49 Health Facilities ‘Crippled’, MoH Deploys Hundreds of Aid Teams!

Kuala Lumpur, El Sky News – A total of 49 health facilities nationwide have been severely affected by the recent wave of floods, posing a major challenge to the public healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MoH) confirmed that the impact of this natural disaster is significant, with the northern states and the East Coast recording the highest damage.

Health Operations Severely Affected

In the latest update, the MoH disclosed the details of the impact faced:

• Perlis in Crisis: Three (3) facilities in Perlis are reported to be unable to operate fully, requiring immediate evacuation measures to ensure the continuity of services.
• 19 Health Centres Closed: Overall, 19 health facilities were forced to close temporarily, and treatment operations were relocated to safer alternative sites.

This situation demands a rapid response from the MoH to ensure that emergency treatment access for flood victims is not interrupted.

345 ‘Hero’ Teams Mobilised

As an immediate response, the MoH has mobilised 345 medical and health teams to the disaster areas. These frontline ‘hero’ teams function as mobile clinics, screening centres, and psychological support units in the field.

To date, a total of 2,083 flood victims have received treatment from MoH teams at temporary evacuation centres (PPS) and also in the affected areas.

Post-Flood Diseases Lurking

Data shows that the types of diseases most frequently reported are closely related to sanitation and the cleanliness of the floodwater environment:

• Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI): The humid conditions and high density in the PPS contribute to an increase in cough and cold cases.
• Skin Infections: Personal hygiene and exposure to dirty water cause rashes and skin infections to be the main complaints.
• Acute Gastroenteritis (Diarrhoea) & Conjunctivitis: Contaminated water and food hygiene issues increase the risk of waterborne diseases.

No Outbreaks, But Two Deaths Recorded

Despite the increase in infectious disease cases, the MoH stressed that no serious disease outbreaks have been detected at the PPS, indicating that public health management at the PPS is currently under control.

However, sad news surrounds the report of two flood-related deaths recorded in Kelantan. The MoH reminds the public to always be cautious and prioritise safety and personal hygiene to prevent unwanted incidents.

The MoH continues to closely monitor the flood situation and assures that it will act promptly to repair damaged facilities to ensure that Malaysians continue to receive the best healthcare services.