Lahad Datu : District hospital on alert for casualties

                

LAHAD DATU: The Lahad Datu district hospital is on alert as they are preparing for any casualties following the strike by authorities in Kampung Tanduo in Felda Sahabat here this morning.

At 9am, a fleet of ambulances are seen exiting the hospital compound towards Kampung Tanduo which is being raided by police and the military at 7am.Security in the hospital is also tight with  policemen and security guards manning a large perimeter around the emergency area of the hospital. Medical assistants and traffic policemen are  also seen at  the hospital's entrance. Plainclothes policemen armed with M-16 rifles and MP5 sub-machine guns are patrolling the town. Several military trucks are  also seen leaving the town towards Ground Zero.

Source:  New Straits Times

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No new report of red tide death

KOTA KINABALU: There has been no new report of death of axotoxin poisoning, the main 

component of red tide.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin in disclosing this said the number 

of case remained at 46.

“As of today, 14 people have been discharged from hospitals, with the remaining nine still 

warded, namely three at the Women and Children’s Hospital (WCH) in Likas, four patients at 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 (QEH2) and QEH 1 (two).

“Of the number of patients, two are under observation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the 

WCH,” she said, adding that there was no truth in the rumours of four deaths due to axotoxin

 poisoning, as posted on Facebook.

With most of the cases reported in Inanam, Rosnah said the Fisheries Department was 

currently analysing shellfish samples from the night market there.

“We have also conducted health talks at high-risk locations, and to date, 14,324 have 

attended the programme,” she said, adding that warnings had also been distributed through 

posters and pamphlets.

The red tide warning was first issued by Fisheries Department on Dec 12, last year.

In the most serious case of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) this season, Sabah Fisheries 

Department director Rayner Stuel Galid said the victims had all purchased cockles and 

bivalves from street peddlers at the Inanam market.

He said the red tide warning was still in place and urged the public to avoid consuming all 

types of marine shellfish or bivalves.

These include sea oysters, mussels, cockles, bivalves and any type of clam-like seafood.

Beginning late November, the department detected a high amount of PSP toxins in samples 

of bivalves obtained from the west coast through its red tide monitoring programme.

Among the initial symptoms include tingling lips and tongue, a sensation of the ‘pins and 

needles’ on the skin, followed by loss of control of arms and legs, and difficulty in breathing 

that could result in death.

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Health check for 250,000 in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has allocated RM200 million for a total of 1.97 million workers aged above 40 to undergo health screening beginning January, Daily Express reported.

Socso Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Aziz Mohd said this was in line with the Budget announced by the Prime Minister on Sept. 28, that Socso would provide free health screening for workers above 40 years.

“In Sabah alone, we have about 918,000 workers and close to 250,000 workers above 40 are going to be screened in Sabah,” he told a media conference after launching the Socso Health Screening Briefing Programme held at Sutera Harbour, Tuesday.

“The intention is to screen the workers early from non-communicable disease that means lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases.”

The reason, he said, was to detect diseases early and also to start prevention in order to not face complications from such diseases.

“We hope that we will continue to have a healthy workforce and for our workforce to continue with a healthy lifestyle,” he added.

In terms of breakdown, he said, 1.25 million men and 722,000 women are to be screened next year, adding that for men the cost is about RM85 and for women it’s RM205 because women have to go through mammogram and the Pap smear test.

He said the health screening is an on-going process and every year those who turn 40 would be part of those who need to be screened.

“This year Socso has allocated RM200 million for the 1.97million workers above 40 and for the years to come, Socso will also allocate a certain amount for the purpose,” he said.

On another note, he said, they are currently in the implementation stage of engaging with private clinics to brief them on the process and also getting employers to know about the programme.

“After that we will send the vouchers to employers and once they receive the voucher the employers will pass the vouchers to their workers and their workers can go to any clinic which is appointed under this health screening programme.

To a question, he said, they can’t give the list of clinics providing the screening right now because in Sabah they are actually engaging with more clinics for them to attend their briefing because they want the clinics to understand the process.

“If all the clinics here wish to be our partners then we would appoint all of them and only then we can provide the list of clinics.”

To another question, he said, Socso will just provide free screening and one’s employer will have to follow through to provide the medical benefit to their workers.

“If they do not have any medical benefits than Socso will provide a referral letter for them to go through the Ministry of Health system where they can go through the hospital to get treatment,” he said.

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Venture aggresively into wellness industry: Musa

Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman hopes to see more studies conducted on traditional wellness systems in Sabah and also documented for the public through books.
Sabah is blessed with plant diversity as well as the traditional knowledge of its over 30 indigenous groups which can be promoted and popularised, he said, adding there is value in promoting local knowledge on wellness, not just for economic reasons but also for further protection of the State's natural resources.
"There is no reason for us not to popularise what we have locally.
We can also safeguard and even strengthen local culture and heritage through the practice of wellness from the traditional perspective," said Musa.
In some parts of the world, high value is placed on traditional ways that lead to wellness and such knowledge has expanded beyond the region of its origin, he said at the opening of a two-day Wellness Journey Conference and Exhibition at the Sabah Trade Centre in Likas, here, Saturday.
Advances in the wellness industry, both modern and traditional, are in line with Sabah's focus on promoting health-based tourism, as envisaged through several initiatives including the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP).
In wanting to see higher participation of local entrepreneurs in health-based tourism, Musa encouraged them to form joint ventures with those in the know in order to create opportunities that not only benefit the State but also help create quality jobs for Sabahans.
He hoped those keen to venture into this will make full use of the event to learn from the exhibitors.
He was also pleased to note the presence of a number of non-governmental organisations like Befrienders KK, Pink Ribbon, Sabah Cancer Society and Palliative Care Association at the exhibition, as well as invited experts from Canada, Australia, Austria, Singapore as well as local experts as speakers at the conference.
The event, jointly organised by Maxx Media Sdn Bhd and Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (Swepa), features vendors and exhibitors who specialise in beauty and health industries (spa, health, beauty and academy).
A new highlight for this year's Wellness Journey, the second after last year, is a Wellness Garden, a central gathering area that will allow visitors to rest and recuperate.
Designed to look like a lush, verdant garden, it serves as a small stage area with attractions such as a regular lucky draw as well as buy-and-win contest, which rewards visitors who make purchases at the exhibition.
A variety of super deals will also be on offer, providing heavily discounted products and services, in addition to activities such as a blood donation drive by the Likas Women and Children Hospital.
This year's Wellness Journey also sees the return of the Wellness Conference, a two-day forum centred on presenting information and talks delivered by a number of prominent players in the health and wellness industries.
The talks are presented by six international speakers, namely Singaporean wellness coach and consultant, Julina Halim, Australian traditional and complementary medicine specialist, Professor Gerard Bodeker, Canadian founder of bioessentials, Joanne Bruce, Malaysian herbal medicine expert, Dr Sivakumar Kumaresan, Austrian health and wellness consultant, Karina Lipold, and Singaporean wellness magnate Michael Loh.
The event is open from 11am-8pm.

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Roadshow On Women Director’s Programme launched

16th October, 2012
KOTA KINABALU: The government wants to see at least 30 per cent of women holding decision-making positions in the corporate sector by 2016.
State Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said the goal is achievable with a combination of government, corporations, entrepreneurs, existing providers and individuals coming together.
“That must consolidate and improve the provision of training, development, coaching and mentoring for potential board members,” said Azizah in her speech while officiating the launching of Roadshow On Women Director’s Programme here yesterday.
She also said investors, corporate companies, professional services organizations and search firms should play their role actively in supporting such initiatives.
Furthermore, all company chairmen must set out the percentage of women they aim to have on their boards in 2012 to 2015, as demanded by both the Securities Commission and Bursa Saham Kuala Lumpur.

Read More: New Sabah Times

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‘Discourage close kin from marrying to prevent Thalassaemia’

3rd October, 2012

KOTA MARUDU: One way to prevent incidences of Thalassaemia is for village leaders to forbid couples with close blood relations from getting married unless they have gone for blood screening.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Ongkili said it was critical for couples who are close relatives to determine whether they had the genetic disorder or are Thalassaemia gene carriers.

“This would prevent them passing on the genetic disorder to their offsprings,” he said when launching the World Thalassaemia Day Sabah level celebration held at the Kota Marudu Community Hall.

Dr Ongkili, who is also Kota Marudu MP, said he had directed the village headmen and village committees in his constituency to make it a requirement for would-be spouses who are known to have close blood relations.

“This does not mean couples with Thalassaemia cannot marry but knowing their health status could help them make more informed decisions,” he said of health condition which is linked to marriages between people of close blood relations and is prevalent in the rural areas.

Dr Ongkili also said that out of the 1,000-odd known Thalassaemia patients in Sabah, the highest were registered in hospitals in Kota Kinabalu (391), followed by Sandakan (135) and Kota Marudu with the third highest at 103.

“However, the patients in the Kota Marudu hospital include some of those from Kudat and Pitas who prefer to be treated in Kota Marudu,” he said.

Read More : New Sabah Times 

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