Category: Medical

Health officials in Northern Mindanao (Region 10) assured the public that there are no incidents of Nipah virus (NiV) amid the trend of fever cases in schools. Dr. Rachel Dilla, city health officer, said as per the Department of Health (DOH) report, there are no cases of the Nipah virus in the city. “Nevertheless, we’re conducting surveillance. We are appealing to the schools to report to us cases of headaches and other flu-like symptoms,” Dilla said in a statement on Tuesday. Dilla encouraged people to wear face masks, wash their hands frequently and practice proper cough etiquette. Her statement was in response to several schools in the city directing teachers and students to revert to online classes as a result of increase cases of fever or flu-like symptoms. Dr. Elenietta Gamolo, DOH-10 officer-in-charge, said they will collaborate with the City Health Office regarding the occurrence of fever in schools. However, Gamolo reiterated that the region has not had any reported cases of the NiV. “Nipah virus was first discovered in 1999 following an outbreak of diseases in pigs and people in Malaysia and Singapore,” Gamolo said, adding that recently, the Nipah outbreak in India involved five cases. NiV is usually transmitted from animals to humans, and people can become infected if they have close contact with an infected animal or its body fluids. House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin of Iloilo Province’s First District, a former DOH secretary, said the Philippines is not new to NiV, as the country had cases in 2014 with documented transmission from fruit bats to horses to humans in which the feeds of horses were contaminated with bat urine and secretions. ‘Resilient as we are, we were able to contain it. I have strong faith in our experts, but information from them should be ‘laymanized’ to the public,’ Garin said in a radio interview on Monday

Source: Philippines News Agency

A 59-year-old nurse, who was declared brain dead and died on April 7, provided a new lease of life to five individuals through organ donation.

Sabah Health director Dr Asits Sanna said the late Sulimah Gilong had registered as an organ donor in 2015 and her organs had saved the lives of three kidney and liver failure patients while her donated corneas gave sight to two patients.

He said Sulimah had served with the Health Ministry for 34 years since 1989 and her last posting was at the Medical Ward 4 and Respiratory Ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.

“Her noble wish to become an organ donor after her passing was fulfilled after the hospital obtained consent from her next of kin.

“She was dedicated in carrying out her duties, well-liked by her colleagues and concerned with the needs of her patients. We pray that she will be placed among the righteous and that all her acts of worship will be accepted,” he said in a statement today.

Dr Asits also called on the public to take Sulimah’s act as an inspiration.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The establishment of a geriatric centre is very important in building a quality health system that is friendly to the elderly, according to Dr A’isyah Che Rahimi, a lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia’s School of Medical Sciences.

She said the biggest issue for a country is facilities that support the needs of holistic healthcare for senior citizens including physical, mental, social and spiritual health.

“Previously, the government has announced an initiative to increase the number of nurses specialising in gerontology. So, the establishment of this geriatric centre shows that the government is serious about building a health system that is friendly to the elderly,” she told Bernama here today.

According to the United Nations (UN) projections, she said 15 per cent of the country’s total population would reach the age of 60 years old and above by 2030.

Therefore, she said Malaysia needs to be prepared in various aspects of quality healthcare services for the elderly.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Public Health Organisation adviser Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the establishment of a geriatric centre is very necessary in preparing the country to face the challenges of being an ageing country.

In addition to facilities, he said the government also needs to be prepared in terms of service, health experts and officers trained in the field of gerontology.

When tabling the motion on the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review (MTR) at the Dewan Rakyat today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will establish a new geriatric centre to provide quality healthcare service to the elderly.

According to Anwar, the government is also developing a National Aging Action Plan to address the challenges and implications of an ageing country that will affect the country’s socioeconomic and fiscal position.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The government will implement two vital strategies under its Big Bold Strengthening Healthcare Services measure to transform healthcare service delivery.

The first strategy will focus on rejuvenating the healthcare service, while the second strategy focuses on broadening health financing options to improve healthcare service delivery and quality.

“The implementation of these measures will contribute towards healthy lives, sustainable healthcare financing and better well-being of the rakyat.

“These will also contribute towards achieving the goal for Malaysia to be in the 25th rank in the United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index within 10 years,” according to the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) Mid-Term Review (MTR) released by the Ministry of Economy today.

The first strategy will be implemented by Improving the Healthcare System to ensure the nation’s readiness in managing crises and emerging healthcare threats where healthcare services will be better equipped with upgraded facilities, integrated information systems and advanced medical equipment.

“Efforts will also be pursued to strengthen cardiology services, including the provision of invasive cardiac laboratories in public hospitals.

“Meanwhile, measures will also be undertaken to improve dental services in line with the Universal Health Coverage for Oral Health WHO (WHA74.5), through the expansion of the services to school teachers, staff and their families,” according to the report.

In addition, 250 schools will be assisted in fulfilling the criteria of the School Dental Clinic Programme, while a national mental health institute will be established as part of the initiatives under the Healthcare Big Bold measure to address mental health issues nationwide.

Digitalising Healthcare Services that will be implemented under the first strategy will focus on developing the national food safety system phase 2.0 to enhance the existing information systems through data integration that will facilitate better monitoring and auditing of food safety.

The implementation of the Electronic Medical Record in public hospitals and clinics will also be expanded nationwide to ensure seamless sharing of medical records.

An action plan for the Malaysian Health Data Warehouse data migration to MyGOVCloud will be developed to enable data sharing across government agencies as well as MyCHAMPION registration system will be upgraded for better organisation of content and activities of health volunteers in providing awareness on NCDs.

Efforts will be undertaken to integrate care services between health clinics and hospitals to better serve older persons in preparation for Malaysia becoming an ageing nation.

The Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 will be enforced to ensure compliance with the safety and standards requirements, while new geriatric care centres will be established to provide long-term healthcare services in improving the quality of life for older persons.

In strengthening health protection and health-care financing, the MADANI Medical Scheme will be implemented for targeted groups as well as exploring new models to finance health facilities to improve accessibility to healthcare services in ensuring that no one is left behind.

“Greater investment in developing and providing healthcare services will also be encouraged,” it said.

In ensuring the availability of the best medical equipment for the rakyat, efforts will be undertaken to address the issue of the high cost of procurement, maintenance and replacement of medical equipment due to rapid advancement in technology.

This new financing option will provide better financial flexibility to acquire medical equipment with the latest technology for the benefit of the rakyat.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Seventy-three per cent of deaths in the country are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are closely linked to unhealthy lifestyles, said Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni.

In his speech when officiating the 2023 national-level “Bulan Malaysia Sihat Sejahtera” (BMSS) celebration here today, he said nearly half of the Malaysian population is unaware that they have an NCD.

“Nearly 50 per cent (of Malaysians) are not aware that they are suffering from NCD and this leads to a higher risk of complications when it is not treated early,” he said.

According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, one in two adults is overweight or obese, with the highest prevalence among women at 54.7 percent and individuals aged 55 to 59 at 60.9 per cent.

The survey also stated that one in four adults in the country is not physically active and the least active groups are women (28 per cent), students (39 per cent), and senior citizens (59 per cent).

The survey also found that one in three Malaysians has low health literacy, as evidenced by an unhealthy and inactive lifestyle, not eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, and smoking.

As such, Lukanisman hoped that the implementation of the BMSS through the Healthy Malaysia National Agenda would raise public awareness about living a healthy lifestyle.

BMSS is observed every September in line with the Health Ministry’s direction of switching the focus from “sick care” to “health care and wellness” through preventive measures by promoting a healthy lifestyle aligned with the Health White Paper, he said.

“The increase in diseases caused by Malaysians’ unhealthy lifestyles puts high pressure on the country’s healthcare system and its finances,” he said

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Israeli scientists have identified a protein that could potentially unlock treatments for neurodegenerative diseases by facilitating nerve cell repair in the peripheral nervous system. A chance discovery by a team of researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science sheds new light on regeneration in the nervous system and opens up exciting possibilities for combatting diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) that have long remained incurable. Regeneration is more widely known among certain species of lizards, salamanders and frogs – among other animals – whose tails or limbs can grow back if broken off. The peripheral nervous system, responsible for connecting our brain and spinal cord to other organs, possesses a remarkable ability to regenerate damaged nerve cells. In contrast, the central nervous system, comprising the brain and spinal cord, exhibits limited regenerative capabilities, leading to the irreversible and incurable nature of neurodegenerative diseases. Until now, scientists have focused on understanding why the peripheral nervous system can regenerate so effectively. PTBP1, a protein known to decrease sharply as embryonic cells differentiate into adult nerve cells, has been a point of interest in regenerative research. Previous studies were aimed to replicate this process in non-neuronal cells by reducing PTBP1 levels, hoping to generate new neurons in the brains of individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. However, a recent study led by Dr. Stefanie Alber and doctoral student Pierluigi Di Matteo in Prof. Mike Fainzilber’s laboratory at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot revealed that PTBP1 is not limited to embryonic cells. Surprisingly, it is also expressed in adult neurons of the peripheral nervous system, challenging conventional wisdom. The team’s findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed Science Advances. The research, initially focused on understanding the regulation of KPNB1, a protein responsible for delivering messages within neurons, stumbled upon PTBP1’s presence in the adult cells. According to the researchers, KPNB1 serves as a ‘mail van’ for transporting messages from the neuron’s distant branches to the nucleus, where regeneration signals are initiated. PTBP1 binds effectively to the RNA messenger molecules that carry instructions for creating these messenger ‘vans.’ To determine PTBP1’s impact on neuron function and regeneration, the researchers studied the response of neurons to injuries. They observed that PTBP1 levels in cells increased three days after injury, peaking at one week. Concurrently, nerve cells in the branches began regenerating. Sequencing of messenger RNA molecules bound to PTBP1 revealed its interaction not only with KPNB1 but also with RNA molecules encoding other proteins crucial for nerve cell regeneration, such as RHOA, a significant regulator of cellular growth. To further investigate PTBP1’s role in adult cells, the scientists silenced its expression through genetic engineering. This manipulation resulted in reduced regeneration of nerve cells responsible for transmitting pain sensations in the peripheral nervous system. Additionally, muting PTBP1 increased sensitivity to mechanical stimuli and heat, underscoring its role in nerve cell health and regeneration. According to the World Health Organization, 55 million people suffer from dementia, mostly due to Alzheimer’s, making it the most common neurodegenerative disease. Parkinson’s disease is the next most common with 8.5 million

Source: Philippines News Agency

At least 21 people died of dengue in Bangladesh on Saturday, a single-day high since the health authorities started record-keeping in 2000, taking the total death toll to 618. According to the Directorate General of Health Services, of the new deaths, 17 people died due to the mosquito-borne dengue fever in Dhaka, keeping the capital city as the epicenter of the endemic-turn dengue fever. Dhaka also reported 456 deaths out of total. The total cases of hospitalizations rose to almost 127,700, including nearly 59,600 cases from Dhaka, the health authority said in its daily dengue update. The Directorate General of Health Services on Friday said it found Aedes mosquito larvae, responsible for dengue fever, in 40-50 percent houses in Dhaka city, a worrying sign of worsening dengue situation. Urging people to rush to hospitals when infected with the virus, Md. Nazmul Islam, additional director of the health agency, told reporters that on average, 75 people have died of dengue since January. Furthermore, 90 percent of patients who were admitted to hospitals died within 72 hours of hospitalization, he said, emphasizing need for hospitalization on time. Last year, 281 people died due to dengue in the South Asian country. Dengue, first recorded in the 1960s in Bangladesh as Dacca fever, has already started putting pressure on the health systems in the country, the World Health Organization warned. Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes but there is no specific treatment for the infection

Source: Philippines News Agency