Hygiene kits to prevent spread of diseases
PALU: Diarrhoea, fever and skin diseases have begun to spread among survivors of the earthquake and tsunami and mudslides here late last month.
The 13 volunteers and nine doctors on the Mercy Malaysia relief mission here have been kept busy dealing with the issues, as well as handing out food, water and hygiene kits.
The lack of clean water and toilets is believed to be causing the outbreaks of disease, so Mercy Malaysia and other relief workers are emphasising the need for personal hygiene.
Mercy Malaysia mission head Norazam Abu Samah said hygiene kits had been handed out to 113 families in Loli Saluran in Kecamatan Banawa, Donggala, yesterday. The kits include soap for bathing, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, combs, nail clippers, laundry detergent, pails, razors, sanitary pads, underclothes and bath towels.
“Unfortunately, we can’t hand out the kits to everyone. There are too many victims. But those who receive them are grateful and those who don’t understand the situation.
“We are trying to coordinate our efforts with the district disaster management authorities so that we can give the victims aid and provide a mobile clinic,” he told the New Straits Times Press.
Mercy Malaysia is in the second week “emergency phase” of the mission. The second phase, beginning Oct 15, is the “rehabilitation phase”, where it plans to build a transit home where victims could stay until their houses are repaired or rebuilt.