KUALA LUMPUR, El Sky News – Ahead of the peak of the Monsoon Season (MTL), the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has heightened its preparedness through a Comprehensive Action Plan to safeguard public safety and health during floods.
The MOH’s main focus is to prevent the outbreak of post-disaster infectious diseases, particularly waterborne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne illnesses like dengue, which pose significant risks to displaced flood victims.
Continuity of Services in High-Risk Areas
The Minister of Health emphasized that this action plan ensures health services remain operational even in areas cut off or inundated by floodwaters.
- Rapid EMT Deployment: Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) are on standby to be dispatched to flood-hit locations, equipped to provide basic treatment, trauma care, and emergency management.
- Medicine and Supply Stockpiles: Supplies of essential medicines, medical equipment, and PPE have been increased at strategic depots to ensure timely delivery to Temporary Evacuation Centers (PPS).
Public Health Controls at Evacuation Centers
With PPS serving as potential hotspots for disease transmission, MOH is focusing on:
- Sanitation and Hygiene: Close monitoring of drinking water quality, restroom hygiene, and sufficient sanitation supplies.
- Health Screening: Initial health checks for arriving flood victims to identify symptoms of infectious diseases and prevent spread.
- Vector Control: Fogging operations and inspections of Aedes mosquito breeding sites are intensified to control vector populations.
This proactive approach aims to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with floods. MOH urges the public to comply with authorities’ instructions, practice personal hygiene, and seek medical attention promptly if any disease symptoms arise.
