SIMPANG PULAI: The Health Ministry will work with the Education Ministry and Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) to implement a food programme to ensure that the Orang Asli, especially children, get enough nutrition.
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said apart from low immunisation coverage, the lack of nutrients was among the factors that had contributed to the spread of measles among the Bateq tribe in Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, Kelantan.
“This is putting individuals at increased risk of being infected by the disease. As such, implementation of a food programme (especially in school), will help to overcome the problem,” he said after opening a Good Academic Practice Sharing Day at SK Pos Raya here today.
Dr Lee said the poor nutrition had complicated risks for measles patients, especially children aged 5 and below, the elderly, and patients suffering from other diseases.
“So, we will implement the food programme to ensure the Orang Asli community get food supplements to address nutrient deficiency.”
Dr Lee said the ministry was also studying the best mechanism to improve the level of immunisation for all communities in the country.
He added that the Orang Asli’s nomadic lifestyle, especially among the Bateq tribe made it difficult for health officers to provide immunisation jabs for the children.
“So, KKM is looking at how we can improve the level of immunisation, not only for the Orang Asli but other communities as well.”
Dr Lee also said that the ministry would conduct continuous monitoring at Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang, Johor. This follows the incident yesterday, when 15 students of Sekolah Agama Taman Mawar in Pasir Gudang experienced breathing difficulties and vomiting, believed to be due to toxic gas.
“Investigation is still ongoing to identify the cause of the incident, and we will continue to monitor patients who are given emergency treatment,” he added.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was reported as saying that the symptoms appeared to be similar to toxic or organic gas poisoning seen in the Sungai Kim Kim incident in March.
In the incident, toxic waste pollution in the river caused more than 4,000 people to fall ill and resulted in the temporary closure of 111 schools in Pasir Gudang district.