ID :
75306
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 16:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/75306
The shortlink copeid
DON`T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT YOUR HAND SANITIZERS
By Zulkiple Ibrahim
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- These days, sugar appears not only to be
the item in short supply. Other goods that have no connection with the coming
fasting month of Ramadan and the ensuing festive season have been reportedly
receiving unsually high demand.
With the latest development on the H1N1 Influenza (Influenza A or swine flu)
where Malaysians are increasingly being aware on the dangers brought along by
this epidemic, there are reports that hand sanitizers are selling like hot
cakes.
Members of the public are snapping up the surgical (face) masks too amidst
reports that some pharmacies are selling the items on inflated prices.
Several pharmacies in the city have reported to be almost running out of
hand sanitizers.
"Before, I used to sell about 10 bottles or dispensers of hand sanitizers in
a month. But lately I can sell that many within a few hours a day. My stock of
hand sanitizers is depleting very fast and my regular suppliers said they are
rushing in more supply to replenish these products," Desmond Ng, the owner of a
pharmacy in Petaling Jaya told Bernama.
Several pharmacies here have also reported similar situation.
The operator of a pharmacy in Rawang near here said he had ran out of hand
sanitizers since a week ago.
"Many people are buying the antiseptic for their own use and also for their
school-going children," he said.
These sanitizers area also available at convenience stores.
Civil servant Maimunah Amat from Bandar Country Homes in Rawang near here
said she recently bought five small bottles of the hand sanitizers for her
family.
"My husband and I carry one (bottle) each to our respective offices. Each of
our school-going children bring one to school, apart from wearing the
surgical masks," she said.
In the wake of the HINI flu spread, many schools have distributed surgical
masks for their students apart from encouraging them to regularly wash their
hands with soap and water.
"If they can afford it, they can also bring the hand sanitizers to school as
hand sanitizers can replace soap and water," said a school teacher.
HAND SANITIZERS
A hand sanitizer is also known as a healthcare hand wash or hand antiseptic.
It is used as an alternative to hand washing with soap and water.
A variety of preparations are available in the market including gels, foam
and liquid solutions. Brands like Desmanol and Solvi-sol are known to be used by
some hospitals in the city.
However some hand sanitizers contain alcohol like ethanol and isopropanol.
According to a medical officer of a public hospital here, hand
sanitizers containing alcohol are more effective at killing germs than soaps.
"Hand sanitizers do not dry out hands as much as soaps. But there are also
hand sanitizers that are not alcohol-based and contain natural products and
essential oils .
"There are others that use other than alcohol, such as triclosan or
benzalkonium chloride, to kill germs," he said.
EFFECTIVE WAY TO KILL GERMS
According to a salesman in the pharmaceutical industry, Johnson Yim, using
hand sanitizers is an effective way to "wash one's hands" when soap and water
are not available.
"These waterless products are popular with parents of small children. Some
producers of hand sanitizers claim that the sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of
germs," he said.
Financial executive Mohd Nor Ibrahim said he has started to bring along a
small bottle of hand sanitizer to work.
"Apart from wearing the surgical mask, I also have a small bottle of the
hand sanitizer in my pocket. My wife keeps one in her handbag and uses the
material regularly while at work," he said.
Car salesman Fikri Abdul said he has been using hand sanitizers for the past
one month.
"Since I heard of the outbreak of the H1N1, I have been using hand
sanitizers while working as it does not need soap and water to keep my hands
clean from bacteria," he said.
Fikri however urged pharmacies not to inflate the price of surgical masks.
"Before the surgical masks are not that expensive but nowadays, the price
has doubled or even tripled," he added.
Recently Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has called on pharmacies
and other business outlets not to take advantage of the situation by inflating
the price of surgical masks.
-- BERNAMA
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- These days, sugar appears not only to be
the item in short supply. Other goods that have no connection with the coming
fasting month of Ramadan and the ensuing festive season have been reportedly
receiving unsually high demand.
With the latest development on the H1N1 Influenza (Influenza A or swine flu)
where Malaysians are increasingly being aware on the dangers brought along by
this epidemic, there are reports that hand sanitizers are selling like hot
cakes.
Members of the public are snapping up the surgical (face) masks too amidst
reports that some pharmacies are selling the items on inflated prices.
Several pharmacies in the city have reported to be almost running out of
hand sanitizers.
"Before, I used to sell about 10 bottles or dispensers of hand sanitizers in
a month. But lately I can sell that many within a few hours a day. My stock of
hand sanitizers is depleting very fast and my regular suppliers said they are
rushing in more supply to replenish these products," Desmond Ng, the owner of a
pharmacy in Petaling Jaya told Bernama.
Several pharmacies here have also reported similar situation.
The operator of a pharmacy in Rawang near here said he had ran out of hand
sanitizers since a week ago.
"Many people are buying the antiseptic for their own use and also for their
school-going children," he said.
These sanitizers area also available at convenience stores.
Civil servant Maimunah Amat from Bandar Country Homes in Rawang near here
said she recently bought five small bottles of the hand sanitizers for her
family.
"My husband and I carry one (bottle) each to our respective offices. Each of
our school-going children bring one to school, apart from wearing the
surgical masks," she said.
In the wake of the HINI flu spread, many schools have distributed surgical
masks for their students apart from encouraging them to regularly wash their
hands with soap and water.
"If they can afford it, they can also bring the hand sanitizers to school as
hand sanitizers can replace soap and water," said a school teacher.
HAND SANITIZERS
A hand sanitizer is also known as a healthcare hand wash or hand antiseptic.
It is used as an alternative to hand washing with soap and water.
A variety of preparations are available in the market including gels, foam
and liquid solutions. Brands like Desmanol and Solvi-sol are known to be used by
some hospitals in the city.
However some hand sanitizers contain alcohol like ethanol and isopropanol.
According to a medical officer of a public hospital here, hand
sanitizers containing alcohol are more effective at killing germs than soaps.
"Hand sanitizers do not dry out hands as much as soaps. But there are also
hand sanitizers that are not alcohol-based and contain natural products and
essential oils .
"There are others that use other than alcohol, such as triclosan or
benzalkonium chloride, to kill germs," he said.
EFFECTIVE WAY TO KILL GERMS
According to a salesman in the pharmaceutical industry, Johnson Yim, using
hand sanitizers is an effective way to "wash one's hands" when soap and water
are not available.
"These waterless products are popular with parents of small children. Some
producers of hand sanitizers claim that the sanitizers kill 99.9 percent of
germs," he said.
Financial executive Mohd Nor Ibrahim said he has started to bring along a
small bottle of hand sanitizer to work.
"Apart from wearing the surgical mask, I also have a small bottle of the
hand sanitizer in my pocket. My wife keeps one in her handbag and uses the
material regularly while at work," he said.
Car salesman Fikri Abdul said he has been using hand sanitizers for the past
one month.
"Since I heard of the outbreak of the H1N1, I have been using hand
sanitizers while working as it does not need soap and water to keep my hands
clean from bacteria," he said.
Fikri however urged pharmacies not to inflate the price of surgical masks.
"Before the surgical masks are not that expensive but nowadays, the price
has doubled or even tripled," he added.
Recently Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai has called on pharmacies
and other business outlets not to take advantage of the situation by inflating
the price of surgical masks.
-- BERNAMA
