FOMCA CALLS ON LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO HELP FIGHT H1N1

PETALING JAYA, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The Federation of Malaysian Consumers
Association (FOMCA) has called on all local authorities in the country to
assist the Ministry of Health (MOH) in combating the spread of Influenza A
(H1N1).

"It is a national crisis and it is just unfair to leave it just to the MOH
to deal with the situation," its secretary-general Muhammad Shaani Abdullah told
Bernama Monday.

He said local authorities could do their part in ensuring the cleanliness of
the surrounding especially the food stalls, restaurants and other eateries.

For example, he said the present "Bazaar Ramadhan" should be properly
monitored to ensure that all food handlers observed personal hygiene and that
the surrounding was clean.

"It is regrettable that the health departments in local authorities do not
take measures to address this basic issue of cleanliness which was one important
way to stop the spread of the disease," he said.

Muhammad said the urgency of the situation had not "touched the common man
in the street" and this was due to lack of proper information.

He suggested that the MOH rope in all NGOs, local community, religious,
political, social and business organisations and work out a plan with them to
spread the word around on the various ways to contain the disease.

Schools should also set up their own "peer groups" to help educate and
spread the message of cleanliness among students.

"While the mass media was playing its role, it had its limitations and
people needed to be reached at the grassroots level," he said.
-- BERNAMA