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17th November, 2009
KOTA KINABALU: The spread of the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Sabah has declined although it is still active in parts of the country.
Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun assured measures will be taken to prepare for the second wave of H1N1 and continuous efforts being made to address the pandemic.
Masidi said this included requiring individuals with no health problems but experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) to stay at home until free from the symptoms. They only need to go to the clinic or hospital if the situation deteriorates.
High-risk individuals must get early treatment immediately even if it is only light ILI symptoms.
Above all, they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle based on a balanced diet, regular physical activity, drinking plenty of water and avoid smoking.
Masidi said the H1N1 vaccine from the federal government was limited in supply and would only be given free to frontline health and medical staff.
He was replying to questions from Datuk Ramlee Marahaban (Bugaya) and Johnny Goh (Inanam) at the State Assembly Sitting yesterday.
Meanwhile, a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that the spread of the pandemic was still active especially in countries situated in the Northern Hemisphere like North America, Canada, Western Europe and East Asia.
“For countries in the tropical zone, the spread of the virus still is still active with an infection rate that is different from one country to another. Countries in the Southern Hemisphere like Australia, New Zealand and countries in Southern Asia have shown an apparent decline,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun mentioned seven types of cash assistance schemes run by the Public Welfare Services Department.
These are the Public Assistance Scheme and the remainder for orphans or poor children, senior citizens, children, disabled persons or chronic patients, disabled workers and unemployed disabled persons.
On a proposal by Datuk Harman Mohamad of Sulabayan to increase the amount of cash given, Azizah said the assistance given to the recipients was based on the latest rate which started in January, and approved by the state government during one of the 2008 State Assembly sittings.
“The rate of the federal welfare assistance is similar to what is paid to the needy in Peninsular Malaysia,” she said.
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