15 dengue deaths in Sabah this year
KOTA KINABALU: The recent outbreak of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) should not keep the media from reporting on other diseases, said State Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi.
Citing dengue as an example, she said equal attention should be given to other harmful diseases.
She disclosed that, as of now, the state had recorded a total of 1,866 cases of HFMD and 15 schools had been ordered to close temporarily.
In contrast, Sabah had recorded 1,791 dengue fever cases as of July 21 this year, an increase of 666 more compared to the same period last year.
“Fifteen of the cases involved deaths. Last year, there were four cases of dengue fever involving deaths,” Christina said.
“I want you all not to lose focus. You see, sometimes when there is an outbreak of a new disease, everybody would jump on that disease ... actually HFMD is not (even) new.
“Therefore, the media would tend to forget dengue even though dengue is still an ongoing disease. So please, the media should not lose focus,” Christina told reporters at the state-level Asean Dengue Day celebration, a yearly event held by the department.
She appealed to the media members of the state to continue to advocate and to report on the other health issues of the state.
She said other health-related issues include the importance of cleanliness and how the improper dumping of rubbish could lead to dengue.
“This fight is a fight for everybody. Everybody should jump onto the bandwagon,” Christina stressed.
According to studies conducted by the department, the main cause for dengue cases in the Sabah is the poor state of its cleanliness, as some people are still dumping rubbish inconsiderately.
The event, which was held at Buhavan Square, was officiated by DAP Kepayan coordinator Cyril Gerald Liew, who represented Kepayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang.
Christina also expressed her gratitude towards Jannie for conducting activities to improve the cleanliness of Penampang.
She disclosed that a state-wide gotong-royong (work party) would be held on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Cyril said it was important to keep the environment and homes of all individuals clean.
Realizing that dengue is not just a health problem but will also affect the socio-economic development of a country, the Asian National Organization has taken an integrated approach to address this problem through the Asia Dengue Day Celebration.
The Asian Dengue Day is aimed at enhancing collaborative and integrated multi-stage action with the government and the private sector agencies and other agencies, in overcoming dengue.
The state-level Asian Dengue Day celebration that is being celebrated annually proves that the government, through the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MoH) and the various parties, including the community, is always committed to fighting dengue which remains a public health issue.
“Our careless attitude is the cause of major and serious illnesses over the last few decades in our country. Increased cases and deaths caused by dengue can occur at any time, especially when the environment is not clean which gives room for Aedes mosquitoes to breed.
“The government, through the Ministry of Health, is very serious in its efforts to cope with dengue. Various strategies have been and are being implemented and one of the key strategies is to empower and mobilize the community through the implementation of the ‘Communication For Behavioral Impact (COMBI)’ program as well as the ‘1 Rumah 1 Juara’ program,” he said.