The old and lonely die FASTER?

Assalamualaikum dan selamat pagi

LONELINESS in old age is twice as bad for your health as obesity, scientists have warned.

Professor John Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, said that feeling isolated or rejected by society can have profound negative effects on health, ranging from blood pressure to sleep patterns.

The latest research followed 2,101 retired adults aged 50 years and over for six years. They were asked questions about whether they had people they felt in tune with or who they could talk to. After accounting for social circumstances, such as whether people were married or lived near family and friends, scientists found that people who felt lonely were 14 per cent more likely than average to die.

The suggestion is that even married people or those with plenty of social connections can feel lonely and suffer ill-effects. “It is not that social circumstance makes no difference, it is that the brain's interpretation of that social circumstance is more important than the actual number of people and their roles.

Source: theaustralian.com

Tips Kesihatan Ketika Jerebu

2013, sekali lagi Malaysia dilanda jerebu. Punca? Sama macam biasa lah. Kat area rumah pun nampak dah semakin teruk. Ntah berapa nilai API-nya. Untuk sama-sama kita berwaspada, aku kongsikan sebahagian langkah-langkah yang boleh diambil perhatian untuk mengelakkan kesan buruk jerebu terhadap kesihatan kita.

1. Kurangkan aktiviti luar

Lupakan aktiviti badminton, futsal, bola sepak dan seangkatan dengannya seketika.

2. Guna indoor air purifier 

Turn on air purifier untuk filter udara dalam rumah. Anda juga boleh guna kaedah DIY untuk buat air purifier sendiri dengan kos yang rendah. Click link ini. Jika anda tak ada air purifier, cuba didihkan air dan biarkan steam air tersebut memenuhi ruang udara rumah anda. 

3. Minum air 2 liter sehari

Tujuan utama untuk kekal hydrated. Toxin daripada jerebu yang diserap oleh kulit dan paru-paru akan memaksa buah pinggang kita untuk bekerja lebih keras, so kita bantu buah pinggang untuk menyahkan toxin.

4. Jauhi minuman alkohol, coffee dan rokok 

Alkohol dan coffee boleh menyebabkan sistem badan kita dehydrate. Bak kata pepatah “It is hard to go without coffee”, but cuba fikirkan nasib buah pinggang kesayangan kita.

5. Item yang perlu ada dalam beg

Apabila anda perlu untuk keluar, pastikan face mask (N95), eye drops, air botol (air masak), tisu biasa dan tisu lembap. Sediakan payung sebelum hujan beb.

6. Basuh tangan dan muka dengan kerap

Ia penting untuk menghilangkan segala toxin atau kotoran yang terdapat pada jerebu yang melekat di permukaan kulit kita. Balik rumah cepat-cepat mandi untuk cuci kotoran pada baju dan badan. Mandi dulu sebelum pegang anak.

7. Jumpa doktor jika ada masalah kesihatan

Terutamanya kepada mereka yang ada masalah sistem pernafasan seperti asma atau masalah kulit seperti eczema, perlulah sentiasa berjaga-jaga. Jangan tangguh-tangguh untuk berjumpa doktor.

Kekal sihat dan kongsi tips ini dengan rakan-lain untuk kebaikan bersama. Kita tak boleh nak hentikan masalah jerebu ini secepat mungkin but kita mampu lindungi diri kita dan yang tersayang dari masalah yang terhasil dari jerebu itu. 

Sumber: http://www.venusbuzz.com

p/s: Allah berikan jerebu sebagai ujian-kifarah dosa. Always lah bersangka baik pada Allah

Diploma in Environmental Health, Unisel

INTRODUCTION

Environmental Health addresses all the physical, chemical and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviours. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supporting environments. This definition excludes behavior not related to environment, as well as behavior related to the social and cultural environment, and genetics.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION 

Diploma in Environmental Health is a three years program including six months practical attachment. The first five semesters, students will be exposed to environmental health knowledge and any related issues arising such as the public health nuisance, environmental protection, food safety and sanitation, legal procedures and occupational safety and health. The last semester, students are placed to undergo practical attachment. In addition to the overriding themes, operational and communication skills are essential for environmental health practitioner.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or its equivalent

• Three (3) credits in SPM Including a PASS in any pure science subject (Biology / Physics / Chemistry) OR Credit in General Science) OR

2. Certificate in a related field from a recognized institution with a CGPA of 2.00 and above OR

3. Any other equivalent qualification recognized by the Malaysian government

COURSE EXPENSES

• Indicative tuition fee: RM31,620*  

ACCREDITATION STATUS

• This program is accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) to have attained the quality standards and criteria set by the MQA and to be in compliance with the Malaysian Qualifications Framework.
• Date of Accreditation : 14 November 2010
• Registration No: A1836

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

1. Public Sector

• Local Authorities 
• Institutions of Higher Education 
• District Health Office 
• Ministry of Housing and Local Government 
• Cooperation of Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing 

2. Private Sector

• Environmental Consultant 
• Food Industries 
• Health Care Industries 
• Environment Organization (Private Bodies / International) 
• Pest Control Companies

Source: Brochure for Diploma in Environmental Health, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universiti Selangor. Address: Faculty of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Jalan Zirkon A 7/A, Seksyen 7, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Tel:603-5522 3421.For more information, visit Diploma in Environmental Health Unisel official website HERE.

Filipina dilanda wabak

COTABATO 3 Jan. - Pihak berkuasa kesihatan Filipina hari ini mengisytiharkan wabak penyakit leptospirosis di kawasan yang dilanda banjir di selatan negara ini.

Sekurang-kurangnya lapan orang maut dan seramai 300 lagi disahkan dijangkiti penyakit bawaan haiwan itu di bandar Cagayan de Oro dan di Iligan City yang berdekatan.

Penyakit tersebut, berpunca daripada bakteria Leptospira yang biasanya merebak menerusi air kencing haiwan seperti tikus, boleh menyebabkan demam panas, pendarahan dalaman dan kegagalan organ.

Mangsa terbaru, seorang wanita tua, meninggal dunia malam tadi akibat komplikasi daripada penyakit itu.

Menteri Kesihatan wilayah, Dr. Jaime Bernadas berkata, mereka khuatir bilangan pesakit di kalangan mangsa taufan Washi mungkin meningkat dalam masa beberapa hari akan datang.

Ahli Kongres, Rufus Rodriguez menggesa penduduk yang terjejas akibat banjir supaya mengambil ubat yang disediakan oleh pihak berkuasa kesihatan bagi mencegah penyakit pembawa maut itu.

Angka kematian akibat taufan Washi setakat ini berjumlah 1,258 orang, manakala ramai lagi mangsa dipercayai masih hilang.

Taufan Washi menyebabkan hujan lebat dan banjir buruk di banyak kawasan di tengah dan selatan Filipina sejak 16 Disember lalu. - AGENSI

Sweet danger

Diabetics must take responsibility in managing the disease, writes Aneeta Sundararaj
380 million diabetics in the world today

You’ve just returned from a party where you ate and drank with abandon. Yet, you need to have something sweet before you turn in for the night. You open the fridge and reach out for that piece of cake. Then, it’s off to bed.

Have you ever wondered, though, whether such indulgence may cause you to develop diabetes some day?

“Diabetes is now an epidemic,” says Dr Loong Yik Yee (consultant physician and gastroenterologist). He does not mince his words when he adds: “People are just lazy.

They take the easy way out with everything. They opt for fast food all the time and don’t exercise. They can’t even be bothered to walk across the hall to talk to their colleagues. They use their handphones to call instead. They don’t understand how bad diabetes can be.”

What is diabetes?

“People think they have diabetes when their urine is sweet or there is too much sugar in their blood. This is not entirely correct,” he explains.

Diabetes is a metabolic disease where the body does not produce or properly use insulin (a hormone needed to convert sugar into energy). Diabetes is characterised by high levels of blood sugar.

Three main types Type 1 diabetes (also called “Juvenile-onset Diabetes”) manifests mainly in children. It is where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys its own insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. A person with Type 1 diabetes requires daily injections of insulin to live.

Type 2 diabetes (also called “Adult-onset Diabetes”) occurs when the body makes enough insulin, but cannot use it effectively.

The third type is gestational diabetes. As the name suggests, it occurs during pregnancy and disappears when the pregnancy is over. That said, those who have gestational diabetes are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Dangerous complications “The World Health Organisation says that there are 380 million diabetics in the world today and this number is set to rise,” says Dr Loong. “It is the complications of diabetes such as heart attacks, blindness and kidney failure that are terrible. The worst, I think, is when they suffer from strokes and become paralysed. Can you imagine what it’s like to have half your body alive and the other half dead?”

Other complications range from peripheral nerve damage, painful muscle wasting and cataracts to retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, urinary tract infection and possible kidney failure.

Of particular interest to consultant vascular surgeon Dr Liew Ngoh Chin, is a condition called neuropathy. When this occurs, a patient may not feel any sensation in the feet.

Worse, if his diabetes remains uncontrolled, the patient may end up having the limbs amputated.

As such, in addition to all the recommended forms of treatment, Dr Liew now advocates a consultation with a podiatrist. “There are very few podiatrists in this country, but they are so important because a patient’s foot reflects his systemic problems.”

A podiatrist will show the diabetic how to take proper care of his feet and this will include acquiring proper footwear, preventing callouses and trimming one’s nails.

Holistic management Dr Chan Siew Pheng (consultant endocrinologist) suggests that healthcare professionals look at the management of diabetes as an organic whole: “It is no longer acceptable to manage diabetes alone. It is necessary to manage a patient’s hypertension and cholesterol levels as well. Each causes its own problems. But when a person has all three, you have what’s called the deadly triad.

Also, diabetics must not expect instant gratification. They must understand that proper control in the initial stages of diabetes will translate to protection for the heart for the next 10 to 20 years. In this way, we can reduce the risk of the patient developing other diseases like cardiovascular disease and strokes.”

Dr Chan has developed a novel method to help diabetics manage their disease: “They must know their ABCs,” she says. A stands for A1c test (also known as HbA1c test).

This test will give you results that reflect your average blood sugar levels over a three month period. “Many people will fast a few days before the blood is taken and the ‘fasting blood’ test will show that things are OK. With the A1c test, we can get a more accurate picture of their blood sugar levels.”

B stands for blood pressure and C is for cholesterol. Needless to say, Dr Chan insists that these be kept under control as well.

Dr Hew Fen Lee (consultant physician and endocrinologist) goes one step further and insists that education is the cornerstone of diabetic treatment. Healthcare professionals must teach a diabetic about his disease and how he should take responsibility for managing it.

Dr Hew also quotes the Diabetes Prevention Programme which studied the effects of diet, exercise and a drug called Metformin on the onset of type 2 diabetes. “The study found that those who were given metformin had a 31 per cent reduction in the progression of the disease.

Those who were asked to exercise 150mins a week (30mins, 5 times a week), had a 58 per cent reduction in the progression of the disease,” says Dr Hew.

On the need for people to exercise, Dr Hew again goes a little further: “Asking people to exercise alone is of no use. A lot of them will say yes and do nothing. But even those who want to, sometimes they have no place to go to exercise. Although we have parks, the issue is safety. When we read of crimes happening in parks, people become scared and won’t go there.”

Healthy body, healthier mind Dr Hew wants people to change their mindset. “We should inculcate a culture of sports that is not limited to excellence. This means that we should concentrate on the importance of exercise and not those who excel. Just concentrating on sporting heroes is not enough. Get people to move their bodies a little more. Some employers are already investing in gym memberships for their staff.”

Dr Hew illustrates the importance of the points he makes in the following way: Say you employ a driven and motivated 30-year-old executive in your company. Over the course of the next 20 years, he works at least 12 hours a day and hardly takes time off. Throughout, your sales skyrocket. In time, the employee has become an indispensible member of your team. The problem is, by the time he’s 50, he is a chronic diabetic. All the profits the company has gained are being eaten away because, as a responsible and caring employer, the company will have to fund the employee’s medication and make financial provision for future hospitalisation for treatment of complications of diabetes.

If this situation continues unabated, and no one takes this epidemic seriously, diabetes will cripple the health budgets of most developed and developing countries.

Myths about diabetes

Myth 1: Western drugs used to treat diabetes are bad.
Dr Chan Siew Pheng says that, on the contrary, these drugs work and can improve a diabetic’s quality of life.

Myth 2: Supplements are better than medicines
Supplements are just that. They will not cure you of the disease.

Myth 3: Diabetes will not kill you.
Diabetes alone may not kill you, but its complications certainly will. Dr Chan remains frustrated that many people do not see that link between diabetes and an early death.

Myth 4: There is no need to seek treatment for diabetes
Many are in denial and refuse to seek treatment for diabetes. The lack of urgency may result in more complications of diabetes arising than is necessary.

Who should be screened for diabetes?

In addition to those who may have symptoms of diabetes, the following too should be:
• A person who is above 35 years old
• A person who is obese
• A person who has a BMI (Body Mass Index) of more than 25
• People suffering from hypertension or high cholesterol
• Those who have a family history of diabetes
• Women more than 24-weeks pregnant
• Women with a history of gestational diabetes
• Women who suffer from Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome

Source: Aneeta Sundararaj

Screening tests not perfect

It turns out that catching cancer early is not always as important as has been thought. Some tumours are too slow-growing to ever threaten your life. Some are so aggressive that finding them early does not make much difference.

And today’s treatments are much better for those somewhere in the middle.

“We can find cancer early. We can reduce the burden of the disease. But along the way, we’re learning our tests are not as perfect as we’d like,” says the American Cancer Society’s Dr Len Lichtenfeld, a longtime screening proponent.

Forum on vaginal discharge

Damai Service Hospital (Melawati) will be holding a public forum on vaginal discharge by Dr Zunita Abdul Hamid at ground floor, lobby area, Damai Service Hospital (Melawati), Lot 9132-9134, Jalan Bandar 4, Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Call Dayang or Vicky at 03-4108 9900 for more information. Admission is free.

Source: Compiled by Syida LizTa Amirul ihsan

Plant-a-tree programme

Lexmark International (M) Sdn Bhd took part in the Plant-A-Tree with Meeco event at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur recently. The move is in line with its corporate commitment to protecting natural resources and reducing the environmental impact of printing.

The activity was organised in conjunction with the International Year of the Forest 2011, through which the organisers hope to inspire Malaysians to consciously make an effort to plant at least one tree by the end of the year.

Lexmark Malaysia acting country manager Larry Leow says the event ties in with the company’s Print Less, Save More strategy.

He adds that by doing so, organisations can eliminate unnecessary output, which reduces carbon footprint and at the same time, reduces business costs.

Source: NST Tech

Driving home road safety habits

IN an effort to promote good road behaviours and reduce the number of accidents, B. Braun Medical Industries (BMI) Sdn Bhd launched a month-long road safety campaign at its plant in Bayan Lepas recently.

Targeted at BMI's 5,000 staff as well as those from neighbouring factories, the campaign featured programmes such as roadshows and talks. The inaugural campaign will be held for four weeks.

BMI operations and CoE IVA vice-president Dr Juergen Schloesser said it was the first time BMI was organising a campaign focusing on road safety.

Schloesser said road accidents killed more people than malaria.

"Last year, BMI recorded 32 commuting accidents involving our own employees. This year, until October, there were 17 accidents with four fatalities," he said.

"We must know how to keep ourselves and others safe when we are on the road."

BMI has also reaffirmed its commitment towards road safety and was aiming at cutting its commuting accidents by half by next year.

State Road Safety Department director S. Jegan lauded BMI for its commitment in promoting road safety to the industrial zone community.

Campaign organising chairman and BMI environmental, health, safety and security senior manager V. Ramachandran said the campaign was well received by representatives of B. Braun's neighbours.

Source: LOOI SUE-CHERN

Free bins for households

ALL 48,000 registered households in Kedah would soon get a refuse bin each.

The move was to ensure all houses are equipped with proper bins for domestic waste before they were collected by solid waste contractors.

Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said the bins, with a capacity of 120 litres, would be given out in stages, beginning with houses in urban areas.

He stressed that only those who have settled their assessment would be given the bins. Those who have yet to do so would be required to pay up or face legal action.

Chor said the distribution of the weather-proof bins was a nationwide effort by the ministry. Each bin will have a serial number dedicated to each house to avoid theft.

“We will replace them free-of-charge after seven years. We have targeted to distribute about three million bins by Aug 31, 2014,” he said after giving away refuse bins to some 300 residents in Taman Golf and Taman Lumba here recently.

Present were Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Zaini Md Nor and Environment Idaman director, Azmanuddin Haq Ahmad.

Every household is required to submit a form, available from various local authorities, and a copy of the receipt for the assessment paid.

Those with inquiries can contact the ministry's hotline at 1-800-88-7472.

Source: ADIB POVERA

Best age to conceive

Ever since I halted “production” more than five years ago, I’ve enjoyed a fairly stress-free life. My sleep at night is no longer dictated by feeding times, and I can now manoeuvre shopping malls without having a human extension on my left hip. My older girls are also at the stage where they can fend for themselves and for the youngest one. So, life is good.

But, suffice to say, the idyll had to end. Because now, I’m being ambushed with a barrage of requests for a little addition to the family — by my children. They just adore babies. And then, there was the “isn’t the gap long enough for another one?” asked a well meaning relative at a recent family gathering. And guess what? The seed (no pun intended) is finally planted in my crazy mind to actually contemplate the possibility.

But I’m fearful of the age factor. I’m definitely no spring chicken, yet, I’m also not on the verge of collecting my pension. Will I actually be able to conceive? Will the baby come out OK? Will I have the energy to start all over again? And most selfishly, will my treasured idyll end? Questions, questions.

At a recent session organised by specialist skincare product Bio-Oil, to educate and increase awareness on pre-natal care during pregnancy, Dr Premitha Damodaran, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, reassures me that because of our changing lifestyle, more and more women are getting pregnant in their 30s. And there’s no safe cut-off point because there can be problems at any age.

“If you’re looking at egg and reproduction, in terms of how much easier it is to get pregnant, I believe the latest figures are 37, and below,” begins the attractive mother-of-one, who became a mum at the age of 37. “But that’s just an average. That’s looking at the biological age of the egg.

But if you’re looking at problems with babies, then the risk is there at every age, which increases. At the age of 35, the risk of Down Syndrome is about 1 in 300, at the age of 40, it’s 1 in 100.”

Certainly, there have been plenty of discussions and articles written about what constitutes the best age for getting pregnant. After all, it does play an important role.

Whether you’re fit for your age, and whether or not you look like your age, your body knows exactly how old you are. As does your reproductive system.

According to statistics, the optimum age for fertility for women begins at 18. Women will be at their most fertile and are most likely to get pregnant until about the age of 25.

The decline starts to kick in beginning around 25, or 26. But it’s a gradual one and it will go on for the next 10 years. It’s not until the age of 35, that the process of losing fertility begins to speed up more rapidly. By the time a woman reaches 40, she’s more likely to have problems getting pregnant. In fact, around 2/3 of women over the age of 40, will have some sort of fertility issues.

Many people I know consider the 30s to be the happy medium for motherhood. Most of them are already quite secure in their careers and relationships, which make for a firmer foundation for the growing family. New mums in their 30s still have a lot of stamina and resilience, qualities that come in handy for parenting young children. While everyone develops differently, women at this age are likely to know themselves better than women in their 20s do and are less likely to be as set in their ways as women in their 40s, says San Francisco psychotherapist Leah Seidler.

However, fertility experts caution women in their 30s not to wait too long, particularly if they want more than one child. “There’s a tremendous difference between your ability to get pregnant in your early 20s versus your late 30s,” says Dr Premitha. “As the decade progresses, a woman’s fertility does go into free fall.”

Most experts agree that 35, is the “age of reckoning” for women when it comes to having children. Decline in fertility begins to accelerate, and Down Syndrome and other genetic abnormalities become a greater concern.

This is why at this stage experts routinely recommend amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, or other detailed foetal screening during pregnancy from the mid-30s.

The risk of miscarriage as well as pregnancy-related complications rises as women aged. According to studies, a woman over 35, is also likely to have an ectopic pregnancy compared to her younger counterpart. Suffice to say, every woman ages at her own pace, but experts say that at 35, a woman needs to get serious if she wants to have children, especially if she’s keen to have more than one.

“At age 35 or 36, many women need only minor, if any, medical intervention to get pregnant. By the time they’re ready for their next child, say at 39, those same medications are less likely to work,” says fertility specialist James Goldfarb, director of Infertility Services and IVF at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.

Women have about 15 per cent chance of getting pregnant in any single ovulation by the time they hit their 30s, says author and leading fertility specialist Sherman Silber, director of the Infertility Centre of St Louis at St Luke’s Hospital in Missouri. According to Silber, your chances of conceiving within a year of starting to try are about 75 per cent. But since fertility wanes as the decade progresses, in your late 30s your chance of getting pregnant within a year drops to 65 per cent.

It’s also reported that around the ages of 35 to 39, women are most likely to have twins — even without the fertility treatments that raise the odds for multiple births. One egg is normally released for every cycle but as we age, our Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) level increases. When this hormonal surge occurs, there’s a chance that more than one egg could be released during a cycle, raising the odds of a multiple birth. So, while older women are statistically less likely to get pregnant, if they do, chances are they’re likely to have twins.

Safe pregnancy

How does one have a safe pregnancy, I ask Dr Premitha. “You can only do your best,” she replies. “Look after your lifestyle, eat right, do all the necessary blood tests, and exercise throughout pregnancy (but seek your doctor’s advice, first). You have almost complete control of your pregnancy, barring any unforeseen illnesses or physical problems.”

Pregnancy tips

1. Stop smoking. It’s bad for the baby’s health, even secondary smoke. Also bad for your own health!
2. Stop drinking. No level of alcohol during pregnancy has been proven safe, so try and stay off the alcohol throughout pregnancy and while nursing.
3. Exercise has been shown to help reduce the time you spend in labour, aid recovery following birth, reduce the need for caesarean, help you return to pre-pregnancy weight quicker and improve overall health.
4. Change eating habits. Eat foods that are high in fibre, consume lots of vegetables, and include foods rich in iron, calcium, protein, and folate in your daily diet. Don’t skip meals or try to diet.
5. Limit caffeine intake. Take tea, coffee, chocolate and soft drinks in moderation. It’s better to drink water.

Source: Intan Maizura Ahmad Kamal
intanm@nstp.com.my

Stress of living with accidents

KERETAPI Tanah Melayu Locomotive Drivers' Association (PPL) president Rahman Zakaria said he had seen more than 10 accidents involving people on the tracks throughout his 21 years of working for KTM Berhad.

"One incident which haunts me until now, was when the train hit a Chinese woman, who was crossing the tracks at night.

"It was Chinese New Year and she was heading home."

She did not survive.

Rahman said drivers often suffered trauma and psychological stress after these accidents.

He added that many drivers took time off and even switched to desk jobs after accidents on the tracks.

Mohd Ariza Yahya, a locomotive driver of 15 years, said the accidents would involve not just human victims but animals as well.

"I remember during one trip in Labok, Kelantan, where two elephants died after being hit, while crossing the tracks. It is dangerous not just to animals, but to people onboard because hitting huge objects will damage the train."

Nor Amran Hamid, who has been driving trains since 1995, said he was once injured when the train he was driving was pelted with rocks by children.

"Although small, the stones managed to crack the windshield of the train and shards of the glass hit my eyes. Luckily, it did not damage my eyesight."

Mohd Khairi Ariffin said an accident in Bukit Berapit, Perak, left him with a broken rib when a boulder rolled down the hill and stopped the train in its tracks.

"We crashed into the boulder and I was lucky the whole train did not topple into the gorge by the side."

Source: NST

PM Thai keracunan makanan

BANGKOK: Perdana Menteri Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra dilaporkan dirawat di hospital kerana disyaki keracunan makanan.

Salah seorang pengawal keselamatannya berkata, Yingluck memasuki Hospital Rama IX pada awal pagi tadi.

Beliau berkata, Yingluck kemungkinan menghidap keracunan makanan tetapi tidak dapat disahkan sama ada ia disebabkan makanan yang dimakannya.

Yingluck sepatutnya dijadual mempengerusikan mesyuarat mingguan Kabinet awal pagi ini tetapi tugasnya itu diambil alih oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri, yang juga Menteri Dalam Negeri, Yongyuth Wichaidith. - AP

Sumber: Berita Harian

Pemeriksaan premis makanan - LIMA 2011

LANGKAWI: Operasi pemeriksaan premis makanan di Langkawi akan ditingkatkan menjelang Pameran Maritim dan Udara Antarabangsa Langkawi 2011 (LIMA 2011) 6 Disember ini bagi memastikan makanan yang disediakan bersih dan selamat.

Pegawai Kesihatan Daerah Langkawi, Dr Mansor Ismail, berkata premis restoran, dapur hotel, kedai, gerai, pembekal dan pengimport bahan basah di pulau peranginan ini akan diperiksa.

"Kita mahu pengusaha menyediakan makanan yang bersih dan berkualiti serta mengelak keracunan," katanya.

Beliau berkata, seramai 90 kakitangan termasuk 36 petugas tambahan dari enam daerah di Kedah akan menyertai operasi itu mulai 2 Disember ini.

Tindakan menutup premis akan diambil jika pengusaha tidak mematuhi peraturan dan arahan yang dibuat, katanya. - BERNAMA

Traders want bins, proper waste collection

MORE than 50 traders in Jalan Jelatang 14, Taman Megah Ria near Johor Baru are urging the Johor Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (PPSPPA) to provide proper dustbins and conduct scheduled waste collection in their neighbourhood.

Trader, Yap Soo Peng, 49, said the lack of such services has resulted in traders setting up makeshift dustbins to dispose of rubbish.

The traders have also had to bear the stench from the uncollected rubbish.

"For the past two months, I have been losing my customers due to the stench that comes from the uncollected rubbish," said Yap, a food trader.

The traders also said the problem has worsened as the uncollected rubbish attracted crows and dogs. Maggots have also entered the traders' premises.

Meanwhile, Permas Zone People's Complaints centre coordinator, Syed Othman Syed Abdullah said he had received complaints about the matter.

Syed Othman said a check was conducted on Nov 3 and a report has been sent to the local authority.

The Johor PPSPPA spokesman said officers have been sent to the affected area to conduct checks.

Source: NSTs

Sabah intensifies green effort

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to intensify its green effort and bring more value to its conservation efforts in the state.

The effort, which is envisioned in the “Heart of Borneo” initiative, was mooted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in recognition of the importance of the island of Borneo and its biodiversity.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the ongoing implementation of several key green programmes on the state's four hectares of land had benefited the economic and environmental efforts in Sabah.

He added that Sabah was continuing to green its forestry sector through the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) programme, which has not only protected the state's forests and biodiversity, but also would help realise its green economy ambitions.

Musa said the SFM comprised the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme strategy that guided countries on the contributions of forests to a green economy.

“The SFM is being practised in the Deramakot Forest Reserve, which has been certified as a well-managed forest under the Forest Stewardship Council certification scheme.

“Another success story is the Ulu Segama - Malua project, covering some 240,000ha of production forest reserves designated for natural forest management and orang utan conservation,” he said at the launch of the “International Conference on Sabah - Heart of Borneo Green Economy and Development: Engaging Business For Environment” here yesterday.

In 2007, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to the vision for conservation and sustainable development under the Heart of Borneo Initiative.

Sabah is also involved in the Malua-Bio Bank, a public-private partnership on innovative conservation financing.

Kamal Malhotra, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, said Sabah was an important place to demonstrate the concept of sustainable development.

“This is not just for Malaysia but South-East Asia as a whole. What is going on here is being closely watched by those interested in sustainable development around the world,” he said.

Malhotra also explained that the UNDP and Sabah Forestry Department were finalising a US$4.5mil (RM14mil) multiple-use forest landscape planning and management project.

Source: The Star Oline

Malacca plans green city

MALACCA: The state government has announced an ambitious plan to develop a pioneer green city where motorised vehicles would be limited.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam told the state legislative assembly that the new city would be named Hang Tuah Jaya Green City.

He said the state would utilise allocation set aside under the Malacca 2012 Budget to spearhead projects at the new city that would be conceptualised after Putrajaya and Cyberjaya.

“The new township will be touted as an icon of green technology for the state,” he said yesterday.

Mohd Ali said the state would outline technical guidelines which would compel developers to register for Green Building Index certification before completing their projects.

They would also be asked to assign a special lane for electric vehicles, bicycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, besides creating a charging station for electric vehicles and building LED or solar-powered street lamps, he added.

Mohd Ali said the physical development at the new city would also include “green” restaurants, a green technology academy, a nursing college, a state health department administration complex, an Internal Revenue Board academy, a medical college and a Socso rehabilitation centre.

“The city will be a benchmark for the future development of similar cities in Malacca,” he added.

To encourage the people to convert to green technology, Mohd Ali said the state would attempt to construct a building using recycled items and gazette an area within the city to be turned into a vehicle-free zone.

Source: Star Property

NCD rate to increase?

BENTONG: Do not have a nonchalant attitude towards non-communicable diseases (NCD) as community participation is vital in ensuring a successful fight against it, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

“According to the World Health Organisation, the NCD rate will go up by 17% worldwide in the next decade without public and government intervention. This is a very high percentage.

“We have to create a level of urgency and ensure the community is equipped with necessary knowledge and skills to be healthy,” he said after attending the Bentong Health Carnival and screening at SJK (C) Manchis here.

Almost 4.8 million Malaysians suffer from NCD which includes hypertension, heart ailments, cancer and diabetes.

The ministry, Liow said, was working with WHO to determine the target reduction rate for NCD and to reduce it effectively.

Early detection and prevention, he added, could sharply reduce the risks.

“For example, most cases of breast cancer which is the most common cancer among women are identified very late.

“It is easier to treat if identified early,” he said, adding that breast cancer made up about 35% of cancers affecting women.

Liow, who also presented 179 students with free prescription glasses courtesy of Yayasan Tun Rahah said health carnivals, mobile clinics and target screening for high-risk groups were being carried out to help prevent NCD. Traditional and complementary medicine, he added, could also help prevent NCD.

High-risk groups include obese people, the elderly and those suffering from diabetes and heart ailments.

Source: The Star Online

Doctors baffled by seven-year-old who weeps stones

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl who weeps stones is baffling doctors who are unable to say what is causing the phenomenon.

Tamil Nesan reported that stones had been discharging from Kura Nitya's right eye for the past 15 days.

Nitya, from a village near Hyderabad, has been weeping about 12 to 25 stones a day.

Her parents have approached several ophthalmologists who were unable to diagnose what was causing the problem. According to her grandfather Gopal Reddy, the stones began popping out on Oct 26.

“Initially, we thought it was some divine power and prayed to God for this phenomenon to stop,” he said, adding that they were keeping the stones for medical tests, if required.

Nitya said the lower portion of her right eye swelled minutes before the stones painlessly popped out.

Ophthalmologist Dr Kalyan Chakaravarthy said Nitya was medically fit and there was no logical reason for the phenomenon.

Source: The Star Online