Ministry moves to control HFMD spread in Penang
FMT Reporters | July 8, 2018
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Instructions sent out to hospital directors as number of victims increased to 1,500 people.
Penang has reported some 1,500 cases of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) since January 2018.
KUALA SELANGOR: The health ministry’s disease control division has been instructed to take the necessary measures to tackle the spread of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Penang.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said a similar instruction was sent out to the directors of all hospitals in Penang to control the spread of the disease.
“What is needed now is to prevent its spread. It is understood that so far more than 1,500 cases of this disease have been reported,” he said.
HFMD is a viral infection with symptoms which include fever, painful, blister-like lesions on the tongue and mouth.
Last Friday, Penang Health, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said 1,555 HFMD cases were reported in the state between January and July 4 this year compared to 1,050 during the same period last year.
On the former 1Malaysia clinics now known as community clinics, Dzulkefly said his ministry would assess the criteria and need for the facilities, especially those in rural areas that had less than 50 patients.
He said the demographics in the areas would be studied so that the clinics would give the best medical services.
“It would not be fair if clinics in rural areas are closed down just because their number of patients is less than 50. This has to be reviewed for the benefit of the rural population,” he said.
He said the ministry wanted community clinics to be family medical centres equipped with doctors.
Instructions sent out to hospital directors as number of victims increased to 1,500 people.
Penang has reported some 1,500 cases of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) since January 2018.
KUALA SELANGOR: The health ministry’s disease control division has been instructed to take the necessary measures to tackle the spread of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Penang.
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said a similar instruction was sent out to the directors of all hospitals in Penang to control the spread of the disease.
“What is needed now is to prevent its spread. It is understood that so far more than 1,500 cases of this disease have been reported,” he said.
HFMD is a viral infection with symptoms which include fever, painful, blister-like lesions on the tongue and mouth.
Last Friday, Penang Health, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry and Rural Development Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said 1,555 HFMD cases were reported in the state between January and July 4 this year compared to 1,050 during the same period last year.
On the former 1Malaysia clinics now known as community clinics, Dzulkefly said his ministry would assess the criteria and need for the facilities, especially those in rural areas that had less than 50 patients.
He said the demographics in the areas would be studied so that the clinics would give the best medical services.
“It would not be fair if clinics in rural areas are closed down just because their number of patients is less than 50. This has to be reviewed for the benefit of the rural population,” he said.
He said the ministry wanted community clinics to be family medical centres equipped with doctors.
