(From second left) Dr Chin and Dr Kamarudin are seen in a group photo with guests during the opening ceremony.
KUCHING: The increasing trend in colorectal cancers has led to higher demand for nurses specialising in ostomy, wound and continence care.
State Health Department deputy director Dr Kamarudin Lajim said such nurses are needed to care for patients who undergo ostomy surgeries.
“Wounds are a major problem in Malaysia and they encompass diabetic foot ulcers, venous and arterial ulcers, pressure injury and more.
“These patients have debilitating diseases and the chronic wounds cause them to suffer psychologically and subsequently, reduce health-related quality of life,” he said when launching the Malaysian Wound, Ostomy, Continence Care Seminar 2017 here yesterday.
He said the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) recorded a total of 1,678 wound cases in 2015 and 1,662 cases last year.
“Hopefully with trained nurses in ostomy, wound and continence care, we can reduce the number of cases by 50 per cent,” he said.
He also commended SGH and the Malaysian Enterostomal Therapy Nurses Association (Metna) for organising the Malaysian Wound Continence Education Programme (MYWOCEP), which the seminar is part of.
SGH director Dr Chin Zin Hing said the 12-week MYWOCEP will provide specialised clinical and educational services to the 26 nurses involved.
“I am sure with the knowledge background and future experience they will eventually become remarkable World Ostomy Continence Nurses (WOCN) at their own hospitals.
“They will serve as assets to their surgeons working together to provide holistic car e for patients having any issues in this field,” he said.
He added that as WOCN, the trained nurses will also have the opportunity to practise worldwide as MYWOCEP is recognised by the World Council Enterostomal Therapist (WCET).