PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has instructed all state health directors to take precautionary measures to face the second wave of floods in several states.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry is prepared to provide its services and treat victims affected by the floods.
“What happened in Penang was flash floods, and the ministry has increased its preparedness to provide treatment to the people and to face possible floods in other states.
“I have instructed the state health directors to beware and be prepared so that they can continue to provide their services,” he said at a press conference here today.
Earlier, he launched the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workshop for Asean and Asia Pacific countries on Safety in Radiation Use in the Health Sector; and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Workshop on the Use of Optimal Dosage in Patient Detection Treatments at National Cancer Institute.
Dr Noor Hisham also reminded the public not to play with the floodwater as it may be contaminated.
“People in flooded area are advised not to play with the floodwater, especially those who have open wounds because they may become infected,” he said.
On the WHO and IAEA workshops, he said the programmes will not only encourage cooperation between private and public medical centres, but also create a better understanding on radiation.
“The workshops focused on safety measures to protect patients and medical staff who use radiation as a main treatment tool or to detect diseases.
“It is important prioritise safety and adhere to the stipulated standard operating procedures (SOPs) when treating patients using the latest technology,” he said.
He said no cases related to the misuse of radiation have been reported so far, thanks to the strict SOPs set by the ministry.
“We do not deny that there is a risk in using radiation when detecting a disease, but we try our best to minimise the risk as much as possible. We also provide continuous safety training to our staff based on the SOPs.”