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- Published on Monday, 11 January 2016 15:19
The incident has prompted Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman to instruct Terengganu Health Department director Dr Mohamed Omar to spearhead a special committee to combat the dengue menace.
“We had a special meeting. I have personally asked Dr Mohamed to look into the matter seriously, given the gravity of the situation,” said Razif.
Dr Mohamed said the schoolgirl, Nur Ameira Natasha Shahrudin, succumbed to the dengue virus after being admitted to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital last Saturday.
The victim is a Standard Six pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Tengku Ampuan Mariam and hailed from Kampung Tanjung Paya.
Admitting that the situation was worrying, Dr Mohamed said three wards at the hospital were full with 110 patients seeking treatment for dengue fever.
The latest death means there are already three dengue fatalities for the first 11 days this year in Terengganu.
Central Kuala Terengganu, covering Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Pejabat, has not been spared of dengue victims, either.
It is claimed that the council had engaged contractors to clear up clogged drains in the vicinity the government offices of Wisma Persekutuan, Wisma Negeri, Wisma Darul Iman and Paya Bunga Square, encompassing the Kuala Terengganu City Council, but work had yet to be done.
Just two days ago, Dr Mohamed announced the first two dengue deaths out of 99 cases in the state this year.
The two deaths this year involved a 65-year-old man on Jan 2 and a 49-year-old woman on Jan 9, both at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital. Incidentally, both victims were from Kampung Panji Alam, about two kilometres from the city centre.
The 99 cases, he revealed, marked an increase of a whopping 253.6 per cent compared to the same period last year, which recorded only 28 cases.
Dr Mohamed had said that Kuala Terengganu was the worst hit with 76 cases in the first nine days this year, followed by Dungun with seven cases, Kuala Nerus five, Besut four and three cases each for Hulu Terengganu, Kemaman and Marang.
“I urge the locals, especially those from Kampung Panji Alam to take precautionary measures by living in a cleaner and hygienic environment before more become dengue victims.
“Instead of pointing fingers and being unaccountable, we have to be proactive to combat dengue. Do we have to wait for more deaths to occur before doing something positive?” he asked.
Dr Mohamed warned errant property owners in dengue hotspots of stern action, including a maximum fine of RM500, for allowing their premises to become Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.
To date, he said, a total of 15 compounds had been issued since Dec 12 last year.
“There will be no compromise on this matter as it concerns the well-being and health of many. Despite many gotong-royong and awareness programmes, there still apathy among some,” he said.
Dr Mohammad blamed the mentality of those who cared less for cleanliness and irresponsible owners who left their land idle to become breeding grounds.
-New Straits Times
