MOH ENSURES TOP-LEVEL HEALTH READINESS FOR 47TH ASEAN SUMMIT

By Mohd Adli Shahar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry (MOH) is fully committed to ensuring the highest standards of healthcare and medical preparedness throughout the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, with the deployment of 512 ministry personnel.

Director of Health for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya Datin Dr Haliza Abdul Manaf said the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the main venue for the summit, has been equipped with a ‘mini hospital’ capable of handling various medical situations, including emergencies.

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“Located within the convention centre, the facility is fitted with eight beds and modern medical equipment such as patient monitoring systems, resuscitation and defibrillation units, and emergency medications.

“At this treatment centre, we can provide primary care, emergency treatment and immediate stabilisation of critical cases before hospital referral, if required,” she told Bernama here today.

Dr Haliza said the deployment includes medical specialists, medical officers, assistant medical officers, trained nurses and ambulance drivers.

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“Besides the treatment centre here, similar facilities have also been set up at hotels accommodating delegates to ensure they have convenient access to medical services,” she said.

To further strengthen preparedness, the MOH has stationed mobile medical teams to accompany each head of state during official movements, ensuring immediate medical assistance in the event of emergencies.

“Each mobile team comprises five personnel and is equipped with advanced portable medical devices,” she said.

The ministry has also mobilised public health teams comprising public health medicine specialists, epidemiology officers, food technology officers, as well as environmental health officers and assistants.

On public health measures, Dr Haliza said vector control operations were carried out at all accommodation premises two weeks prior to the summit to ensure they were free of mosquito breeding sites.

“We are also monitoring kitchens to prevent foodborne illnesses. For hotels housing dignitaries, food samples are collected daily -- from breakfast to supper -- for analysis,” she said.

Dr Haliza added that as part of efforts to strengthen public health, all summit venues have been declared smoke-free zones.

-- BERNAMA