Minister urges teachers, caregivers to monitor children for signs of HFMD

KUCHING: Supervisors, teachers and nannies must look out for possible signs of hand, foot and mouth disease ( HFMD) among children under their care.

This reminder was issued by Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah after a toddler suspected to have been afflicted with HFMD died at Sibu Hospital on Saturday.

She said it is important for the children’s limbs, mouths and temperature to be inspected before they enter the classroom.

“It is important to detect the signs early so that treatment can be given immediately. The environment where the children are learning and where they are being taken care of must be maintained clean.

“Their parents must also be involved in ensuring that their homes are clean. We must also ensure the children wash their hands in the right way, before and after eating food, and after they use the toilet.

“Let us all work together to prevent the spread of this disease,” she said yesterday.

The toddler, aged two years and five months, died at Sibu Hospital on Saturday morning from suspected HFMD.

According to a statement by Health director- general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, the victim – from Kampung Pangtray, Daro in Mukah – came down with fever on July 24 and showed signs of rashes on the palms and feet, as well as ulcers in the mouth, the following day.

The child was taken to the Daro Health Clinic the next day and was diagnosed with suspected HFMD and had received treatment. The mother was advised to seek immediate treatment if her child still did not recover.

The child was then taken to the Emergency and Trauma Department of Daro Hospital due to unstable condition before being referred to Sibu Hospital for further treatment. However, the child was pronounced dead at 2.08am on Saturday.

Dr Noor Hisham also said clinical samples had been taken to ascertain the cause of death.