MOTHERS CAN HELP PREVENT H1N1 IN FAMILY, SAYS MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Women, especially mothers, should play an
important role in preventing the spread of influenza A (H1N1)among their family
members, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat
Abdul Jalil said Friday.

She said what they could do, among other things, were to ensure cleanliness
of their housing compound and to get their family members to practice proper
hygiene at home and in public places.

"Besides that, if possible, they should not bring children to crowded
places," she told reporters after launching a programme between the ministry and
non-governmental organisations, "1Tone 1Voice" here.

She also advised mothers to send their children immediately for medical
treatment should they come down with symptoms of influenza to prevent the spread
of the Influenza A (H1N1).

Earlier, she handed over allocation worth RM5 million (US$1=RM3.5) to 89
NGOs to cover part of their maintenance cost in the running of their respective
homes for orphans, old folks and the handicapped.

Shahrizat said that the ministry had been allocating RM20 million annually,
since 2001, to NGOs for implementation of various activities and programmes.

As such, she urged NGOs which had yet to be registered with the ministry to
do so to enable them to benefit from the allocation.

"There are many good NGOs which are active, but unknown because they are not
registered (with the ministry)," she added.

She said that effective next year, the ministry would organise special
meetings with the NGOs at the beginning and end of the year to keep track of
their activities.

"The ministry wants to know which NGOs have received the allocation, their
activities and for them to know each other and learn about each others' best
practices," she added.

She said the ministry would also introduce guidelines to enhance the quality
of programmes carried out by NGOs.

-- BERNAMA