Friday, November 16, 2007

Semburan anti-denggi


Apabila sesuatu perkara berlaku, maka wujudlah komen-komen yang sangat2 membina daripada beberapa pihak. Namun tahukah kita bahawa beberapa aspek keselamatan tidak diambilkira sewaktu operasi semburan nyamuk ini dilaksanakan.

Jabatan Kesihatan Daerah yang bertanggungjawab terhadap operasi menyembur semburan anti-dengi tidak memaklumkan pemberitahuan yang secukupnya kepada orangramai atau penghuni rumah-rumah dikawasan yang terbabit dalam operasi penyemburan semburan anti-dengi ini.

Biasanya operasi penyemburan ini dilakukan pada waktu senja. Terdapat seorang dua pegawai Jabatan Kesihatan yang berkunjung ke setiap rumah memaklumkan operasi di jalankan. Sekadar meminta penghuni mengosongkan rumah masing-masing, operasi ini kemudiannya bermula.

Malah ada pertugas penyembur yang tidak menggunakan alat perlindungan diri secukupnya. Hanya sekadar penutup mulut kertas ataupun dari jenis penapis (respirator) yang nampak sangat katrij yang digunakan sudah lama tidak bertukar. Ramai di antara mereka ini mengabaikan penggunaan sarung tangan dan pemakaian alas baju (apron) dan sebagainya.

Kebanyakan penghuni pula terutama kanak-kanak akan menjadikan operasi ini sebagai suatu pesta. Orang dewasa akan berkumpul hanya beberapa meter di hadapan rumah dan membiarkan kanak-kanak berkeliaran sesama usia.

Begitu juga seperti yang dialami oleh unit OSHE PPSB didalam melaksanakan tugasan penyemburan anti-denggi ini. Kebanyakkan kakitangan enggan meninggalkan tempat kerja masing-masing seolah-olah tidak menyedari bahaya daripada terhidu asap semburan ini. Mungkin ramai beranggapan asap tersebut hanya mampu membunuh nyamuk tetapi tidak kepada manusia.


Semoga kejadian ini menjadi teladan kepada semua pihak sama ada dari pihak berkuasa ataupun orang ramai. Jika masih diabaikan juga, tidak mustahil suatu hari kelak akan kedengaran laporan orang ramai yang maut bukan kerana dengi tetapi akibat terhidu asap beracun semburan anti-dengi ini.


The Star 13-Nov-2007

19 schoolgirls vomit during fogging operation


ALOR STAR: Nineteen schoolgirls got nauseous and started vomiting when they inhaled smoke from anti-dengue fogging at their hostel here.

The Sekolah Darul Ulum Ihya Ulumuddin students, aged between 12 and 17, were in their hostel in Lorong Datuk Keramat here when the incident occurred about 6.45pm.

Kedah Health Department director Dr Hasnah Ismail said that the students were among more than 300 who were asked to wait at their hostel compound during the fogging operation.

However, Dr Hasnah said a sudden change in wind direction caused smoke from fogging in the hostel rooms to move towards the girls who were standing in the middle of the compound, causing some of them to inhale the thick smoke.

Dr Hasnah said that the girls received outpatient treatment at the hospital and were allowed to return to their hostel at about 11pm the same day.

The Star 7-Nov-2007

Chua: Rise in dengue cases but situation under control

At The Dewan Rakyat
Reports by LEE YUK PENG AND FLORENCE A. SAMY

DENGUE cases increased by 47.5% for the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Until Aug 18, the number of reported cases stood at 33,207 compared to 22,511 for the same period last year. Although the cases have increased, the situation is still under control and it is not at the panic stage,” he said in a written reply to M. Kulasegaran (DAP - Ipoh Barat).

He said 74 deaths had been reported during the period compared to 59 for the same period last year.

“The fatality rate is still low at 0.2%. However, it can increase between 40% and 50% if treatment is not administered effectively,” he added.
Unplanned urbanisation and lack of cooperation from society in eradicating aedes breeding grounds had attributed to the increase in dengue cases in the region, he said.

“Our ministry study showed that residential homes still had the most breeding grounds. From Aug 12 until 18 this year, 621 of 713 premises which tested positive for aedes breeding were residential homes,” he added.

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