Sungai Petani Hospital to see major changes

NST: There will be major changes at Sungai Petani Hospital soon, acting Menteri Besar Datuk Mahdzir Khalid said today.
He said the Health Ministry was looking into the changes following a series of incidents which had brought bad publicity.
"Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad had informed me that the changes will be implemented soon. I am confident we can help bring back the hospital’s credibility once the changes have taken place," he said after chairing the weekly State Executive Council meeting here.
Among the incidents was on June 19, when a newborn boy was abducted by a hospital nurse a few hours after delivery; on Aug 27, a couple claimed nurses at the hospital had switched their newborn baby girl while on Sept 7, another couple lodged a complaint against the hospital after they claimed doctors had failed to ascertain the gender of their newborn immediately after delivery.
On Saturday, it was reported a woman claimed she was forced to deliver in the presence of several visitors.

Multi-Agency Task Force Set Up To Prevent Bird Flu

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- An multi-agency task force will be set up to discuss precautionary measures to be taken to prevent the spread of avian influenza (AI) into Malaysia from Indonesia or Thailand.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who announced this today, said the task force would comprise representatives of the Customs Department, Immigration Department, police and armed forces besides the Agriculture and Health departments.
It would be jointly chaired by him and Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, he told reporters after his ministry's post-Cabinet meeting.
He said Malaysia was free of avian influenza and there was no need to undertake tests or any kind of preventive vaccination at farms.
Muhyiddin said the task force would hold its first meeting very soon to work on the contingency plans to prevent AI from spreading into the country and the measures to be taken if an outbreak occurred.
The government, he said, would bank on its experience in successfully containing the outbreak in Tumpat, Kelantan, last year.
According to Muhyiddin, one important step to avoid the importation of AI was to tighten checks at all entry points into the country, especially to prevent smuggling of live birds and chicken meat in raw or cooked form from neighbouring countries.

Pak Lah: Biotech growth must not pose a threat

The Star: Biotechnology development should not come at the expense of public safety or the environment – that is Malaysia’s stand.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made a clear statement on the matter at the Biotechnology Roundtable Meeting 2005.
He said at a press conference at the end of the one-day meeting here on Monday that the assessment of risks presented by biotechnology should be based on facts and scientific evidence and not on emotions or sensationalism.
Abdullah, who chaired the meeting attended by members of the international advisory panel, said Malaysia also recognised that biotechnology was a global race.
He said Malaysia has its own competitive advantages and should not replicate strategies pursued by other countries.
Malaysia was advised to move quickly, balancing long-term efforts with initiatives that show results in the near term, he said.
For instance, he said it was suggested that Malaysia leveraged on its advantages in outsourcing and information and communications technology as well as partner with research laboratories and pharmaceutical companies to help bring down the cost of drug development.

Four-hour wait for outpatients at KL Hospital

Star: Outpatients have to wait at least four hours before they can receive treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, according to a report in Nanyang Siang Pau.
A check by its reporter at the outpatient unit of the hospital showed that the process between registration, consultation and receiving medicine took that much time.
The report also questioned whether government hospitals had implemented the policy announced by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek last year that the waiting period at outpatient departments be reduced to one-and-a-half-hours.
According to the article, the reporter who checked out the system at the KL Hospital took 25 minutes to get a queue number.
After consultation with a doctor, the report stated that outpatients would have to wait at least a further 45 minutes at the pharmacy to get their medicines.

Hospis Malaysia: Spreading hope, giving care

NST: There was a time when Lee Ah Moi, 85, did not look forward to going to Hospis Malaysia’s palliative daycare centre. That was before she struck a friendship with Yeoh Suan Teoh, 66.
Both women have cancer — Lee with breast cancer and Yeoh, cervical. Theirs is a friendship that grew in the face of adversity.
Theirs is not a picture of lost hope or of discouragement, as one might imagine of women with cancer.
Yeoh and Lee, who met four years ago at the centre, paint a far different picture.
The vibrant Yeoh has the habit of raising her two fists like she is about to throw someone a punch, then turns around and winks playfully.
She constantly teases the more subdued Lee, who takes Yeoh’s jibes with a smile or a laugh. "She bullies me," quips Lee, laughing.
Yeoh discovered she had cervical cancer when she began spotting eight years after menopause. After tests, she found that she had third stage cancer.
Her doctor referred her to Hospis Malaysia and a nurse started visiting her every week at her home in Ampang, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
The highlight of Yeoh’s week is coming to the daycare centre every Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes, she dresses up in a kebaya and has her hair done.
"I like to come here and gila-gila cakap (talk crazy). I’m happy-lah here," she quipped.
Patients at the palliative daycare take part in various activities, including light exercises and karaoke sessions.
Lee is grateful to have a friend in Yeoh. "She always helps me to the toilet because I can’t see very well," she said, explaining that she had had a cataract operation in her left eye.
Lee found out she had cancer when her left breast started bleeding and was operated on in 2001.
Hospis Malaysia is a charitable organisation which provides palliative care to those with advanced illnesses, aiming to improve their quality of life and that of their families.
Apart from the daycare, it provides palliative home care services which includes teaching family members how to administer medicine. The staff are on-call 24 hours a day.
Its services are free, which is why it is raising funds through "Voices for Hospices", a dinner event also aimed at creating awareness on the importance of palliative care.
It will be held at the JW Marriott in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and will see jazz diva Sheila Majid performing. The New Straits Times is the official paper.
All 65 tables have been sold, but organising chairman Datin Tina Ali said that as Hospis Malaysia needs RM1.3 million a year, contributions are still welcome.
A silent auction will be held at the event, where donated items include a painting worth RM12,000, jewellery worth RM15,000 and two business class tickets to Zurich.
The initial modest target of RM100,000 has grown to almost RM400,000 to date, Tina said, adding the work by Hospis Malaysia was marvellous and the care administered by its staff a self-sacrificing love.

KL May Hold Second Biotech Roundtable Meeting

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says the Biotechnology Roundtable Meeting will continue to be held with the possibility of Kuala Lumpur hosting the second meeting.
"It may be held in Malaysia or here but we want to see it being held in Kuala Lumpur," he told a press conference after chairing the first Biotechnology Roundtable Meeting 2005, here Monday.
He said that if the meeting was held in Malaysia, the advisory panel comprising renowned investors, scientists and financial experts related to biotechnology, could be exposed to so many issues in the country.
Abdullah said that Malaysia has a lot of advantages where the development of biotechnology sector is concerned, as it is rich in natural resources so much so Malaysia is placed among countries with plenty of natural resources for biotechnology.
The prime minister said that this fact had been acknowledged by members of the Malaysian Biotechnology Advisory Panel.
Also present at the press conference were Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jamaludin Jarjis and Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Malaysia moves to revive Telehealth project components

Business Times: THE Health Ministry is in the process of tendering out jobs valued at over RM60 million in its bid to revive the stalled components of the Telehealth project.
The Telehealth Flagship Application comprises four components — the lifetime health plan (LHP), continuing medical education (CME), mass customised or personalised health information and education (MCPHIE) and teleconsultation.
Only the teleconsultation portion was completed within the stipulated time, in a project that was handed in 2000.
“The telehealth project started well ... but it was not founded on pragmatism and there was no adequate stock-taking. Everyone got caught up with the MSC sprit and IT boom,” Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
Following this, Dr Chua said there was a roll-out problem. “There was also the funding problem,” he told Business Times.
Other problems involved the content provider and issues relating to connectivity.
The total cost for the LHP, MCPHIE and CME components is estimated to be RM68 million, which is the remainder of the RM100 million allocated for the Telehealth Project.
The ministry is currently in the process of appointing new consultants to develop the LHP record, which has now been scaled down in magnitude and scope. LHP provides a personalised lifetime health plan, which will allow individuals to achieve a continuum of care to keep them in the highest possible state of health.
The award of the new tender will reactivate 38 sites or government healthcare centres from the original 41 sites with four state hospitals as the hubs. These government hospitals will have access to the electronic medical records of patients.
As for the CME, some technical specifics are being looked at. This contract is yet to be awarded.
CME provides educational programmes to healthcare providers ranging from nurses, paramedics, doctors and surgeons. There is also a virtual library where these parties will be able to access in order to grow their knowledge.
As for the MCPHIE, the job has been completed and the online health portal www.myhealth.gov.my is functioning. The ministry is responsible for updating the content. Through MCPHIE, the public has access to authoritative information on health.
Telehealth is one of the eight components under the Multimedia Super Corridor flagship applications — electronic government, multi-purpose card, smart school, research and development cluster, borderless marketing, worldwide manufacturing web and technopreneur development.
Telehealth would use Internet-based technology to give Malaysians a health service that is both up-to-date and affordable.
Medical Online Sdn Bhd which was awarded the contract to develop the three — LHP, MCPHIE and CME — was to complete the project within five years from June 2001. The company was, however, unable to do so.

Alert raised over avian flu

Star: The authorities are on the alert for any sign of the avian flu spreading from neighbouring countries, following reported outbreaks in Indonesia.
The risk of the flu spreading here, however, was very low as Malaysia did not import any poultry from Indonesia, according to Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein.
He said the recent discovery of avian flu in Indonesia should not be a cause for concern for Malaysians.
“We will, however, continue with our monitoring and surveillance of farms around the country,” he said in an interview.
On measures to check on migratory birds, he said the department would step up inspections on poultry farms located close to bird sanctuaries and places where such migratory birds frequented.
“Random checks will be carried out to make sure none of the poultry farms are infected,” he added.
On imports of pet birds, he said that monitoring would be stepped up at the country’s entry points and at pet shops.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, when contacted, said the ministry was keeping a close watch on the situation.
“We are continuously on alert, especially when it occurs in neighbouring countries. “Our ministry officers are in communication with their Indonesian counterparts,” he said.
On dengue, Dr Abdul Latiff said there was no increase in the number of cases.
“We have not reached epidemic level yet. It is not equivalent to that in Singapore,” he added.
Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said on Sunday that the average number of dengue cases was more than 600 weekly compared with the normal average of about 400.
It has been reported that public hospitals in Singapore were delaying non-urgent operations to cope with an outbreak that has killed eight and infected more than 10,000 of the republic’s 4.2 million people this year.

Kedah Govt Hospitals To Set Up Complaints Bureau

SUNGAI PETANI, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- A special customer complaints bureau will be set up at all government hospitals in Kedah to solve any problems or cases involving patients within three days.
Kedah Deputy Director of Health Dr Hasnah Ismail said apart from the counter, hospitals were required to display the list of contact numbers of directors, medical officers and staff nurses at all wards.
"We will try to solve any complaints of cases or problems faced by customers and patients within three days and if we fail to do so, customers can make public their complaints to the media", she said at a meet-the-media session at Hospital Sungai Petani (HSP) here Monday.
The session was held to seek solutions to HSP's shortcomings that were exposed by the media recently. In June, a newly born baby was kidnapped from the ward in the hospital followed by a couple who claimed that HSP staff were negligent causing their baby to switch with someone else's last month.
HSP's controversies continued when a couple claimed HSP declared their baby girl's gender as uncertain early this month. The latest incident involved a wife who claimed she was forced to give birth to a 28-week old dead foetus in an open area in a maternity ward surrounded by a few nurses on Tuesday.
Dr Hasnah said for a start, both measures would be carried out at HSP followed by other hospitals in Kedah.
She urged HSP to improve their services for customers although recent controversies had affected the staff performance.
Hasnah assured the media that they would not be barred from seeing or contacting any hospital director for comments regarding customers' complaints.

We'll reach WHO ratio by 2018

NST: There will be one doctor for every 600 Malaysians by 2018 - meeting the standard set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for developed countries.
The projection is based on the increase in the number of doctors expected to graduate each year.
"At the rate we are producing doctors, which is 1,500 annually now, this figure will shoot up to 2,500 doctors a year within five years," Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek said in an interview.
"If consistently maintained at 2,500 annually, we should be able to reach the WHO standard by 2018."
At the end of 2004, there were 21,135 doctors in the country. This is split almost equally between the public sector, with 49 per cent, and 51 per cent in the private sector.
In order to achieve the 1:600 ratio, the country needs 43,333 doctors.
While the minister was optimistic of meeting the targeted ratio, he also expressed concern over doctors who are not practising.
It is estimated that there are some 600 to 800 doctors in Malaysia who are not practising.
Dr Chua expects the migration of doctors to private practice to continue as more companies invest in new private hospitals.
"We have been paying a lot of attention for the past one year to how to make the government service more attractive ," he said.
Among the private hospitals which will open are the Sentosa Medical Centre Kajang in November and a minimal invasive cancer therapy centre by Wijaya Baru Global Bhd in Petaling Jaya.

Nurse says sorry for blunder

Star: A staff nurse with Sungai Petani Hospital has apologised to a housewife for lifting up her sarong to the waist and raising her legs in full view of other patients.
Hospital director Dr Harif Fadzillah Che Hashim had taken the nurse to Zaini Zainol’s house at Kampung Padang Lengkuas, Kupang district in Baling on Saturday afternoon.
Zaini said the nurse had personally apologised to her and admitted that she was not quite certain with the correct procedure when attending to someone going into labour.
“While I am no longer that angry, my husband is still very upset. He will need some time to cool down,” she said yesterday.
Zaini said Dr Harif had also assured her that the hospital would provide the “best possible” treatment to make up for “its blunder” during her follow-up visit on Thursday.
“Although I feel better after Dr Harif’s assurance, my husband and I still have reservations about going back there after our horrendous experience,” she said.
“My husband has offered to take me to a private hospital for a check-up if I don’t want to return to Sungai Petani Hospital,” she added.
However, in a statement issued yesterday, Kedah State Health director Datuk Dr Zahari Che Dan denied any malpractice and claimed that treatment meted out by the nurse, the medical officer and the hospital’s obstetrics and gynaecological consultant was carried out properly.

PM To Chair Inaugural Biotech Roundtable In San Francisco

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will chair the inaugural Biotech Roundtable Meeting 2005 in San Francisco, the United States, Monday, the Prime Minister's Office announced here Sunday.
It said in a statement that the Biotech Roundtable comprised 13 well-known international biotechnology scientists and industry players from the United States.
The highly-regarded scientists, who have been invited to become members of the roundtable, would contribute their views on regional and global trends as well as the current challenges that Malaysia faces in the development of biotechnology, the statement said.
"They will also offer perspectives on how Malaysia's plans can take into account these emerging trends and realities and identify opportunities," it said.
The Biotechnology Roundtable members include two professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Professor Anthony J. Sinskey and Professor Cho Kyun Rha; IBM Healthcare & Life Sciences General Manager Dr Caroline Kovac; Metamorphix President and Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Quattlebaum; Curtin University Chancellor Dr Eric Tan and Sloan School of Management Executive-in-Residence Dr Frank L. Douglas.
Others include Lehman Brothers Vice Chairman Fred Frank; J Craig Venter Institute Founder Dr J Craig Venter; and Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Institute President Dr Leland Hartwell.
The other four members are University of California at San Francisco Executive Director Dr Regis Kelly; Danforth Plant Science Centre President Dr Roger Beachy; Burrill & Company Managing Director Dr Roger Wyse and Partner of Ernst & Young, Scott Morrison.

Sungai Petani Hospital Refutes Woman's Allegation

SUNGAI PETANI, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- The Sungai Petani Hospital (HSP) Sunday denied claims by a woman that its staff were negligent and caused her embarrassment when handling her delivery of a dead foetus.
HSP Director Dr Haris Fadzillah Che Hashim said in a statement that treatment given to Zaini Zainol, 33, by the hospital's nurses, medical officers, obstetrician and gynecologist was according to the correct procedure and guidelines.
Zaini, of Kampung Padang Lengkuas, Baling, alleged that she was told to give birth to the foetus in an open ward and that the medical officers and nurses were negligent in removing the placenta, causing her to undergo the same process twice in two days.
Dr Haris Fadzillah said Zaini was admitted to HSP's gynaecology ward last Monday to have her foetus removed after medical officers and experts found on the same day that the foetus had died.
He said that normally, the removal of foetuses less than 28 weeks old was handled at the gynaecology ward while the labour room handled births of babies of 28 weeks old and above.
"Medicines were given and examinations were conducted on Zaini every four hours. An examination at 2.40 pm on Tuesday revealed that it was not time for her to give birth.
"However, at 4 pm on the same day, she showed signs of delivery. The nurses and medical officers had handled the delivery process in the ward," he said.
Dr Haris Fadzillah also said that Zaini had to undergo the process of removing the placenta twice because an ultrasound examination done after the first procedure showed that the placenta was still in the womb.
The placenta had to be removed to avoid complications later, he said.
Meanwhile, Kedah Acting Menteri Besar Datuk Mahdzir Khalid expressed shock and sadness over the claim and hoped that something would be done to restore the hospital's image.

Doctors seek equitable healthcare for all

Star: A group of doctors have come together to set up Malaysian Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility to advocate equitable healthcare for all, especially the poor.
Members of the MMA Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War set up the movement to work on a broader agenda that will include addressing issues that affect people’s health such as war and poverty.
The group’s chairman, Datuk Dr Ronald McCoy said: “As privileged and influential members of society, doctors have a unique responsibility and opportunity to educate the public and decision-makers and persuade governments to formulate and implement policies that are central to the health and well being of people.”
Dr McCoy, the convenor of the new grouping, said they hoped to achieve their aims through “research, education, advocacy and public discourse.”
One of the key issues that the doctors would be addressing is inequity in access to healthcare facilities.
“We are concerned about how healthcare is being privatised. The question is who pays for healthcare and how do we meet rising healthcare costs. We have to look into a healthcare financing system that will enable the poor to access such services,” said Dr McCoy.
The society will also advocate for improved access to medicine and vaccine.
“Apart from the ravages of war, 18 million people died prematurely from medical conditions we can cure. A way of addressing the very high mortality and morbidity rates in developing countries is to reform the global health system to ensure improved access to essential medicines and vaccines,” he said.
The new society will be working with other related groups including international organisations such as the People’s Health Movement, which recently initiated the Global Health Watch.
Doctors are invited to become members of the new group and play their part in advocating for better healthcare for all.
Malaysian Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility will be inaugurated by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at 4pm on Sept 24 at the Faculty of Medicine in University Malaya.
Doctors, nurses and the public are invited to the launch.

Six-month limit for MCs soon

Star: Here’s a “bitter pill” for your migraine, joint pains, backache or other ailments – if you are insured by the Social Security Organisation (Socso), the doctor can no longer prescribe unlimited medical leave.
Medical certificates (MCs) for those suffering from such pains will be capped at a maximum of six months.
Those who chalk up 180 days of medical leave will be referred to the primary medical board for permanent disability assessment.
The board will review the case and decide whether the employee should return to work upon expiry of the medical leave or be awarded permanent disability benefits.
The 180-day limit for medical leave is a new Socso regulation for injury and disability assessment that will be gazetted soon.
Socso discovered that 15% or about 9,300 of the 62,000 workers who received temporary disablement benefits so far were given medical leave of more than 200 days in a year.
A random Socso survey covering 321 workers from among those with more than 200 days of medical leave for work-related injuries found that 275 of them were given medical leave of one to two years.
Socso chief executive officer Dr Soh Chee Seng said recently that the survey also found an extreme case of one worker given MC for eight years, another for six years, eight for four to five years and 36 for three years.
Under the temporary disablement benefits, these workers on long medical leave are paid 80% of their monthly salary.
Socso paid out temporary disability benefits of RM71.1mil to 56,359 workers last year and RM61.9mil to 56,716 workers in 2003.
Socso will also remove from its panel doctors who give backdated MCs and those who issue MCs for non-employment related injuries.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said the new Socso regulation would minimise abuses of medical leave and benefits.
“Those with treatable ailments will be sent for rehabilitation therapy under Socso’s 'Return To Work' programme,” he said.
He added that untreatable cases would be given disability benefits.
Malaysian Medical Association president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin said the Socso statistics were disturbing.
Prolonged absence would not necessarily help a worker get well enough to return to work, he said.
He added that medical practitioners must be more discerning in assessing a worker's health or injuries.
“At the same time, employers will have to take steps to promote the early return to work of workers by providing alternative tasks to suit them until they fully recover,” Dr Teoh said.
“There have been anecdotal reports of employers being reluctant or finding it too troublesome to reassign workers to other jobs while they are in the process of recovery,” he added.

Hospis Malaysia: Making lives bearable

NST: Kong loves fishing and hunting. On a shelf by his bed is a framed picture of his much younger self with a 30cm fish he landed on a fishing trip.
But the 68-year-old retired civil servant has not been on a trip in several years. His favourite picture sits among clear food containers full of little plastic packets of pills.
He suffers from schwannoma, a rare cancer of the nerves. The disease had been in remission but returned in February.
Doctors found that it had spread to his spinal tract, and they were unable to do anything to stop it. So he went home.
He has not been able to leave his bed since July, and his wife Liew has been looking after him since.
She struggles to cope with looking after her sick husband. As Kong’s primary caregiver, she has to handle everything, from moving him to giving him his painkillers.
Last month, one of Kong’s doctors recommended that she speak to Hospis Malaysia. When the doctors and nurses came, they brought a wheelchair and a walking stick. They taught her how to handle his medication and help him walk.
"I really thank God for them, otherwise I would not know what to do," she says.
Hospis Malaysia specialises in palliative care, a field of medicine which focuses on reducing the severity of the symptoms of a disease or slowing its progress.
Rather than providing a cure, it aims to improve the quality of life of patients.
Hospis Malaysia also helps support caregivers and patients’ families, who usually struggle to grasp the impact of the disease on their lives, and in the process impose their desires and decisions on their sick loved ones.
"They don’t realise that the caring takes a life of its own. They may reduce the patient’s dignity by taking over some of the decision- making, all in the name of protection, love and care," says chief executive officer and medical director Dr Ednin Hamzah.
Hospis Malaysia’s medical staff help patients and their families learn to deal with these issues, and give the sick a say in their own care.
"There is a place for patient autonomy and dignity in illness," says Dr Ednin.
Some families do not know how to handle their feelings, or cannot express them, and palliative care helps them come to terms with letting go, Dr Ednin says.
Hospis Malaysia looks at the psychological and social implications of illness, and helps people deal with the spiritual aspects.
Most of Hospis Malaysia’s patients have cancer.
Established in 1991, its initiatives include running palliative home care, a palliative daycare centre, training and education for nurses and volunteer support.
These services are free, but providing them is expensive. Hospis Malaysia, which looks after 200 patients at any one time, needs RM1 million a year for operating expenses.
In conjunction with the first World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on Oct 8, the centre is organising "Voices for Hospices 2005", a fund-raising effort on Sept 24.
Jazz diva Sheila Majid and the Actors Studio are providing the entertainment between 8pm and 11pm.
The New Straits Times is the official newspaper. Tables are priced at RM15,000, RM10,000, RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000.
To pledge support or buy a table, call Yati at 03-91333936 or email yati@hospismalaysia.org.
All cheques should be made payable to Hospis Malaysia. Mail forms and cheques to Hospis Malaysia at 2, Jalan 4/96, off Jalan Sekuci, Taman Sri Bahtera, Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur.

Doctor’s book on health for women launched

NST: Years of voluntarily carrying out medical checks in Sabah's rural areas have taught a local doctor that most of the women there are not aware about health matters.
Dr Helen Lasimbang, through the outreach programmes, also realised that there was a lack of awareness on the importance of exercise.
So two years ago, it dawned on the Penampang-born consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist that she should write a book for women on the importance of health.
After a lot of hard work, she completed "Wanita dan Kesihatan" (Women and Health), a 104-page book published by Egret Books in co-operation with Partners for Community Organisation (Pacos Trust), a local organisation dedicated to helping rural communities.
The book uses graphics to explain certain points, so that women with little education will be able to understand the contents.

High alert due to soaring number of dengue cases

NST: After four months of battling hard to bring down the dengue epidemic, Malaysia is back on high alert as the number of cases soared last week.
With the disease claiming 68 lives up to Sept 10, the health authorities are concerned that there may be more casualties.
Their worries are burgeoning as 9,540 people in Singapore have been reported down with the virus up to Sept 12, surpassing the previous record of 9,459 last year.
An action plan has been activated in Johor to cater to a possible increase in dengue cases following the outbreak in the neighbouring republic.
All over Asia, governments are scrambling to curtail the spread of the disease, with the agenda topped by efforts to educate the public on the disease and control mosquito-breeding areas as there is no known cure for dengue.

Woman Dies, Man Critical In Penang Dengue Outbreak

PENANG, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- A woman died Saturday of dengue haemorrhagic fever and a man suffering from the disease is in critical condition in the Penang Hospital following an outbreak of dengue in several urban areas of the state last week.
The woman, Siti Fauziah Jamaluddin, 46, a handicraft entrepreneur of Bukit Gelugor, died at 2 pm Saturday, State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee Chairman P. Subbaiyah said.
The man, a 21-year-old from Kampung Binjal, Bayan Lepas, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and is reported to be in stable condition.
Subbaiyah, who had visited both of them earlier today, called for public co-operation to prevent the spread of the disease, saying that the people should rid their house compounds of breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito.
He said workers from the local authorities would conduct checks and also spray insecticide in suspected mosquito-breeding areas.
Areas where dengue cases have occurred include Sungai Nibong, Bayan Baru, Pantai Jerejak and Teluk Kumbar.
Subbaiyah advised those who have fever to seek immediate treatment at hospitals.
He also said that people should spray their homes with mosquito repellant, especially at dawn and sunset.

More awareness on women’s health

Women still have limited knowledge on cultivating a healthy lifestyle, as seen by a study which found that less than 50% of them go for a pap smear, said Women, Family and Community Development Ministry secretary-general Datuk Faizah Mohd Tahir.
The study conducted by the National Family Planning and Development Board was an indication of a need to create more awareness on women's health, she told a press conference on the Health and Lifestyle exhibition from Sept 23 to 25 yesterday.
About 30,000 visitors are expected to attend the event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
A health symposium will also be held where medical experts will speak on topics such as plastic surgery, sexual health, nutrition and hair loss.
Exhibition director Datuk Dr Nor Ashikin Mokhtar hoped the public would not have the misconception that the exhibition and symposium were only for women.
“It is for the whole family. We hope the women will bring their husbands and children as well,” she said.
Free medical check-ups such as bone scans, breast screening and vision tests will also be available.
For tickets to the symposium, please call 03-2161 0951.
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