FLOOD OF ISSUES
Local authorities must better educate public via disaster management drills
THE imam in Kuala Terengganu’s Al Muktafi Billah Shah mosque last Friday focused his sermon on the monsoon season, floods and the need to be prepared.
It is only a matter of days before the monsoon sets in. The forecast by the Meteorological Department is that it will strike in the middle of this month, but with downpours almost daily since late last month, the floods may occur sooner.
The early sign was when eight families at Kampung Mengabang Telung in Kuala Nerus had to be evacuated in the middle of the night after their homes were inundated following a 48-hour downpour on Oct 30.
The reminder during the Friday prayers came just two days after the state Health Department warned people of the threat of waterborne diseases like leptospirosis and contagious diseases like cholera and dysentery that might spread during the monsoon season.
Of the three, leptospirosis is the most life-threatening if a victim does not get treatment within 24 hours. This is speaking from experience. A dear friend had to endure the worst pain of his life — worse than a cobra’s bite — and he almost lost a leg.
Parents with young children should take the Health Department’s warning seriously. This monsoon is not the time to let children play in floodwaters or take baths in streams.
There is the danger of leachate from garbage dumps contaminating the water and causing cholera and dysentery.
It is good to know that the Health Department has 137 medical teams ready to be deployed to flood relief centres to monitor the health of evacuees and to attend to emergencies, including rescue operations.
The flood victims also must do their part. However, past experiences show that some evacuees with bad hygiene and littering habit often leave the task of clearing the mess and keeping the evacuation centres clean to the volunteers.
Not all evacuees comprise children and senior citizens. Most of them are youths who should show some responsibility by maintaining the cleanliness of their cubicles and those of their neighbours’ at the flood shelters. Small deeds like collecting rubbish,