SANDAKAN, May 2 — Sabah recorded 357 monkey malaria cases and one death in the first four months of this year, with Ranau, Kudat and Tawau as the main hotspots, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

“This is quite serious. Early detection and immediate treatment are key. All health clinics and hospitals are capable of detecting these monkey malaria cases,” he told reporters after launching the Wellness Hub in Sandakan today.

Dzulkefly added that close cooperation with the Wildlife Department and the Forestry Department is crucial in tackling this life-threatening disease.

Monkey malaria, also known as zoonotic malaria or simian malaria, is transmitted from monkeys to humans via mosquito bites and is typically caused by the parasite Plasmodium knowlesi.

Meanwhile, regarding the Wellness Hub, Dzulkefly said the initiative is an important catalyst in strengthening the country’s healthcare ecosystem towards a more comprehensive, proactive approach.

This programme helps communities embrace a healthy lifestyle by shifting the focus from seeking treatment to preventing sickness before it occurs.

He noted that this approach is increasingly urgent, given that the government’s annual cost of managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has reached RM64.3 billion, surpassing the entire Ministry of Health budget of RM46.52 billion.

“The burden of NCDs in Sabah is no less worrying. Looking at the data, the rates of obesity (50.4 per cent), high cholesterol (32.1 per cent), smoking prevalence (24.9 per cent), and sedentary behaviour(sitting or lying down for long periods) are very high at 57.7 per cent,” he said.

“There are 38 Wellness Hubs nationwide, with five in Sabah: Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kudat, Keningau and Putatan. My ambition is to have at least one Wellness Hub per parliamentary constituency. We want to take a ‘prevent before sickness’ approach,” he said.

He added that the Wellness Hub also serves as a strategic platform to address stunting and malnutrition among children. — Bernama    

SANDAKAN, May 2 — The Ministry of Health has established an Interministerial Special Task Force to examine the issue of shortages of doctors and medical specialists, including aspects of talent retention in the national healthcare sector.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said a specific timeline has been set to refine and formulate comprehensive solutions to the matter.

“For a long time, the issue of shortages of doctors and medical specialists has persisted, and as a ministry based on healthcare facilities and services, with 151 hospitals, we certainly face various challenges.

“I am aware of this and have requested the (ministry) secretary-general and Health director-general to work together with the Ministry of Higher Education, as well as the Public Service Department and the Ministry of Finance to address this issue, particularly in Sabah,” he said.

He told reporters this after officially opening the Wellness Hub Sandakan here today.

Dzulkefly said the shortage of doctors must be addressed thoroughly in collaboration with other ministries in a systematic manner.

He said the special task force is also examining proposals to improve incentives for medical officers, including relocation allowances to encourage placements in Sabah.

“I want this matter to be viewed in the long term. There is no reason why such incentives cannot be given to doctors who are committed to serving in Sabah,” he said, adding that 42 house officers have recently been posted to the Duchess of Kent Hospital here.

On another matter, he said the ministry will soon submit a counter-proposal regarding operational expenditure cuts by the Ministry of Finance involving the healthcare sector.

Recently, the Ministry of Finance proposed a reduction in operational expenditure amounting to RM5.4 billion involving the healthcare and higher education sectors as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s fiscal position. — Bernama