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PUTRAJAYA – Floods on the peninsula’s east coast have been affecting two government hospitals in Kelantan and four in Terengganu, according to Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The hospitals in Kelantan are Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZ) and Tengku Anis Hospital (HTA), while the four in Terengganu are the Kemaman, Besut, Setiu, and Hulu Terengganu hospitals.
In a statement, Dr Noor Hisham said all healthcare services at HRPZ II are still operating as usual even though floodwater has entered the hospital.
He added that laboratory services, as well as imaging and diagnostics services at HTA, have been temporarily stopped.
“The shutting down of internal power has been done to protect the equipment from damage due to short circuit. Any request for such services will be referred to the nearest hospitals which are HRPZ II and Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM).
Dr Noor Hisham said 19 patients from HTA have been transferred to HRPZ II and HUSM due to concerns that floodwaters could rise anytime.
On the situation in Terengganu, he said the emergency department and maternity ward at Kemaman Hospital were flooded on Sunday night but the water subsided the next morning.
The Besut, Setiu, and Hulu Terengganu hospitals could only be reached by boat or helicopter, he added, as access has been cut off due to the floods.
“However, these hospitals are prepared for such a situation and have sufficient medical supplies, food, and disposables,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said there were 32 other health facilities that have been affected by the floods in Kelantan, specifically 22 rural clinics and 10 health clinics.
Of the total, seven facilities are still operational, 22 have moved their operations to alternative facilities, and three others have suspended operations.
In Terengganu, Dr Noor Hisham said the floods have affected 40 healthcare facilities, comprising 27 rural clinics, five health clinics, four dental clinics, three district health offices, and one vector unit at the state Health Department.
Of the total, 19 health facilities are still operational, six have moved operations to alternative facilities, and 15 are no longer operational for now, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry has detected over 500 cases of infectious diseases among flood evacuees housed at temporary relief centres from November 7 to December 19.
These include 301 cases of acute respiratory infections, skin diseases (260 cases), acute gastroenteritis (14), conjunctivitis (11), and one case of chickenpox.
“No cases of typhoid; cholera; leptospirosis; hand, foot, and mouth disease; and dengue were reported among the flood victims,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham said only one case of Covid-19 was reported among flood victims in Terengganu from December 11 to yesterday.
As of noon today, the National Disaster Management Agency reported that 65,139 people were affected by floods in 20 districts in Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, and Johor.
Terengganu recorded the highest number of victims with 38,806 people, followed by Kelantan (25,353), Pahang (873), Perak (54), and Johor with 53. – Bernama, December 20, 2022
