sufficient in the production of vaccines.
On the Fujian flu that swept through Europe and the United States and hit Hong Kong, Chua said the World Health Organisation had informed him that Malaysia and other parts of the Asian region were free from the Fujian flu virus.
He said the public should not be duly alarmed over the outbreak in the United States.
However, he said Malaysians, particularly children and the elderly, planning to travel to Hong Kong, China and Taiwan should get the flu vaccine.
He said the ministry was aware that there was a shortage of flu vaccine in the country as the amount produced was limited and the vaccine was mostly used in countries that experience a flu season such as those in the northern hemisphere.
“For example, the United States requires 70 million to 80 million doses every year but when there is an epidemic, more people would go for vaccination,” he said.
He added that when a flu epidemic occurred in the United States, the supplier could not export the vaccine.
Sunday, December 14, 2003
Consider alternative medicines, says Chua
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12: Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng today called on medical specialists and practitioners in Malaysia not to turn off their minds to alternative
medicine.
Praising those who had included alternative medicine in their practice, he said the different modes of medicine could fill the gap that Western medicine could not cure.
"International pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has revealed that pharmaceutical drugs for various illnesses, including cancer, are effective for only 30 to 50 per cent of patients due to the different genetic make-up of people.
"This shows that between 50 and 70 per cent of the people will not benefit from Western medicines, which are very advanced and able to cure many diseases," he said after meeting with Phang Man Vui, nine, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, at his office.
The terminally sick boy had exhausted all forms of western medicines to treat his illness. Now, his case will be referred to a team of experts in modern and traditional medicine in China.
In this respect, Chua stressed the need for Malaysia to integrate modern and traditional medicines.
It was reported that 123 of the 191 countries registered with World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported an increased use of traditional medicine.
Studies in developed countries such as Britain, Australia, the United States and Belgium have shown that 30 per cent of their medical practitioners were using traditional medicine.
Chua said the traditional medicine industry in China was far more advanced compared with Malaysia's own sector, which was still "in the first milestone".
Asked if the ministry would allow the selling of traditional medicines from China with the endorsement only of the Chinese Government, he said all foreign traditional medicinal products were subject to Malaysian authorities' evaluation, studies, clinical trials and approval.
On the Fujian Flu outbreak, he said the ministry did not receive any recommendation from WHO to check travellers at the country's entry points for such illness.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12: Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng today called on medical specialists and practitioners in Malaysia not to turn off their minds to alternative
medicine.
Praising those who had included alternative medicine in their practice, he said the different modes of medicine could fill the gap that Western medicine could not cure.
"International pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has revealed that pharmaceutical drugs for various illnesses, including cancer, are effective for only 30 to 50 per cent of patients due to the different genetic make-up of people.
"This shows that between 50 and 70 per cent of the people will not benefit from Western medicines, which are very advanced and able to cure many diseases," he said after meeting with Phang Man Vui, nine, who suffers from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, at his office.
The terminally sick boy had exhausted all forms of western medicines to treat his illness. Now, his case will be referred to a team of experts in modern and traditional medicine in China.
In this respect, Chua stressed the need for Malaysia to integrate modern and traditional medicines.
It was reported that 123 of the 191 countries registered with World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported an increased use of traditional medicine.
Studies in developed countries such as Britain, Australia, the United States and Belgium have shown that 30 per cent of their medical practitioners were using traditional medicine.
Chua said the traditional medicine industry in China was far more advanced compared with Malaysia's own sector, which was still "in the first milestone".
Asked if the ministry would allow the selling of traditional medicines from China with the endorsement only of the Chinese Government, he said all foreign traditional medicinal products were subject to Malaysian authorities' evaluation, studies, clinical trials and approval.
On the Fujian Flu outbreak, he said the ministry did not receive any recommendation from WHO to check travellers at the country's entry points for such illness.
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Fujian flu vaccine ready by next year
KUALA LUMPUR: Vaccine for the Fujian strain of influenza will be ready by next year, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
“The Fujian vaccine will be ready for the winter season starting July in the Southern Hemisphere, but it won’t be ready for the current winter,” he said after attending the Hari Raya celebration at his ministry.
World Health Organisation (WHO) executive director of communicable diseases Dr David Heymann and WHO's representative for Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore Dr Sigrun Roesel also attended the event yesterday.
Chua added that he would be discussing with Dr Heymann and Dr Roesel on Malaysia's preparation in facing health challenges that might occur during the current winter season.
It was reported earlier this month that six children in England and Scotland had died from the Fujian strain.
Dr Heymann said WHO's network of 110 laboratories in 84 countries worldwide were constantly examining people with symptoms of flu and isolating the viruses for making vaccines.
He added that the virus would change every year and new vaccines must be made because of that.
Later, Chua said Dr Heymann was here to discuss polio eradication in Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries where the disease was still prevalent in Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Somalia, Niger and Pakistan.
He said the OIC had resolved to eradicate polio in member states and wanted them to allocate resources to ensure all children were protected from the crippling disease.
In Johor Baru, state health director Dr P. Prathapa Senan said samples from patients with serious bouts of influenza would be sent to the Institute of Medical Research to determine if they were suffering from the Fujian flu.
However, there had been no reported cases of the flu and there was no cause for alarm, he said.
“It is advisable for those who wish to travel to the United States and Europe to be vaccinated before they leave the country,” he added.
Among the symptoms of the Fujian flu are fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat and nasal congestion.
Although most victims will be cured within one to two weeks, complications can arise for those above 65 years and those suffering from chronic lung disease as well as those suffering from immune-deficiency, such as people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer patients.
KUALA LUMPUR: Vaccine for the Fujian strain of influenza will be ready by next year, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
“The Fujian vaccine will be ready for the winter season starting July in the Southern Hemisphere, but it won’t be ready for the current winter,” he said after attending the Hari Raya celebration at his ministry.
World Health Organisation (WHO) executive director of communicable diseases Dr David Heymann and WHO's representative for Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore Dr Sigrun Roesel also attended the event yesterday.
Chua added that he would be discussing with Dr Heymann and Dr Roesel on Malaysia's preparation in facing health challenges that might occur during the current winter season.
It was reported earlier this month that six children in England and Scotland had died from the Fujian strain.
Dr Heymann said WHO's network of 110 laboratories in 84 countries worldwide were constantly examining people with symptoms of flu and isolating the viruses for making vaccines.
He added that the virus would change every year and new vaccines must be made because of that.
Later, Chua said Dr Heymann was here to discuss polio eradication in Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries where the disease was still prevalent in Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Somalia, Niger and Pakistan.
He said the OIC had resolved to eradicate polio in member states and wanted them to allocate resources to ensure all children were protected from the crippling disease.
In Johor Baru, state health director Dr P. Prathapa Senan said samples from patients with serious bouts of influenza would be sent to the Institute of Medical Research to determine if they were suffering from the Fujian flu.
However, there had been no reported cases of the flu and there was no cause for alarm, he said.
“It is advisable for those who wish to travel to the United States and Europe to be vaccinated before they leave the country,” he added.
Among the symptoms of the Fujian flu are fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat and nasal congestion.
Although most victims will be cured within one to two weeks, complications can arise for those above 65 years and those suffering from chronic lung disease as well as those suffering from immune-deficiency, such as people living with HIV/AIDS and cancer patients.
Monday, December 08, 2003
Malaysia issues alert against killer Fujian flu
: "Malaysia has issued an alert to hospitals and clinics to watch out for cases of the virulent Fujian strain of flu that has killed people in Britain.
Health minister Chua Jui Men says cases of Fujian flu were reported in three boarding schools in the northern state of Perak a few months ago, but the spread was contained.
Seven children in Britain are reported to have died after getting the flu.
The World Health Organization had reported a rise in influenza cases in Europe and North America, mostly caused by the virus from the Fujian strain."
: "Malaysia has issued an alert to hospitals and clinics to watch out for cases of the virulent Fujian strain of flu that has killed people in Britain.
Health minister Chua Jui Men says cases of Fujian flu were reported in three boarding schools in the northern state of Perak a few months ago, but the spread was contained.
Seven children in Britain are reported to have died after getting the flu.
The World Health Organization had reported a rise in influenza cases in Europe and North America, mostly caused by the virus from the Fujian strain."
Saturday, December 06, 2003
M’sia has potential for medical tourism
Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia has the potential to become a major “medical tourism” destination as the cost for surgical treatment and recuperation in this country is lower than in the advanced Western countries.
Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, said state-of-the-art medical and surgical treatment centres in major cities including here could also enable local surgeons and other medical specialists gain practical skills of international standard.
He said the State and country would also derive economic benefits from foreign patients coming here to seek treatment.
“The time has come to reverse the trend of Malaysians going abroad for expensive surgical treatment Ö we should now get others to come to our country for such treatment,” said Musa.
I hope the state medical authorities and private sector practitioners, especially surgeons, will take my suggestions in a positive light and build on these ideas, he added.
He said this in a speech presented by his Deputy Datuk Tham Nyip Shen, who is also Resource and Information Technology Development Minister, at the opening of the Asian Surgical Association’s 14th Biennial Congress here on Thursday.
The three-day congress is being held in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Meeting of the College of Surgeons, Malaysia.
“On the part of the State government, we will do all we can to encourage the advancement of our public health system and specialist medical services, including surgical treatments,” said Musa.
He said there was much to be gained from working together towards that objective “as the local people in need of surgical treatment can get it done at a reasonable cost and convenience, and the local economy will also benefit.”
“Under such a scenario, I see this Biennial Congress of the Asian Surgical Association here as a landmark occasion Ö this is an excellent opportunity for our own fraternity of surgeons to optimise and set themselves in new directions,” he said.
Musa said the State government was fully supportive of efforts by the Federal government to raise the standard of medical services in Sabah.
“We are very much aware of the fact that the ratio of doctors to the general population in Sabah needs to be improved. We are nowhere near the national average of one doctor to every 4,000 people, and efforts are being made to address the situation,” he said.
In terms of medical facilities, he said Sabah had made tremendous progress under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau have well-equipped and well-staffed general hospitals while there are district hospitals to serve the more remote areas of the State, including rural and mobile clinics.
“With continuing improvements in the State’s communication network, particularly roads and telecommunications, almost everyone in Sabah has some access to medical treatment when needed. The focus now is on making this access easier, faster and cheaper,” said Musa.
He said the government realised that adequate trained manpower is vital for maintaining an efficient public health and medical service.
“Therefore, the State and Federal governments are working closely with one another to establish training facilities for medical personnel at all levels,” he said.
Beginning with the training of nurses locally more than three decades ago, he said Sabah had moved to the stage where the State will soon be producing locally trained medical doctors at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), which only recently set up its own Faculty of Medicine.
He added that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) here has also established a Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors can pursue medical studies at Master’s level, including advanced training in surgical disciplines.
“Work has also started on the construction of an Allied Health School at Bukit Padang for the training of paramedical staff, along with a Public Health Laboratory that will vastly improve the quality of public health services in the State, particularly in the detection, diagnosis and control of epidemics and contagious diseases.
“All these developments augur well for the progress of Sabah’s health and medical sector.
“The basis has been established for the further progress of this sector. It remains for the State to move on to a new level of healthcare and medical services Ö this includes areas of treatment beyond those provided by general physicians. Surgery is one such area,” said Musa.
I am aware of the spectacular advances in surgical techniques and procedures in other parts of the world, he said, adding that Malaysia is not far behind as Kuala Lumpur is already a favourite destination for patients from many countries.
This includes those coming from developed Western countries and the Middle East, he said, pointing out that the National Heart Institute (IJN) is internationally renowned for its high standards and that Malaysian surgeons have proven to be on par with the best in the world in many instances.
“It remains for us now to turn this success into something bigger to benefit our people and the country,” said Musa.
Meanwhile, four renowned surgeons namely Datuk Dr Hussein Awang, Prof Sir Ara Darzi, Prof David John David and Prof Takada Tadahiro, were named Honorary Fellows of the Asian Surgical Association during the event.
Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia has the potential to become a major “medical tourism” destination as the cost for surgical treatment and recuperation in this country is lower than in the advanced Western countries.
Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, said state-of-the-art medical and surgical treatment centres in major cities including here could also enable local surgeons and other medical specialists gain practical skills of international standard.
He said the State and country would also derive economic benefits from foreign patients coming here to seek treatment.
“The time has come to reverse the trend of Malaysians going abroad for expensive surgical treatment Ö we should now get others to come to our country for such treatment,” said Musa.
I hope the state medical authorities and private sector practitioners, especially surgeons, will take my suggestions in a positive light and build on these ideas, he added.
He said this in a speech presented by his Deputy Datuk Tham Nyip Shen, who is also Resource and Information Technology Development Minister, at the opening of the Asian Surgical Association’s 14th Biennial Congress here on Thursday.
The three-day congress is being held in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Meeting of the College of Surgeons, Malaysia.
“On the part of the State government, we will do all we can to encourage the advancement of our public health system and specialist medical services, including surgical treatments,” said Musa.
He said there was much to be gained from working together towards that objective “as the local people in need of surgical treatment can get it done at a reasonable cost and convenience, and the local economy will also benefit.”
“Under such a scenario, I see this Biennial Congress of the Asian Surgical Association here as a landmark occasion Ö this is an excellent opportunity for our own fraternity of surgeons to optimise and set themselves in new directions,” he said.
Musa said the State government was fully supportive of efforts by the Federal government to raise the standard of medical services in Sabah.
“We are very much aware of the fact that the ratio of doctors to the general population in Sabah needs to be improved. We are nowhere near the national average of one doctor to every 4,000 people, and efforts are being made to address the situation,” he said.
In terms of medical facilities, he said Sabah had made tremendous progress under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration.
“Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau have well-equipped and well-staffed general hospitals while there are district hospitals to serve the more remote areas of the State, including rural and mobile clinics.
“With continuing improvements in the State’s communication network, particularly roads and telecommunications, almost everyone in Sabah has some access to medical treatment when needed. The focus now is on making this access easier, faster and cheaper,” said Musa.
He said the government realised that adequate trained manpower is vital for maintaining an efficient public health and medical service.
“Therefore, the State and Federal governments are working closely with one another to establish training facilities for medical personnel at all levels,” he said.
Beginning with the training of nurses locally more than three decades ago, he said Sabah had moved to the stage where the State will soon be producing locally trained medical doctors at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), which only recently set up its own Faculty of Medicine.
He added that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) here has also established a Postgraduate Medical Centre where doctors can pursue medical studies at Master’s level, including advanced training in surgical disciplines.
“Work has also started on the construction of an Allied Health School at Bukit Padang for the training of paramedical staff, along with a Public Health Laboratory that will vastly improve the quality of public health services in the State, particularly in the detection, diagnosis and control of epidemics and contagious diseases.
“All these developments augur well for the progress of Sabah’s health and medical sector.
“The basis has been established for the further progress of this sector. It remains for the State to move on to a new level of healthcare and medical services Ö this includes areas of treatment beyond those provided by general physicians. Surgery is one such area,” said Musa.
I am aware of the spectacular advances in surgical techniques and procedures in other parts of the world, he said, adding that Malaysia is not far behind as Kuala Lumpur is already a favourite destination for patients from many countries.
This includes those coming from developed Western countries and the Middle East, he said, pointing out that the National Heart Institute (IJN) is internationally renowned for its high standards and that Malaysian surgeons have proven to be on par with the best in the world in many instances.
“It remains for us now to turn this success into something bigger to benefit our people and the country,” said Musa.
Meanwhile, four renowned surgeons namely Datuk Dr Hussein Awang, Prof Sir Ara Darzi, Prof David John David and Prof Takada Tadahiro, were named Honorary Fellows of the Asian Surgical Association during the event.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
Sime to keep SJMC
Sime Darby Bhd has now decided to keep its healthcare operations with expansion plans for this business following the failure to sell its subsidiary Subang Jaya Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (SJMC) early this year.
As part of its initial expansion plans, SJMC will invest some RM8 million to build a nuclear medicine centre, which will be completed by the end of next year.
“With the nuclear medicine centre, SJMC will become a complete tertiary healthcare hospital,” SJMC executive director Dr Jacob Thomas tells FinancialDaily yesterday.
Besides the nuclear medicine centre, SJMC has recently built a RM15 million Cancer Treatment Centre in Subang Jaya, Thomas says, adding that the new facility will be located next to the cancer treatment centre.
In March, Sime Darby announced plans to sell SJMC by way of a bidding process. However, the disposal was aborted as it was learnt that the conglomerate failed to get the price it wanted.
It was learnt that the asking price was at least RM200 million but the bidders, including Pantai Holdings Bhd and Singapore Raffles Medical Group, were offering between RM150 million and RM180 million.
Sime Darby had earlier said its intention to dispose of SJMC was to free capital not directly related to its core businesses.
On this case, Thomas says: “We decided to keep the hospital and healthcare is going to be a core business of the group.”
SJMC will be able to provide a wide range of specialised medical treatment, including intervention radiology, with the new facility that is part of the company’s master plan to upgrade its services, Thomas adds.
“Sime Darby, our parent company, has been supportive (of our upgrading progamme),” he says.
Earlier today, SJMC signed a memorandum of understanding with AD-MACS Corporate Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd to implement an automated customer satisfaction gauging system.
The system allows SJMC to process and systematically measure the level of its customer satisfaction based on their feedback.
On the healthcare industry outlook, Thomas is confident that it has “excellent opportunity” in Malaysia with the development of health-related tourism given its low cost for medical treatment.
“We are (offering) half of the cost (for treatment) that of some of our neighbouring countries,” he says.
Asked about SJMC’s growth prospects, Thomas says it is “doing well” and “growing at a steady pace”.
SJMC, Sime Darby’s only investment in the healthcare industry, posted a net profit of RM6.7 million in the financial year ended June 30, 2002.
Sime Darby Bhd has now decided to keep its healthcare operations with expansion plans for this business following the failure to sell its subsidiary Subang Jaya Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (SJMC) early this year.
As part of its initial expansion plans, SJMC will invest some RM8 million to build a nuclear medicine centre, which will be completed by the end of next year.
“With the nuclear medicine centre, SJMC will become a complete tertiary healthcare hospital,” SJMC executive director Dr Jacob Thomas tells FinancialDaily yesterday.
Besides the nuclear medicine centre, SJMC has recently built a RM15 million Cancer Treatment Centre in Subang Jaya, Thomas says, adding that the new facility will be located next to the cancer treatment centre.
In March, Sime Darby announced plans to sell SJMC by way of a bidding process. However, the disposal was aborted as it was learnt that the conglomerate failed to get the price it wanted.
It was learnt that the asking price was at least RM200 million but the bidders, including Pantai Holdings Bhd and Singapore Raffles Medical Group, were offering between RM150 million and RM180 million.
Sime Darby had earlier said its intention to dispose of SJMC was to free capital not directly related to its core businesses.
On this case, Thomas says: “We decided to keep the hospital and healthcare is going to be a core business of the group.”
SJMC will be able to provide a wide range of specialised medical treatment, including intervention radiology, with the new facility that is part of the company’s master plan to upgrade its services, Thomas adds.
“Sime Darby, our parent company, has been supportive (of our upgrading progamme),” he says.
Earlier today, SJMC signed a memorandum of understanding with AD-MACS Corporate Consultants (M) Sdn Bhd to implement an automated customer satisfaction gauging system.
The system allows SJMC to process and systematically measure the level of its customer satisfaction based on their feedback.
On the healthcare industry outlook, Thomas is confident that it has “excellent opportunity” in Malaysia with the development of health-related tourism given its low cost for medical treatment.
“We are (offering) half of the cost (for treatment) that of some of our neighbouring countries,” he says.
Asked about SJMC’s growth prospects, Thomas says it is “doing well” and “growing at a steady pace”.
SJMC, Sime Darby’s only investment in the healthcare industry, posted a net profit of RM6.7 million in the financial year ended June 30, 2002.
Monday, December 01, 2003
10 states get blood from disease-free donors, says Chua
KOTA TINGGI Nov 30 - Ten states have achieved the target of receiving 100 percent blood donation from those certified free of infectious diseases, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
He said with the presence of volunteer blood donors, the states need not look for replacement donors in cases of blood shortage or emergencies at their respective hospitals.
The states are Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Kelantan.
Chua said Selangor, Johor and Sarawak were moving towards achieving this target and had recorded 99.9 percent blood from volunteer donors, with Sabah at the 86.7 percent mark.
The Health Ministry was taking steps to ensure that 100 percent blood at public hospitals nationwide was from volunteer donors, he told reporters after launching the blood-donation drive organised by the Tenggara MCA division here Sunday.
"We (ministry) want to ensure that there is no blood from replacement donors as there is no guarantee that this blood is safe," he said.
He said 418,118 units of blood were collected from donors nationwide last year and out of this, only 4.1 percent was found to be contaminated with, among others, HIV, Hepatitis B, C and syphilis.
"This is due to the donors not disclosing their personal information," he said.
He also said there was enough blood supply at hospitals nationwide despite the alarming number of 7,532 accidents reported in the current festive season.
MEANWHILE, on another matter, Chua expressed disappointment over the delay of the construction of the referral hospital for cancer diseases in the southern part of the country, the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI), at Pandan.
He added that the RM557.8 million project had been delayed three times since works started in 1999.
"It should have been completed last Oct 31. Now it's been delayed again," he told reporters after launching a blood donation campaign organised by MCA branches in Tenggara Division at the Che Teng Khor Moral Uplifting Society Hall here Sunday.
Chua said he had directed the Johor Health Department to find out from the contractor involved the reason for the delay.
"Sufficient time has been given to the contractor to complete the project ... yet it is still not ready," he said.
He said only one or two percent of the project had yet to be completed, such as finishing and installation of hospital equipment which had yet to be delivered.
KOTA TINGGI Nov 30 - Ten states have achieved the target of receiving 100 percent blood donation from those certified free of infectious diseases, said Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng.
He said with the presence of volunteer blood donors, the states need not look for replacement donors in cases of blood shortage or emergencies at their respective hospitals.
The states are Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu and Kelantan.
Chua said Selangor, Johor and Sarawak were moving towards achieving this target and had recorded 99.9 percent blood from volunteer donors, with Sabah at the 86.7 percent mark.
The Health Ministry was taking steps to ensure that 100 percent blood at public hospitals nationwide was from volunteer donors, he told reporters after launching the blood-donation drive organised by the Tenggara MCA division here Sunday.
"We (ministry) want to ensure that there is no blood from replacement donors as there is no guarantee that this blood is safe," he said.
He said 418,118 units of blood were collected from donors nationwide last year and out of this, only 4.1 percent was found to be contaminated with, among others, HIV, Hepatitis B, C and syphilis.
"This is due to the donors not disclosing their personal information," he said.
He also said there was enough blood supply at hospitals nationwide despite the alarming number of 7,532 accidents reported in the current festive season.
MEANWHILE, on another matter, Chua expressed disappointment over the delay of the construction of the referral hospital for cancer diseases in the southern part of the country, the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI), at Pandan.
He added that the RM557.8 million project had been delayed three times since works started in 1999.
"It should have been completed last Oct 31. Now it's been delayed again," he told reporters after launching a blood donation campaign organised by MCA branches in Tenggara Division at the Che Teng Khor Moral Uplifting Society Hall here Sunday.
Chua said he had directed the Johor Health Department to find out from the contractor involved the reason for the delay.
"Sufficient time has been given to the contractor to complete the project ... yet it is still not ready," he said.
He said only one or two percent of the project had yet to be completed, such as finishing and installation of hospital equipment which had yet to be delivered.
Malaysia fights a losing battle against AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia has posted sharp increases in HIV-AIDS patients, a senior minister said, prompting calls on Sunday from AIDS activists for more aggressive measures to contain the disease.
"In terms of AIDS awareness, it is very high in Malaysia. But HIV cases continue to increase because of drug addiction," Health Minister Chua Jui Meng told AFP in a recent interview.
"As long as drug addiction continues in this country, this will pose a problem in terms of increasing numbers of HIV patients," he added.
Despite draconian laws including death for drug traffickers, Malaysia - which describes all proven drug users as addicts - recorded 31,556 addicts in 2001.
Chua said almost 80 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases were drug addicts.
"As long as drug problems increase in this country, you are going to have HIV. We are not going to be able see a plateau. The numbers keep on increasing. It is a curse very directly linked to drugs," he said.
Chua said prostitution accounts for a smaller number of infections.
In conjunction with World AIDS Day Monday, the office of the United Nations in Malaysia and Malaysian AIDS Council would organise a series of AIDS awareness events.
Some 17 years after the first HIV infection case was reported in the country, Malaysia had around 54,000 reported cases of HIV/AIDS as of June.
By December 2002, 5,424 people had died of the disease.
Marina Mahathir, president of the Malaysian AIDS Council said Malaysia lacked a meaningful action plan to prevent the spread of AIDS.
"How else do you explain the constant increase in infections every year. And like everywhere else in the world, the epidemic will move from certain groups to the general public," she was quoted as saying by the Sunday Mail newspaper.
"We need realistic prevention programmes that deal with the real issues. We have to stop being squeamish when we talk about sex and condoms to young people," she said.
"In fact, I once heard a deputy minister say that AIDS is a blessing because it kills off drug users," she added. - AFP
KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia has posted sharp increases in HIV-AIDS patients, a senior minister said, prompting calls on Sunday from AIDS activists for more aggressive measures to contain the disease.
"In terms of AIDS awareness, it is very high in Malaysia. But HIV cases continue to increase because of drug addiction," Health Minister Chua Jui Meng told AFP in a recent interview.
"As long as drug addiction continues in this country, this will pose a problem in terms of increasing numbers of HIV patients," he added.
Despite draconian laws including death for drug traffickers, Malaysia - which describes all proven drug users as addicts - recorded 31,556 addicts in 2001.
Chua said almost 80 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases were drug addicts.
"As long as drug problems increase in this country, you are going to have HIV. We are not going to be able see a plateau. The numbers keep on increasing. It is a curse very directly linked to drugs," he said.
Chua said prostitution accounts for a smaller number of infections.
In conjunction with World AIDS Day Monday, the office of the United Nations in Malaysia and Malaysian AIDS Council would organise a series of AIDS awareness events.
Some 17 years after the first HIV infection case was reported in the country, Malaysia had around 54,000 reported cases of HIV/AIDS as of June.
By December 2002, 5,424 people had died of the disease.
Marina Mahathir, president of the Malaysian AIDS Council said Malaysia lacked a meaningful action plan to prevent the spread of AIDS.
"How else do you explain the constant increase in infections every year. And like everywhere else in the world, the epidemic will move from certain groups to the general public," she was quoted as saying by the Sunday Mail newspaper.
"We need realistic prevention programmes that deal with the real issues. We have to stop being squeamish when we talk about sex and condoms to young people," she said.
"In fact, I once heard a deputy minister say that AIDS is a blessing because it kills off drug users," she added. - AFP
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