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TB is <b>Sabah&#39;s</b> highest contracted communicable disease <b>...</b> Berita Sabah - News 2 Sabah

TB is <b>Sabah&#39;s</b> highest contracted communicable disease <b>...</b>

Posted: 16 Mar 2014 02:49 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: A total of 4,515 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were recorded in Sabah in 2013, which on record is the highest contracted disease compared to other communicable diseases.

State Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi disclosed this yesterday  in her speech delivered by her deputy, Dr Richard Avoi, during the launch of Sabah Anti-Tuberculosis Association's (SABATA) 60th Anniversary Seminar entitled "To Improve Detection, Treatment and Curing Tuberculosis."

According to Dr Rundi, the number recorded for the disease is the highest compared to other communicable diseases such as malaria and dengue.

"TB is on the rise and is a serious problem in Sabah and it is still a challenge to keep the disease under wraps, especially with cases that are diagnosed too late," she said.

She added that possible contributing factors to the delayed diagnosis of TB are due to the patients themselves, who are unaware of early symptoms, or the healthcare delivery system.

"It is also believed that there are still many more undetected cases of TB (in the State), as the search for TB cases is still low," Dr Rundi said.

Another challenge, she said, is to deal with the refusal of treatment, especially from the immigrant community, which has contributed to the rise of drug-resistant TB cases.

Therefore, she urged for cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the Health Department to help in controlling TB, especially through awareness programs.

Meanwhile, head of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Sector, Dr Jiloris F Dony of the Health Ministry, said that Malaysia ranks seventh on the list of TB-burden countries within the 37 countries listed on the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region.

"TB is the second most common communicable disease in Malaysia, after dengue and is the leading cause of mortality among all communicable diseases," Jiloris said.

He also said that ensuring quality screening and clinical management of TB cases, providing adequate infection control measures in healthcare facilities and early case findings are, amongst others, efforts to control the spread of TB.

About 230 participants attended the public seminar, organized together with the Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis (MAPTB), which was held in conjunction with the World Tuberculosis Day that falls on March 24.

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PBS to strengthen multiracial identity - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 11:09 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Jospeh Pairin Kitingan wants the party to further strengthen its position as a multiracial party representing all ethnic groups in Sabah.

Delivering his keynote address during the PBS 29th anniversary dinner here on Wednesday, he said nurturing unity among the people of Sabah should remain the main agenda of the party, apart from encouraging a more active political awareness and participation from among the younger generation.

"Our struggle that is centered on the interest of all races must be continued and strengthened, especially in today's environment where racial frictions and conflicts are a growing problem everywhere except in Sabah.

"People in Sabah have long been united; we can sit together in one function, celebrate together our every festival in a family spirit. This is the reality of our everyday life in Sabah and this is what we should continue fighting for," he said.

Pairin said PBS must be forward looking and fully appreciate that its struggle would not be without challenges and obstacles.

Close ties and cooperation between leaders and members from different racial backgrounds were vital in order for PBS to overcome these challenges, he stressed.

"We must also touch base with our youth, as only by doing this can we ensure that our party remains relevant and accepted. We need to explain to them the issues facing our country, especially in terms of economic development and get them on board in implementing necessary measures.

"At this juncture, I would like to call on all of us to make full use of each and every machinery at our disposal to strengthen PBS' presence and contribution towards youth development and the betterment of our community.

"I hope PBS will continue to be an important party that is supported by the people until its 100th anniversary and beyond. Let the message be loud and clear that our struggle will continue for Sabah and all its people," he said.

Pairin also stressed on the importance for PBS to continue pushing on security-related matters, saying the bloody incursion in Lahad Datu early last year should serve as an important lesson for leaders and the people in Sabah.

Earlier, secretary general cum organizing chairman Datuk Johnny Mositun, in his welcoming remark, said PBS had since its inception nearly three decades ago managed to position itself as a multi-racial party accepted by all.

He said the party had recorded many important political milestones for Sabah and continued to be accepted by all ethnic groups despite its changing allegiance to the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"PBS was once in the opposition side before it rejoined BN. Because PBS is a good party, we were invited to rejoin the coalition by the country's leadership then. In the interest of Sabah and its people, we accepted the invitation without making any demand or conditions.

"So, don't fall for the lies and propaganda by certain parties that PBS could no longer do anything for Sabah under BN. Just look at the constituencies under PBS that have been taken over by the opposition – the opposition leaders could not bring about development nor address the problems faced by the people in the area, unlike when they were under PBS," he said.

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Travel advisory limited to small area in <b>Sabah</b> – Canada High <b>...</b>

Posted: 11 Mar 2014 09:44 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The High Commission of Canada will continue to monitor the situation at Sabah's East Coast closely and regularly.

Canada's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Judith St George, said that members of the commission also regularly met with government officials of the affected area.

"There is always a potential to decrease or increase (the travel advisory). We have an obligation to our citizens to be aware of the risk when they travel. We feel they need to be alerted of any risk," she said during a visit to the state on Monday.

The Canadian High Commission's counselor, Robert Burley, explained that the travel advisory was only limited to a small area in Sabah.

"Canada doesn't have travel warning on Malaysia or the whole of Sabah. Last year, more than 7,000 Canadians came to Sabah, and 60,000 came to Malaysia. So our travel warning advisory is limited to as small area as possible where we believe there are some concerns," he said.

Canadians living in Malaysia are encouraged to register with the High Commission of Canada but not many are doing so, hence the difficulty in getting an estimate as to how many of them are actually living in the country.

It is believed that there are some 2,200 Canadians living in Malaysia today.

"In Sabah, we don't think the number is large," said Burley.

Meanwhile, Judith expressed her sympathy to those affected by the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines flight, MH370.

She said two Canadian nationals who were residing in Beijing, China, were among the passengers of the flight.

"The family of the affected Canadians were informed and we are monitoring the development … but at this stage there is not much information. They still haven't found anything. There is very little information now," she said.

Burley informed press members that they were also liaising with the Malaysian government because there is so much uncertainty on the cause of the disappearance of MH370.

"We don't know whether it was chemical or criminal element (was involved). All the countries are waiting for that to determine what kind of assistance to offer," he said.

Burley also said that Canada had strong cooperation with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), adding that they were providing training to MMEA on search and monitoring as was being carried out now.

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