BY UMIE SYAZWANIE MOHD
KUCHING: Longhouse folk and others in the state’s rural areas must seek immediate medical treatment even if they have mild health conditions or symptoms.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said this was all the more vital with the current Covid-19 pandemic.
“Health education is to allow people to respond appropriately when they have any symptom.
“My advice to all is to seek early medical intervention over symptoms like low grade fever, cough and sore throat and lost sense of smell,” he stressed.
He added anyone with these symptoms must go for testing and medical reviews by health personnel at the nearest hospital or health clinic.
Such prompt actions would save them and reduce brought in dead (BID) cases from longhouses and rural areas, said Uggah after meeting Betong Division Health Officer Dr Johnny Pangkas in Betong on Saturday (Sept 18) to discuss health education.
He pointed out that Betong reported one BID case on Sept 4, two on Sept 5, three on Sept 11, one on Sept 12 and two on Sept 16.
He added four of the nine BID cases had some symptoms but did not seek early treatment.
“One of them had a history of coughing for a week and another one had a fever for four days,” he said.
Uggah added all the nine victims had comorbidities like obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes. The youngest one, he said, had obesity problems.
He added the health department would continue and intensify such education programmes.
Uggah, who is Sarawak Disaster Management Committee chairman, expressed his concern over the nine deaths recorded here and Pusa today by the health department.
