PUTRAJAYA, June 24 – There has been a marked increase in the number of asthma and other haze-related respiratory cases seeking treatment at the hospitals and clinics in Johor and Melaka.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said with regard to asthma cases, the increase had been more than 100 per cent since haze enveloped the two southern states.
“In Johor, the number of asthma cases increased by 122 per cent and in Melaka by 127 per cent,” he told a news conference after launching the National-Level Patients Safety Campaign and Seminar, here, today.
He said upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) cases increased by 38.5 per cent in Johor and by 20.7 per cent in Melaka.
As for conjunctivitis cases, Melaka sees an increase of 63.6 per cent while there is no increase in Johor.
Dr Noor Hisham advised the public to reduce outdoor activities or use a face mask when outside the house.
He said in order to provide the best possible treatment for haze-related symptoms in the two worst affected states, the hospitals and clinics were now focusing on emergency cases.
“We are reducing surgery and other services to mobilise more manpower to the emergency unit,” he added.
Earlier, on the inaugural campaign, he said it brought together the public and private sectors to create awareness on patient safety and how it could beachieved.
The two-day campaign from today, themed “Together For Safety”, has some 500 participants.
– BERNAMA
