HFM disease alert in Sabah
by Nancy Lai. Posted on February 23, 2012, Thursday
KOTA KINABALU: The Health Department has recorded about 60 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Sabah since January, according to its director Dr Yusof Ibrahim.
He said although the situation is not very serious, the department has instructed all hospitals as well as health clinics to keep tabs on it.
“We are on the alert and I urge all kindergarten officials in the state to report any HFM disease cases to the Health Department so that we can prevent the disease from spreading,” Yusof said after officiating at the ‘go green’ programme in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) yesterday.
Yusof said some of the kindergartens are afraid to report any case of the disease as they are worried action will be taken against them.
He allayed their fears, saying that the department wants to know so that it can extend its assistance to them in matters such as cleanliness and hygiene.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a contagious viral illness that commonly affects infants and children.
Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the case of a cancer patient who complained about the high cost of her medication, Yusof said it was all a misunderstanding.
“State hospitals are not allowed to charge patients for medication, we only charge administration fees. The patient concerned had been treated in Universiti Malaya Hospital and she was charged RM15,000 for the medication.
“So when she transferred her case to QEH, we did not have the medication and had to order it for her. We would buy any medication if there is a need for it,” he explained.
Yusof extended his gratitude to Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Edward Khoo for the latter’s assistance in resolving the issue.
The woman was advised to come to the Health Department’s welfare unit which will assist her, but she had yet to do so, he said.
