KUALA LUMPUR: Many may have noticed the presence of paramedics at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games (KL2017), ready to assist athletes in need of medical attention.
There are more than 2,000 medical and health officials, as well as volunteers, working behind the scenes to ensure KL2017 goes off without a hitch.
This story is about some 1,700 officials and 500 volunteers, the unsung heroes who are a lifeline to the games that Malaysia is hosting from Aug 19 to 31.
To ensure that game venues and accommodation facilities were safe for athletes, officials and visitors, the groundwork of the health and medical officials for KL2017 had started last year, where they looked for vector threats, inspected the water quality and checked on venue safety.
Health and Surveillance Committee deputy director Dr Thaherah Nor Mohd Kassim said they also carried out fogging and larviciding at areas with risk of mosquito-breeding.
She said samples had been taken from the water supply of all facilities for analysis to prevent waterborne diseases.
Baharudin Baharom, who oversees the Food Quality and Safety Committee, said the committee had conducted checks on food and beverage operators not only inside the sporting venues, but also at the areas surrounding them, as well as hotels three months before KL2017 opened.
He said their 431-strong personnel worked closely with local authorities to ensure that food providers adhered to the cleanliness and health guidelines.
Nooraisyah Ali, from the Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur Health Office, said all food handlers and food truck operators at the venues had to undergo a strict vetting process.
She said hotels and caterers providing food for the games’ contingents and organising committees were also monitored throughout the food preparation processes.
She said the first shift would start at 4am, adding that officers would ensure expired food was thrown away immediately.
During big events like KL2017, there is a high chance of incidents that will require medical attention.
To face such incidents, the hosting committee has prepared state-of-the-art facilities at two Games Medical Centres (GMC). One is located at the National Sports Institute in Bukit Jalil and the other at Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic in Jalan Fletcher here.
GMC Committee head Dr Rozaiman Ebrahim said both clinics offered services ranging from emergency to outpatient cases, and even had sports medicine specialists.
He said both GMCs had 13 sports medicine specialists, 24 medical officers and 200 para-medics, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, radiologists, lab technicians and support staff.
He said GMCs were equipped with laboratories to handle cases involving KL2017 athletes and officials. For example, the result of a blood test for an emergency case would be available in 45 minutes.
Dr Rozaiman, a sports medi-cine specialist, said the clinics were also equipped with X-ray and diagnostic ultrasound machines.
In any major sporting event, the most sought-after medical personnel are physiotherapists.
Ismail Damit, from the KL2017 Physio Team, said the Medical and Health Committee had roped in 76 Health Ministry physiotherapists for the event.
He said they were divided into two teams, with 52 personnel divided into teams to cover competitions and 24 stationed at the GMCs.
He said the certified professionals were equipped with state-of-the-art machines to provide cryotherapy, shockwave, deep heat, electrostimulation and ultrasound therapies.
If you come to watch the games and find yourself in need of medical assistance, fret not as the committee has doctors and first-aiders to look out for you.
Spectator Committee head Dr S. Vengkata Prathap said there were 12 teams comprising doctors, medical assistants, first-aiders and some 200 volunteers under the supervision of three emergency medical specialists.
He said these first-aiders, including Red Crescent Society and Civil Defence Force personnel, had basic life support (BLS) equipment and Automated-External Defibrillator (AED).
Expect the unexpected: This should suffice to describe the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT), also known as the Special Events Medical Team, led by Sungai Buloh Hospital Emergency Specialist Dr Sarah Shaikh Abdul Karim.
The Health and Medical Committee thought ahead by setting up the team comprising emergency medical experts tasked to conduct surveillance and plan responses in case of major medical emergencies.
Dr Sarah said the team would perform medical tactical surveillance and risk assessments for every game during KL2017.
She said this included the possibility of riots, structural collapse and even terror attacks, in which case DMAT would coordinate the medical response.
Behind the whole operation lies the Games Medical Operations Centre (GMOC), which serves as the nerve centre to coordinate all the medical work and responses for the event.
KL2017 chief medical officer Dr Ridzuan Mohd Isa said GMOC, located at the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic, comprised several main components to command daily operations, including the Games Despatch, Communications and Transport units.
Under the supervision of GMOC manager Dr Mohammad Fadhly Yahya, these units are manned by hundreds of personnel tasked to track down all key medical personnel, 97 ambulances attached to the medical committee and movement of logistical support, as well as ensuring food and beverages for their personnel and volunteers.
Dr Ridzuan said GMOC would hold a meeting with all committee heads each morning to decide on the daily number of para-medics teams needed and the requirement for each game.
Dr Fadhly said GMOC also provided a special emergency line and mobile application for Android users, which was available to athletes, delegations and officials, for quick incident reporting and response.