Minister: 1,000 health enforcement personnel to monitor Ramadan bazaars

KUALA NERUS: The Ministry of Health (MoH) will mobilise about 1,000 of its enforcement personnel to monitor the preparation and cleanliness of food at the Ramadan bazaars throughout the country.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad says the ministry will also work with the local government authorities to ensure the cleanliness of food and bazaars, as well as ensure all the food handlers involved have been vaccinated against typhoid.

“Those who go to (Ramadan) bazaars also need to know about identifying the quality and safety of food sold such as observing the physical condition of the food and the smell to ensure the food is not stale,” he told reporters after opening the Terengganu Wellness Hub at the Seberang Takir Health Clinic grounds, here yesterday.

The ministry, he said, would also place a special QR code platform at all Ramadan bazaars to make it easier for the public to channel reports or complaints.

Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly also reminded the public to take the necessary precautions to avoid the spread of Covid-19 during the fasting month.

He added that although the ministry did not expect an explosion of Covid-19 cases, appropriate measures such as wearing a face mask would still be necessary.

“Do not go to crowded places, like the Ramadan bazaar, if you are unwell or have symptoms such as coughing,” he said.

On another subject, Dr Dzulkefly said the MoH recorded 15 cases of heat-related illness nationwide since the first week of this year.

He added that of the total, four were heatstroke cases, while the other 11 were linked to heat exhaustion.

He said there were seven cases each reported in Perak and Kedah, while one case was recorded in Sabah.

“The cases involved individuals aged 17 to 50, as well as members of uniformed bodies because they were exposed to hot weather during training and so on. Fourteen patients have fully recovered and have been discharged from the ward, while another patient who was previously being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (at Sultanah Maliha Hospital, Langkawi) has been transferred to the general ward and is now in stable condition,” he said.

Dr Dzulkefly said so far, cases of heat-related illness in this country were under control, but he advised the public to take precautions during the current hot weather, especially ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan.