Nipah virus threat 'under control'

SUBANG JAYA: The Health Ministry has given an assurance that its Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is always on the alert for the Nipah virus.

"Our centre is advanced. In fact, we were the ones who identified the Nipah virus and we know how to control it," Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said after launching the Health Day campaign organised by the Women Development Organisation of Malaysia and Puchong MCA division here yesterday.

"We are confident if there is an outbreak, we will know the source and be able to handle it. I don't think there is a threat here."

Liow said there has been no new cases of the Nipah virus in the country since the 1998-1999 outbreak when more than 100 people died.

None of the 649 encephalitis cases reported to the ministry from 2000 to October this year was caused by the Nipah virus.
The minister was commenting on the New Sunday Times front-page report "Nipah virus still a threat", which said that Universiti Malaya's department of medicine did not rule out the possibility of another Nipah outbreak in the country.

The NST quoted the department's consultant neurologist Dr Tan Chong Tin as saying the country was vulnerable as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia and India have discovered bats infected with the Nipah virus.

Dr Tan had also said the movement of labour across borders could also pose a threat to Malaysia, home to migrant labour from these countries.

Liow said there was little evidence that the foreigners posed a threat. "The risk they carry is small or non-existent."

Snuff out in air-cond areas

Pressure check: Liow getting the reading for his blood pressure from a volunteer after launching Health Day in Puchong.

KUALA LUMPUR: Smokers must stop lighting up in enclosed air-conditioned areas and the Health Ministry will be stepping up enforcement against those who do so.

Action would also be taken against restaurant owners who allow smokers to puff away at non-smoking sections, Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said.

“Air-conditioned places such as restaurants must have a separate smoking area with their own vacuum system to prevent other parts of the premises from being polluted,” he told reporters after launching Health Day here yesterday.

“We will increase the number of raids and checks to ensure the rules are followed,” he added.

The intensified measures were decided after the ministry received complaints from the public that smokers were refusing to put out their cigarettes despite “No Smo­king” signs.

Liow said the ministry would also try to work with shopowners to stop youths under 18 from buying cigarettes.

Those caught smoking at prohibited places and owners of premises who neglect the rules will face a maximum fine of RM10,000 or two years’ jail, or both.

On another matter, Liow said the animal feed industry in Malaysia was not affected by melamine contamination as the feed was not imported from China.

Later, after opening the fifth Te­­phinet Global Scientific Conference, Liow told reporters that the Nipah virus was not a threat in Malaysia because it had not been traced from the 649 cases of viruses detected by the Institute of Medical Research in the past eight years.

He said that of the 649 cases of Encephalitis viruses, 285 were identified as Japanese Encephalitis with 37 deaths reported from the Encephalitis virus from 2000 to 2008.

Liow said that the Government had taken a multi-pronged ap­­proach after the Nipah virus outbreak in 1998 and the latest steps taken by the ministry was in line with the World Health Organi­sation.

Pilih tanpa kira kaum

PUCHONG 2 Nov. - MCA berpendirian bahawa jawatan Pengurus Besar Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) seharusnya dipegang oleh individu paling layak sahaja tanpa mengira kaum.

Sehubungan itu, Naib Presidennya, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai berkata, PKNS sewajarnya melantik individu yang terbaik dari segi kredibiliti dan kemampuan untuk mengisi jawatan tersebut.

''Sesiapa yang berkelayakan boleh memegang jawatan tersebut tanpa mengira kaum. Kita berharap mereka (PKNS) mengambil individu yang terbaik,'' katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Kempen Hari Kesihatan anjuran bersama Women Organization Development cawangan Puchong dan MCA bahagian Puchong di sini hari ini.

Tiong Lai diminta mengulas tindakan kerajaan negeri Selangor melantik Low Siew Moi sebagai Pemangku Pengurus Besar PKNS yang sepatutnya bersara tahun ini.

Please Join Our Health Day!

Bandar Puteri Puchong

Puteri Mart

Hari Kesihatan

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(Venue: Puteri Mart, Bandar Puteri Puchong. Last updated: 29th October, 2008)

HEALTH DAY & HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAM
Date: 2nd November 2008
Time: 10 am - 5 pm
Venue: Puteri Mart, Bandar Puteri Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor.


We are co-organizing a one-day event to promote health awareness among the community. Purpose of this event is to provide free health screening & medical advice for women, adults & children – importance of healthy body & emphasis, part of the community service events.

Programs include health talks by qualifies practicing doctors, personal health screening - blood test, cardiovascular check, orthopedics, dietary consultation & dental checks.

This event will be officiated by the Ministry of Health, WDO Chairman & Puchong Parliament Representatives as well as News press.

We appreciate your support towards this Community event & the betterment of our society.

Manpower Supported by: Club8858
Designed by: Sarah E. & Ian Phang

WDO Puchong Group @ Facebook

Join WDO Puchong group now!

MEMBERSHIP

F e e S t r u c t u r e

You Are Welcome To Join Us, If you are concerned about issues affecting women children and family and would like to help out in any capacity you think best by either devoting your time , specialization , skill or financial acts , you are welcome to join the Women Development Of Organization ( WDO ) as a member .

Membership is open to all Malaysians above 18 years of age . Application form are available at the web site for download and WDO headquarter or branches .

Registration fee : RM 10.00

Annual subscription fee : RM 12.00

Life membership : RM 100.00

Download Registration Form

WDO Puchong

ABOUT Women Development Organization of Malaysia (WDO)
The Women Development Organization of Malaysia (WDO) was founded by Datin Paduka Dr. Tan Yee Kew and a group of like-minded women activists, who saw the need for a more effective avenue to address the needs of women, both in rendering assistance to the under privileged and in preparing Malaysia women in general to meet new challenges confidently in the 21st century.
WDO was first known as the Women's Aid and Development Centre (later changed to the Women Development Centre) and it assumed its present name in 2003 when it became a national organization.

Our Objectives
The Women Development Organization of Malaysia (WDO) is an independent, non-government and non-profit organization committed towards improving the quality of life of women in Malaysia.

• To ensure that no woman is been deprived of her basic right to seek redress under the law due to lack of resources, ignorance of the law or fear;

• To uphold and safeguard women's rights;

• To lobby and to advance for positive development of women in legislation and policy making;

• To promote and facilitate the development of the economic status and financial position of women;

• To create awareness among women in all issues affecting them;

• To coordinate and cooperate with other women organizations (locally and internationally) for better benefit, welfare and development of women;

• To campaign and to participate in activities or agendas that directly and or indirectly concern women, children and families.

LAWATAN KE RUMAH ANAK-ANAK YATIM DI BANDAR PUTERI

LAPORAN LAWATAN WDO BAHAGIAN PUCHONG

KE RUMAH ANAK-ANAK YATIM DI BANDAR PUTERI PUCHONG

Pertubuhan Pembangunan Wanita Malaysia, Bahagian Puchong membuat satu lawatan ke Rumah Anak-Anak Yatim ‘House of Joy’ pada 29 Jun 2008 pada pukul 3 petang. Rumah Anak-Anak Yatim tersebut beralamat No.24, Jalan Puteri 10/10, Bandar Puteri, Puchong,.

Lawatan ini bertujuan untuk memahami situasi dan kesukaran anak-anak yatim serta mengetahui cara-cara untuk membantu anak-anak yatim tersebut.

Lawatan ini disertai oleh sekumpulan ahli-ahli WDO dengan pimpinan pengerusi WDO bahagian Puchong, Chin Ah Yim. Rombongan kami disambut oleh Pengelola Rumah Anak-anak Yatim iaitu Puan Soong. Mula-mula kami diberikan penerangan tentang pentadbiran rumah itu. Kemudian kami dibawa melawat persekitaran rumah tersebut. Persekitaran rumah amat bersih dan sesuai untuk anak-anak yatim. Mereka amat sihat kerana dijaga oleh pekerja-pekerja yang bertanggungjawab. Puan Soong memberitahu kami bahawa anak-anak yatim mempunyai kecacatan genetic iaitu Sindrom Down. Namun demikian, mereka suka belajar. Oleh itu, pengerusi kami bercadang untuk menderma buku kepada mereka pada masa yang akan datang.

Rombangan kami telah menyumbangkan alat-alat tulis dan makanan kepada anak-anak yatim. Mereka menerimanya dengan gembira.

Lawatan ini berjaya menimbulkan kesedaran di kalangan anggota. Mereka begitu bersimpati terhadap kesukaran yang perlu dilalui oleh anak-anak yatim itu.

Semoga anak-anak yatim hidup dengan sihat dan gembira. Selain ini, kami berharap mereka dapat bersumbang kepada masyarakat kami apabila dewasa.

Laporan disediakan oleh,

Anna dan Mandy Kaw

3 Julai 2008