SANDAKAN: State Minister of Community Development and Peoples Wellbeing, Datuk James Ratib, admits the high number of illness cases in Sabah, particularly in Paitan, where cancer cases are most prevalent.
James, who is also Sugut assemblyman, expressed concern over reports that his constituency has one of the highest rates of high-risk illnesses.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});He noted that the highest number of cancer patients comes from the northern part of the state, including Paitan, and identified water contamination as one of the potential causes.
He also highlighted Sabah’s lack of a PET-CT scan (Positron Emission Tomography), a vital medical imaging device for cancer diagnosis that provides the most accurate early detection of cancer in the body.
He said while West Malaysia and Sarawak have PET-CT scans, Sabah still relies on MRI and CT scans.
“I have been fighting for Sabah to have this device which costs RM30 million each. West Malaysia and Sarawak have it, but not Sabah.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});In Sarawak, it is available in private hospitals, but I am pushing for this device to be placed in the Likas Women’s and Children’s Hospital so that Sabahans can access it at a minimal charge instead of paying thousands for the scan services,” he said.
Apart from cancer, Ratib also raised concerns about kidney failure, which ranks among the most serious illnesses affecting Sabahans.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});He lamented that many patients cannot afford treatment.
“There are currently 2,310 kidney patients in hospitals undergoing hemodialysis treatment. In Sabah, it is a sad reality that many diagnosed with kidney disease cannot afford treatment,” he said.
He urged the public to take better care of their health by avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and ensuring they drink clean, boiled water.
He warned against consuming fake or unregulated alcoholic beverages, which have been linked to kidney disease.
To address the growing number of kidney failure cases, the Sabah government recently provided 100 additional hemodialysis machines to hospitals and clinics.
“This is a special programme by our Chief Minister to increase the number of medical devices as he sees the urgent need for our people,” Ratib said, adding that all expenses will be covered by the government.
Ratib also highlighted the increasing cases of elephantiasis, or Penyakit Untut, in Malaysia, with Paitan recording the highest number of cases.
The disease, caused by mosquito bites in unsanitary environments, results in extreme leg swelling.
He identified Kg. Sulit and Kg. Binanjar Baru as villages affected by this illness.
“This is caused by dirty surroundings that allow mosquitoes to breed. We must prioritize cleanliness to prevent further spread of the disease,” he urged.
He encouraged Sabahans to maintain hygiene, consume balanced diets, and seek medical help at early stages of illness, rather than suffer later.
“Health is expensive when illness strikes, so prevention is key,” he said.
The recent medical outreach programme led by Dr Erle Henry and his NGO, Volunteer Charity & Care highlighted significant health concerns among the local community, stressing the need for improved healthcare awareness and preventive measures.
The outreach findings indicated that 37pc of the adult population in Paitan suffers from hypertension, with blood pressure readings ranging from 142-200 / 74-132 mmHg.
The condition was found to be equally distributed between males and females. Two females also presented with high blood glucose levels, suggesting un-diagnosed diabetes.
The outreach team also recorded multiple cases of eye health problems. Among those affected were three males (aged 35-58) and four females (aged 38-48).
While contributing factors are still under investigation, Dr Henry noted that one possible cause could be exposure to sparks from kerosene while refueling generator sets.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) were prevalent among both children and adults. The finding revealed that 55pc of children (aged below 12 years) and 23pc of adults (aged over 12 years) showed symptoms of infection.
“In light of these findings, we strongly recommend flu vaccinations, especially for children, to curb the spread of infections,” Dr Henry advised.
36pc of children aged 12 and below suffered from skin diseases, with all affected individuals being male.
