H1N1 infection at NS camp under control — Rosnah

0

GEORGE TOWN: Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said National Service (NS) trainees at Kem Dusun Resort, Kedah, who were quarantined for H1N1 infection, are in stable condition and no critical cases have been reported.

She said of the 96 trainees, only 21 remain for treatment of whom 15 are isolated at the Kuala Nerang Hospital.

“Those quarantined at the camp will continue receiving treatment, so parents need not worry as everything is under control. The virus is not new in our country and easily spreads in large groups,” she told reporters after a closing ceremony for a national-level symposium organised by the Health Ministry with the Young Doctors Club and Education Ministry yesterday.

Yesterday, 96 out of 300 NS trainees at Kem Dusun Resort, Kuala Nerang, Kedah were quarantined for H1N1 infection, of whom 18 were treated and quarantined at the Kuala Nerang Hospital while 78 others were quarantined in a special block at the camp.

Meanwhile, the teachers symposium organised by the Young Doctors Club was attended by about 350 participants comprising 247 teachers, while the rest were health personnel acting as young doctors coordinating officers.

The Young Doctors programme introduced since 1989 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Biram in Pekan, Pahang, was recognised by the Education Ministry as a co-curricular activity in primary schools known as the Young Doctors Club in 2006.

Since 2011, 1,392, or 18 per cent of 7,724 primary schools nationwide have set up the Young Doctors Club.

“Through existing cooperation between the two ministries, I am confident the programme can be extended to all schools,” said Rosnah.

She added that the Health Ministry will take initiatives to train more teachers and health personnel in executing the programme. — Bernama