Day: October 29, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 — Vietnam is the first country in the world to routinely use an innovative method to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) using stool.

The Simple One-Step Stool Method, developed by KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, is implemented in 10 healthcare facilities across the country, according to a statement.

“This simple and painless test is an important development for diagnosing TB in children under the age of five and people living with HIV. This can save many lives and reduce suffering,” said Director of the National Lung Hospital and Head of the Vietnam National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP), Prof Dr Nguyen Viet Nhung.

To raise the number of children being diagnosed and treated on time, the NTP decided to start an implementation pilot – financed by the Global Fund – with the KNCV Simple One-Step (SOS) Stool Method.

This turned out to be very successful and made the NTP decide to continue working with the SOS Stool Method routinely.

Worldwide, sputum from the lungs is currently mainly used as a sample to diagnose TB. However, it can be very difficult for many people living with HIV and children to cough up sputum.

“These invasive methods are often traumatising for the children, parents and healthcare workers. Materials for these procedures are not available everywhere and sometimes it is only done when the child is already very ill.

“This results in many children worldwide not being diagnosed or being diagnosed too late,” said executive director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV), Mustapha Gidado.

A stool sample is painless and easy to obtain from children. KNCV laboratory experts dove into the matter and developed the SOS Stool Method, that was first presented during the Union World Conference in 2018.

KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation provides online training courses for laboratory staff, so that all countries can start using this method for diagnosing TB in children and people living with HIV. Vietnam sets an example of how this can be done successfully on all levels.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, Oct 29 — The number of flood evacuees in Kedah has risen to 239 from 63 families as of 8 am today as compared to 216 victims from 55 families yesterday.

A Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Kedah spokesman said, two new relief centres were opened in Baling district last night to house 47 victims from 16 families following heavy rains in the district since yesterday evening.

“Twenty-six victims are being housed at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tanjung Pari relief centre which opened at 9 pm while another 21 were evacuated to SK Siong at 10.25 pm,” he said in a statement today.

In addition he said two other relief centres namely the Banggol Derom Community Hall and SK Titi Gantung, which were closed yesterday, were reopened to house 55 victims from 13 families.

Meanwhile the SK Bandar relief centre which housed 12 victims from two families was closed yesterday .

In Pendang, 137 victims from 34 families are still at Dewan Rakan Sukan, Tanah Merah, since they were evacuated on Oct 24.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 29 — The Sabah Water Services Commission will be established to find long-term sustainable solutions to water supply, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

The Sabah Works Minister said the function of the Commission was also to supervise and monitor the quality and efficiency of water and sewerage services in the state.

However, he said before the Commission could be set up, amendments must first be made to the Sabah Water Supply Enactment.

“The establishment of this Commission is one of the matters that will be included in the Sabah State Water Department (JANS) Roadmap. We are confident that with this Commission there will be less bureaucracy and better efficiency in water management,” he said in a statement here today.

He was commenting on the proposal by Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to formulate an enactment to regulate the water supply services industry in the state and ensure separation between its regulatory and operational functions.

Bung Moktar said a forum held yesterday to discuss the establishment of the Commission was also attended by Assistant Works Minister Datuk Limus Jury, Works Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Mohd Jasmin Juplin and Sabah Water Department director Edward Linkapo.

“To address water supply issues in Sabah, JANS needs about RM13 billion to replace and upgrade water supply systems such as old pipelines and problematic water treatment plants.

“JANS is the only water utility in Malaysia still with department status that manages its own water supply without direct assistance from the Federal government,” he said.

He added that through the Commission, the state government hoped that Federal government would assist to cover the high cost of expenses in an effort to improve the water supply system in Sabah.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency