Ministry seeks RM20 million to fight dengue - The Malaysian Insider

http://ift.tt/1l49bHD Faced with a dengue epidemic which has so far claimed 92 lives this year, the Health Ministry is seeking RM20 million to fund a two-month campaign, reports Bernama today. The ministry would lead all activities to fight dengue, including in local authorities' areas, said minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam. "From now on, the ministry will take the lead in carrying out anti-dengue activities… We will help and bring the required resources through the allocation from the federal government, so we need higher allocation for this," he was quoted as saying today. The government spends about RM50 million a year to fight dengue. This year, 48,845 cases were reported, an increase of 34,719 cases or 246% compared with only 14,126 cases for the same period last year. A total of 92 deaths due to dengue were reported, or a 229% increase compared with 28 deaths in 2013. Putrajaya has also set up the National Committee on Dengue, which has promised to bring down the number of cases within two months. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was reported as saying that an extra budget will be proposed to prepare the manpower and health amenities. Dr Subramaniam said the anti- dengue campaign would focus on nine constituencies – Petaling, Klang, Hulu Langat and Gombak in Selangor; Cheras, Titiwangsa, Kepong and Putrajaya in Federal Territories; and Seremban in Negri Sembilan. "These constituencies were selected because they have recorded highest number of dengue cases," he was quoted as saying by Bernama. The ministry will deploy 77 dengue-control teams to these areas. "We will also implement extended-hour service at 16 selected clinics nationwide to overcome congestion in hospitals. "The ministry will also strengthen its dengue contingency plan at each public hospital to ensure optimum management of dengue patients," he said. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Health and Environment Department director Dr Hayati Abdullah said DBKL would intensify efforts to control dengue in the city, reports Bernama. She said DBKL would concentrate on destroying Aedes-breeding spots. "DBKL has set up 12 teams to carry out fogging every morning and afternoon in 1,129 localities in DBKL areas and 95 other localities in the ministry's areas," she was quoted as saying. Between January and July, Kuala Lumpur recorded 4,051 dengue cases, with Segambut registering the highest number at 753. – July 16, 2014.



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