Blog Forum Paramedik

How to Become a Health Inspector

2012-01-17T18:57:00.003+08:00

By Althaf Ahmed

A health inspector is a person charged with the duty of checking restaurants and ascertaining that they operate in safe and hygienic conditions. In addition, they also inspect housing units plus such environments that serve the general public as nursing homes and swimming pools. Their aim is to ensure that health and safety codes are adhered to. Numerous individuals may want to become health inspectors but may not know how to go about it. There are a few easy to follow steps on how to become a health inspector.

For one to become a health inspector, they have to have the interests. The first step involves an individual conducting online research with an aim of selecting institutions offering health inspection related training programs. Only programs with accredited services should be chosen. Individuals should ascertain just how much time it takes to complete the program. Some health inspection programs award candidate's certificates while others award degrees upon completion. Individuals should only select program that are in line with their needs.

While making the all important decision of what program they should settle for they should understand that a degree in health inspection opens up more opportunities than a certificate. Once the appropriate program has been selected, the individual may then enroll into an institution. However, it is also possible for individuals to enroll for an online program. To qualify as a health inspector, individuals have to train for between one and six years. This depends on the education level an individual wants to achieve. Accordingly, it takes much longer to qualify for a degree than it does for a certificate.

Upon graduation, it is important that individuals take the time to intern at their local public health department. Through internship, individuals gain the necessary practical knowledge plus experience in the health inspectorate field. Once an individual is through with internship, they should then seek professional accreditation. This demands that they review such accreditation institutions as Board of Certified Safety Professional (BCSP). To become Certified Safety Professionals (CSP) and be awarded a certificate, individuals are required to takes and pass an accreditation test. To increase their marketability, individuals should strive to be accredited by as many institutions as is possible.

A health inspector is required to interact with and interview numerous people. More over, they are required to provide reports on the findings. Accordingly, good communication and people skills come especially handy. Nevertheless, even with adequate training, individuals should be well prepared for on the job challenges.

The author is a career specialist and regularly pens articles such as how to become a delegate and how to become a travel agent. Do check it out.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Althaf_Ahmed

Nursing: A Calling to Help Other People

2012-01-16T20:27:00.001+08:00

By Jane M Andrews

Being a nurse is not a joke; in fact their job is very stressful that some of them do not have the energy to do the things they used to do. Being a nurse is more of a vocation than a money-making career. Their duty is to make sure that the patients are well taken care of but some of these nurses would even extend their work by making sure that the relatives of the patients feel that they are not alone and that the nurses are always there to make sure that their loved ones will feel better and if possible help their patients go back to their normal lives.

But despite the heavy responsibilities of being a nurse, why is it that there are still many people who want to be a nurse? One of the many reasons why many people are switching careers to being a nurse is because of the fact that the pay is big time and the benefits are endless. If you are one of the many people who want to help take care of the sick and be well taken care of by the company you worked for, you should consider being a nurse since many of these nurses are receiving big amount of money as a compensation as well as big time health benefits. It is true that being a nurse means giving more of your time, patience and your heart to your patients on the other hand you get more perks and health benefits than any other career in the country.

There are companies that offer their nurses paid time off so you, as a nurse, can enjoy vacationing in Boracay or Bahamas any time of the year! Imagine being able to take a paid vacation for almost 100 hours and that's excluding the sick leave. Another benefits any nurse can get is an impressive off-shift differential or holiday incentives. This is usually given to nurses who opt to work during the evenings or even during the holidays. Many people would decide to work during special holidays like Christmas or Independence Day simply because they know that they will be given a hearty incentive for that. There are still many monetary benefits any nurse can receive including on call pay as well as weekend shift incentives. Aside from that nurses are also entitled to great health care benefits that usually cover dental care, life insurance vision as well as prescription coverage that would cater to any nurses' healthcare needs. This simply means that even minor health expense like prescription drugs will be taken care of by the company that you worked and most importantly you have a life insurance.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_M_Andrews

Jurang ketara gaji kumpulan atasan, rendah

2012-01-16T19:17:00.000+08:00

BASHA
Alor Setar, Kedah

JABATAN Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) telah mengeluarkan Pekeliling Perkhidmatan Saraan Baru Perkhidmatan Awam (SBPA) yang sememangnya dinanti-nantikan oleh semua penjawat awam.

Banyak perubahan di bawah SBPA seperti jadual gaji sebaris, pemansuhan PTK, dasar pemisah, PROSPEK, unsur persaraan dinaikkan kepada 60 tahun dan lain-lain.

Namun demikian masih terdapat perkara-perkara yang perlu dilihat semula di bawah SBPA, antaranya wujud perbezaan yang amat ketara kenaikan gaji bagi kumpulan atasan dengan kumpulan rendah.

Kumpulan atasan mendapat kenaikan beribu-ribu ringgit manakala kumpulan rendah hanya naik ratusan ringgit. Sebagai contoh, Gred 4-3 (dahulunya 22) gaji maksimum SSM RM3,134.53 naik kepada SBPA RM3,530 iaitu kenaikan sebanyak RM395.47 sahaja. Sudahlah kenaikan sedikit, ditambah pula tiga tangga lagi daripada SSM T1 hingga T12 kepada SBPA T1 hingga T15.

Sepatutnya dengan kenaikan yang tidak seberapa, tidak perlu ditambah daripada T12 kepada T15. Manakala kenaikan gaji tahunan SSB RM107.39 kepada SBPA pula ialah RM115. Ini bermakna bertambah hanya RM7.61. Bayangkan dengan peningkatan kos sara hidup kini yang tinggi dengan kenaikan gaji amat tidak setimpal.

Satu perkara lagi yang perlu dilihat semula ialah penambahbaikan skim perkhidmatan bagi kumpulan pelaksana, khususnya gred 17 seperti guru maktab, jururawat, juruteknik dan lain-lain telah dinaik taraf.

Bahkan kumpulan yang dulunya lebih rendah daripada Gred 17 seperti pembantu tadbir rendah (jurutaip), operator telefon, tukang masak dan beberapa jawatan lain kini telah setaraf dengan Gred 17. Kami dalam Gred 17 rasa amat terpinggir sedangkan kami adalah kumpulan pelaksana yang paling ramai dalam sektor awam.

Adalah diharapkan kerajaan dan JPA dapat meneliti semula beberapa kelemahan yang wujud di bawah SBPA supaya penjawat awam khususnya kumpulan rendah atau pelaksana tidak merasa terpinggir dalam setiap perubahan skim baru.

--- UTUSAN MALAYSIA

Food Safety-Sanitation Checks For 2011 LIMA

2011-11-29T13:51:00.000+08:00

November 29, 2011 12:45 PM

LANGKAWI, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Langkawi District Health officer Dr Mansor Ismail announced that food safety and sanitation checks would be stepped up on the island, for the upcoming 2011 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2011) which starts Dec 6.

Inspections would cover restaurant premises, hotel kitchens, shops, stalls, suppliers and importers of fresh ingredients on the tourist island, he said.

"We want people who prepare food to observe hygiene and quality to prevent contamination," he said to Bernama here, Tuesday.

Ninety personnel, including 36 additional staff from six districts in Kedah would be involved in the inspection operation starting Dec 2, he added.

Owners who fail to comply with rules and regulations face having their premises shut down, he said.

-- BERNAMA

Danok: A Food And Shopping Haven

2011-05-22T15:04:00.000+08:00

May 20, 2011 12:51 PM

Apart from a shopping paradise, Danok is also a dining aficionados. Danok is a small town in Thailand, and only takes about 45 minutes from Alor Setar, Kedah.By Sakini Mohd Said

SINTOK, May 20 (Bernama) -- A little-known shopping haven lies at the border between Malaysia and Thailand, selling goods that are much cheaper than those in Petaling Street.

The place is called Danok. It is a small town located in Thailand, just after Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah.

You name it, Danok has it. Shirts, jeans and handbags from top brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Coach and Prada, can be found here.

The price - pardon the pun - is the main selling point. If you thought the prices at Petaling Street seemed like good bargains, the prices in Danok mat will certainly make you rethink your opinions.

Aside from its shopping attractions, Danok is also known as a food-lover's paradise.

HAVE SOME "PULUT AYAM"

"If you go to Danok, you must try the 'pulut ayam' (chicken in glutinous rice)," recommended a local.

"Pulut" aficionados might find his statement intriguing.

Malaysians might be familiar with 'pulut durian' (durian in glutinous rice), 'pulut kuning' (yellow glutinous rice, usually eaten with chicken rendang) and 'pulut mangga' (mango in glutinous rice), but the idea of eating pulut with fried chicken is a novel concept.

Nevertheless, this unique dish is popular in Danok.

"Every weekend, my family and I travel to Danok just for its pulut ayam. It's so delicious and you can't get it anywhere else," Kamarul, a tourist, told Bernama.

Stalls selling pulut ayam can be seen lining the streets in Danok. They are sold according to size, with the most expensive version priced at RM6.

"The chicken get its red colour from being marinated in certain spices. But it's not spicy and does not taste like 'mamak' fried chicken," said Aminah, a pulut ayam seller.

"The pulut is also different from pulut durian or mangga. It's harder and is eaten with a special sauce, similar to the one we eat with 'keropok' (chips), but the one for pulut ayam is tastier," she added, although she declined to share her sauce recipe.

MUST TRY THE 'KEMSOM'

"Kemsom" is very commonly found at most Thai food stalls in Sintok and even in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

But there are still some people who don't know what it is.

It is a savoury dish that is similar to the popular Malaccan dish "asampedas". However, it is spicier, contains bamboo shoots and has a deep yellow appearance.

What distinguishes the kemsom in Danok from the varieties found anywhere else is the use of the 'ikan puyu' (climbing perch). This makes the dish quite unique since the fish is usually salt-cured or used for decoration. This is due to the belief that it will ward off evil spirits.

Tourist guide Anwar said that he usually urges tourists under his care to try the dish when they visit the region.

"The most popular kemsom is the one cooked with ikan puyu, which is the size of a talapia.

"Initially, tourists would be put off by its appearance. But after tasting it, they would express delight about how delicious and soft the flesh is," said Anwar, who had been with tour agency Sulai Tour for six years.

He added that barbecued meat, pulut mangga, pulut durian and tomyam are also popular among tourists who visit Danok.

TRY THE SPA

Aside from being a shopping and food haven, Danok is also known as the place for women to enjoy a day at the spa.

"The services offered are very cheap," noted Anwar.

"You can get a massage, a body scrub, a sauna bath and milk bath for just RM70. Such a spa package would cost hundreds of ringgit in Sintok (Kedah)."

However, some tourists are sceptical about such offers, which is understandable. This is because, unfortunately, Danok is also notorious for being a 'red-light' district.

But Anwar said that there are several spas offering genuine services.

"Yes, there are two types: one of them offers genuine services, such as massages, scrubs, sauna baths and manicures. The other offers the same services with sexual favours attached.

"A good rule of thumb is to find spas where the masseuse is an older woman. They tend to offer genuine spa services," he added.

GETTING TO DANOK

Tourists visiting Sintok, Kedah, should not miss the opportunity to visit Danok.

Public transportation options, such as buses, are available from Alor Setar to Changlun. From there, a taxi can be taken to Danok.

A tourist from Melaka, Fatimah Wahab, said that she would visit Danok every time she visited her daughter, who is studying in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Sintok.

"Sintok is only 15 minutes away from Danok town. If you're from Alor Setar, it's a 45-minute ride away.

"But distance should not be the sole consideration for a visit. If you forget about that for a while, you will see that it really is a quaint little town with a lot of things to offer," she pointed out.

"I, for instance, like to come here because of the unique sight of elephants roaming the roads."

-- BERNAMA

Penambahbaikan perkhidmatan kesihatan bukti keprihatinan kerajaan (Utusan Malaysia Online)

2011-01-10T11:46:00.003+08:00

Kesihatan adalah keperluan asas manusia dan rakyat mengharapkan pihak kerajaan menyediakan kemudahan perkhidmatan kesihatan yang baik secara percuma ataupun pada kadar kos yang paling minimum.

Dalam hal ini, kita amat tertarik dengan beberapa inisiatif dan langkah yang telah diperkenalkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sejak mengambil alih jawatan Perdana Menteri.

Semuanya bermula dengan pelancaran Klinik 1Malaysia yang telah diwujudkan mulai Januari lalu bertujuan menyediakan perkhidmatan rawatan perubatan ringan kepada penduduk di kawasan bandar sesuai dengan pendekatan kerajaan 'Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan' pada kadar bayaran serendah RM1 sahaja.

Ia disusuli pula dengan pelancaran Inisiatif Klinik Bergerak 1Malaysia pada awal bulan ini, yang menawarkan perkhidmatan penjagaan dan pemeriksaan kesihatan secara percuma ke kampung di kawasan pedalaman.

Melalui Klinik Bergerak 1Malaysia ini, bas- bas yang telah disediakan akan membawa doktor, jururawat dan staf sokongan untuk merawat mereka yang sakit dan memberikan perkhidmatan kesihatan yang berkualiti di tempat yang tidak ada kemudahan klinik dan hospital terutama di kawasan pedalaman.

Terkini Najib mengumumkan kerajaan akan memperkenalkan klinik bot bergerak hibrid untuk memberikan perkhidmatan kesihatan ke kampung yang dihubungkan melalui sungai di Sabah dan Sarawak.

Tambah Najib, langkah ini bertujuan memastikan rakyat dapat menikmati kesihatan lebih baik dan menerima pemeriksaan perubatan, ubat dan nasihat yang sewajarnya.

Komitmen dan pelbagai inisiatif seperti ini jelas membuktikan tahap keprihatinan dan keikhlasan kerajaan dalam menjaga kebajikan rakyat, membela nasib golongan yang kurang mampu serta membuka ruang akses kepada masyarakat luar bandar untuk turut sama menikmati kemudahan kesihatan yang berkualiti sama seperti masyarakat di kawasan bandar.

Hal ini amat signifikan kerana dengan adanya klinik-klinik bergerak seperti ini, ia dijangka mampu mengurangkan beban pesakit di klinik kesihatan di kawasan bandar yang sedia ada dan ini juga dapat memudahkan serta mempertingkatkan akses rakyat untuk mendapatkan rawatan ringan terutama di kawasan luar bandar.

Kita perlu sedar bahawa masih ramai penduduk luar bandar berpendapatan rendah dan sederhana. Golongan ini sering menghadapi masalah kekangan kewangan untuk mendapatkan rawatan perubatan di klinik mahupun hospital swasta. Tambahan pula hospital ataupun klinik kesihatan kerajaan yang sedia ada agak jauh dari lokasi penempatan mereka dan jumlah pesakit pula ramai yang jelas akan melambatkan proses mendapatkan rawatan yang dikehendaki dengan segera.

Keprihatinan pihak kerajaan dalam aspek kesihatan rakyat memang tidak perlu diragui ataupun dinafikan kerana buktinya bagi tahun 2010 Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) telahpun diperuntukkan bajet berjumlah RM14.8 bilion yang merangkumi perbelanjaan mengurus sebanyak RM11.2 bilion dan perbelanjaan pembangunan sebanyak RM3.6 bilion.

Peruntukan ini menunjukkan peningkatan sebanyak 7.6 peratus berbanding tahun sebelumnya iaitu RM13.2 bilion. Malah, peruntukan yang diterima oleh KKM ini juga merupakan antara yang tertinggi berbanding kementerian lain. Data ini sudah cukup untuk menjelaskan rasa tanggungjawab kerajaan terhadap aspek kesihatan rakyat negara ini terutamanya bagi membantu golongan yang tidak berkemampuan.

Dalam pada itu, kerajaan juga dilihat amat serius dalam mengekang tindakan beberapa klinik dan hospital swasta yang mengenakan caj rawatan melampau dan tidak munasabah sehingga pesakit mengalami kesukaran untuk menjelaskan bil tersebut.

Ini terbukti apabila pihak KKM melalui mesyuarat bersama Persatuan Hospital Swasta Malaysia, Persatuan Perubatan Malaysia, Majlis Perubatan Malaysia (MMC), ketua pegawai eksekutif dan orang bertanggungjawab bagi hospital swasta, wakil Organisasi Jagaan Yang Diuruskan (MCO), syarikat insurans, kumpulan profesional serta profesional perseorangan baru-baru ini telah memutuskan agar hospital swasta kini perlu memaklumkan secara terperinci dan telus mengenai caj profesional serta caj anggaran dan di luar jangkaan sebelum pesakit diberi rawatan atau dimasukkan ke wad.

Penulis berharap agar pihak kerajaan akan meneruskan lagi inisiatif-inisiatif murni seperti ini agar seluruh rakyat Malaysia mampu akses kepada kemudahan rawatan perubatan yang berkualiti demi melahirkan sebuah masyarakat yang sihat and cergas.

NOOR MOHAMAD SHAKIL HAMEED

Penolong Pendaftar Kanan Pusat Kesihatan Universiti, Universiti Putra Malaysia

200,000 Doses Of H1N1 Vaccine For High-Risk Groups From February

2010-01-13T12:47:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Some 200,000 doses of Influenza A(H1N1) vaccine will be allocated for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases beginning next month.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said they could get vaccinated with the vaccine for free at the government hospitals and clinics.

Speaking to reporters after visiting Tung Shin Hospital here today, Liow said the balance of 300,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine from the 400,000 ordered from Britain would be received at the end of this month.

"We will conduct (100,000) vaccinations on the frontline workers first, and then the high-risk groups like pregnant women, the obese, and those with high blood pressure and so on.

"They are our priority before the vaccine is distributed for other groups in preventing and curbing H1N1 infections," he said.

On the H1N1 situation in the country, Liow said it was under control, with the ministry abiding by the World Health Organisation's directive for continuous close monitoring of all cases of flu.

"We are worried if the H1N1 virus will mutate. But our monitoring have so far not shown that the virus has mutates into other forms."

He said the district health officers had also been instructed to obtain all flu samples for further tests.

On another matter, Liow said the ministry would work at enabling private doctors to serve as locums at government hospitals and clinics as soon as possible.

"They told me that they had applied to serve as locums but they never got invited. After our dialogue session with the Malaysian Medical Association last Friday, we will work together at improving health services in the country."

Asked whether the private doctors would want a higher payment as locums at the government hospitals, Liow said the current payment was reasonable at RM80 per hour.

Earlier, he handed over two mock cheques for RM2 million each to Tung Shin Hospital and the Chinese Maternity Hospital for the purchase of equipment and medicines.

Liow called for the setting up of more non-profit-based hospitals to enable the low-income group to seek treatment at such hospitals.

-- BERNAMA

Tualang Honey Has Potential To Be Used In Cancer Therapy - USM Study (BERNAMA)

2010-01-11T19:45:00.001+08:00

KOTA BAHARU, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- Tualang honey, mostly found in lowland rain forests of Peninsular Malaysia, has the potential to become a supplement for cancer therapy, especially breast cancer, said Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Prof Madya Dr Nik Soriani Yaacob.

Dr Nik Soriani, USM Kubang Kerian Pathology Department's Head of Department, said initial research found honey from the Tualang trees had a very high potential to be used for proliferation of cancer cells and destroy 'bad' cells to prevent them from spreading.

"However, the research is still in the early stages and need a more in-depth study to determine honey can kill active cancer cells," said Dr Nik Soriani who presented a paper on the activities of Tualang Honey as an Anti-cancer supplement, at the 2nd International Conference on the Medicinal Use of Honey.

About 300 delegates attended the two-day seminar organised by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), to discuss the qualities and nutritional values of honey in the medicinal field and explore various ways of popularizing the product.

Dr Nik Soriani said the next step would be to study whether Tualang honey can kill active cancer cells or would be able to reduce the dosage of drugs and radiation used to kill cancer cells.

"The study is to identify whether honey can reduce or prevent cancer because earlier studies have shown honey had components like anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer," said Dr Nik Soriani.

She added that studies had also shown that Tualang honey had anti-cancer qualities and significant cytotoxic effect on cancer cells cultured in the lab.

"Cancer cells treated with Tualang honey went through a apoptosis process where cancer cells die, a process that normally does not happen, and Tualang honey can also expedite the effect of tamoxifen that is used to kill cancer cells," she said.

Meanwhile, USM Clinical Research Dean Prof Dr Nor Hayati Othman said FAMA had contributed 1.3 metric tones of honey for the research, especially for research on cancer.

Through research since 2006, Tualang honey has been identified as among the purest form of honey and probably better than some of the imported honey.

"Honey that is not in its purest form can cause side effects in the long run and must be avoided," said Dr Nor Hayati.

Tualang honey is extracted from honeycombs found atop Malaysia's tallest tree - Tualang tree - which grows to an astonishing height of more than 250m (about 30 storeys) and found in East Asian rainforests and is mostly found in Peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand, northeastern Sumatra, Borneo and Palawan.

The towering tree is best known as home of the Apis dorsatas or Asian rock bees, the world's largest honeybees and the most ferocious, who build their disc-shaped honeycombs on horizontal branches of the tree and each tree can have more than 100 honeycombs.

Some honeycombs are two metres long and can contain as many as 30,000 bees.

They are said to prefer the Tualang tree because the branches start at least 30 metres above the ground and moreover, the trunk is slippery, making it hard for honey-loving sun bears to climb.

-- BERNAMA

1Malaysia Clinics No Threat To Private Clinics - Najib

2010-01-07T20:06:00.002+08:00

January 07, 2010 14:37 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said private doctors needed not worry that their earnings would be affected with the existence of 1Malaysia clinics.

He said this was because the 50 1Malaysia clinics set up nationwide would concentrate on giving patients normal medical examinations like checking blood pressure level for hypertension, and sugar level.

"Actually, they (private doctors) will not be affected because the cases from here (1Malaysia clinics) will be referred to them for further examination or treatment, or the patients will then go to the government hospitals.

"So, I do not regard this as a win-lose situation but actually a win-win situation...it's easy for the people while the private clinics will receive patients as usual," he told reporters after launching the Kerinchi 1Malaysia Clinic in Lembah Pantai here Thursday.

The prime minister was replying to a question on the concern voiced by the Malaysian Medical Association (MAA) over the existence of 1Malaysia clinics as they felt it could affect their income.

He said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai would hold a dialogue session with MMA members to assure them on the matter.

However, he stressed that 1Malaysia clinics were established solely for the benefit of the people.

"It is all for the interest of the rakyat who are our number one concern... this is what the government stands for," he said, adding that there were already 44 1Malaysia clinics in operation nationwide.

Najib said establishing the 44 clinics within two months was a record for the Health Ministry under the 2010 Budget, as the target of setting up 50 such clinics was almost met within such a short time.

On the proposal to increase the number of 1Malaysia clinics, he said the government would evaluate the need based on the public response and the effects of the new approach in expanding public health care.

"If the response and effects are good, the clinics will possibly be increased...but let us evaluate first as 50 (clinics) is a big number. And we also need to determine the effectiveness of these clinics and this new approach. From there, we can decide," he said.

Najib said most of the 1Malaysia clinics were located in town areas as outside urban areas were 2,000 rural clinics which had existed since the country's independence.

He said the government had allocated RM10 million for the 50 1Malaysia clinics this year, but the amount was not for the buildings but for the internal fittings and medicines only.

Earlier, Najib who is also Finance Minister, said the setting up of the clinics was truly in line with the 1Malaysia concept mooted by him, as they were open to all races, especially from the low-income group.

He said the effort was introduced and implemented by the government to ensure that quality health services in this country could be justly, equitably and wholly accessed by the people. "That's the government's aspiration," he added.

"And access to the service (from 1Malaysia clinics) definitely involves a minimum cost, that is, RM1...the cheapest in the world or can be regarded as almost free.

"Besides that, patients don't have to wait long as the 1Malaysia clinics will provide fast service. In this situation, the Health Ministry also benefits as the government hospitals will be less crowded with patients needing just basic treatment."

Najib said the 1Malaysia clinics would operate daily, seven days a week, from 10am to 10pm, and manned by paramedics comprising medical assistants and trained nurses.

-- BERNAMA

U.S. Swine Flu Response Hurt By Spending Cut

2009-12-16T11:01:00.001+08:00

A public health nurse prepares a dose of H1N1 vaccine at the Balboa Park Community Center in Encino, California in this October 23, 2009 file photo. REUTERS/Mark Boster/Pool/Files

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (Reuters) -- The U.S. response to the H1N1 pandemic has been as good as can be expected given the recession but cuts in public health spending exposed vulnerabilities, according to a report released on Tuesday.

Layoffs and spending cuts in the public health sector weakened U.S. efforts to battle the pandemic, which has killed an estimated 10,000 Americans, the nonprofit Trust For America's Health found.

"Trying to respond to the pandemic in the middle of the worst economic climate since the Great Depression has meant that we were asking public officials to do more with less and budgets and staff were stretched well beyond their limits," the group's deputy director Rich Hamburg told reporters.

More than half of states -- 27 -- cut public health funds from 2008 to 2009, while federal funds to prepare for pandemics have been cut by more than 25 percent since fiscal year 2005, the report found.

The Trust, which has repeatedly criticized U.S. preparedness for pandemics, recommended increased spending for public health and more funds to modernize flu vaccine production and for vaccine research and development.

Separately, the Government Accountability Office said the White House Homeland Security Council's pamdemic plan was out of date.

"It is incomplete and they need to update it and fill in some of the gaps," the GAO's Bernice Steinhardt, who wrote the report, said in a telephone interview.

"They need to take advantage of the fact that we actually are going through a pandemic and there obviously are lessons to be learned from the real-life experience."

The National Association of County and City Health Officials says that in the first half of 2009, local health departments cut about 8,000 jobs and cut hours for another 12,000 workers.

It said health reform legislation, currently being debated in Congress, presents an opportunity both to save jobs and protect the public's health.

VULNERABLE COUNTRY

"Coping with the widespread economic distress by cutting programs and readiness has really left the country vulnerable," said Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness.

Redlener said the public health system "got a lot of it right, but the system as a whole is struggling" in its response to the H1N1 outbreak.

Public communication about how the pandemic keeps changing needs improvement, Redlener said. And he said problems with the pace of H1N1 vaccine production fed anxiety because it did not meet the public's high expectations.

"The fact of the matter is that we didn't actually meet those expectations and that was very disconcerting. But once it was made available, the vaccine that is, it was rapidly and effectively distributed," he said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says swine flu has infected one in six people in the United States since arriving in April and killed nearly 10,000, including 1,100 children and 7,500 younger adults.

In a typical year, seasonal influenza kills 36,000 Americans and puts 200,000 into the hospital.

The CDC said on Tuesday that 94.6 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine had been made available for distribution so far, up from 73 million doses a week earlier.

© REUTERS 2009

--- BERNAMA

New Treatment Option In Coronary Artery Therapy (BERNAMA)

2009-12-14T13:38:00.000+08:00

By Zulkiple Ibrahim

This is the second feature from a series of three on coronary artery disease

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- In the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD), the idea is to deliver growth inhibition drugs to the dilated stenosis site without implanting a stent.

According to Lam Chee Hong the managing director for B. Braun Medical Supplies Sdn Bhd, this approach resulted in the development of a new treatment option for vascular occlusion, the drug eluting balloon catheter - SeQuent�Please.

He said the drug eluting balloon (DEB) SeQuent�Please is a new therapeutic option for treating narrowing of the coronary arteries which has produced excellent results.

SEQUENT�PLEASE

Lam said this is the first and as yet only drug eluting balloon (DEB) with successful proof of efficacy in the treatment of narrowing of the coronary arteries.

SeQuent�Please is used in the same way as a coronary balloon catheter for balloon expansion of narrowed blood vessels (stenosis). Unlike conventional balloon catheters, SeQuent�Please also releases a drug from the balloon surface that is absorbed by the surrounding wall of the blood vessel.

B. Braun's Medical Industries Sdn Bhd manager for regional strategy planning (Asia Pacific), Pallraj Armugum, said the drug is paclitaxel, which has been studied extensively in clinical trials and is also used for drug eluting stents (DES).

To enhance transfer of the drug to the vessel wall, the paclitaxel in SeQuent�Please is embedded in an x-ray contrast medium matrix (iopromide). This technology delivers a sufficient dose of drug from the balloon surface to the vascular wall after a brief contact period of just a few seconds.

Paclitaxel inhibits the growth and spread of smooth muscle cells over a prolonged period and so prevents the expanded artery from closing in again due to cell growth.

The matrix is bioabsorbable and dissolves completely after use. No foreign bodies remain at the intervention site, thereby minimising the risk of thrombosis.

ADVANTAGES

According to Lam, SeQuent�Please is a new treatment option in coronary artery therapy with significant benefits.

Unlike stent implantation, no foreign bodies remain in the artery with the new system, he said.

The drug eluting balloon also reaches narrowed areas that would not be accessible for stent treatment, such as, for instance, very small blood vessels, bifurcations and very long areas of stenosis.

Lam said SeQuent�Please is associated with a significantly lower incidence of restenosis of expanded arterial segments. In addition, the required length of treatment with platelet inhibiting drugs (platelet aggregation inhibitors) is much shorter after the new procedure than after DES implantation.

With the latter, patients generally required treatment for as long as 12 months after the procedure. With SeQuent�Please, a treatment period of no longer than three months is sufficient. This is associated with significantly lower treatment costs.

SeQuent�Please thus has the potential to bring about a paradigm shift in the treatment of vascular restenosis, said Lam.

STUDY DATA

Lam said when coronary artery disease (CAD) is treated with an uncoated stent, the artery narrows again over time in as many as 30 per cent of cases, and this occurs at the stent implantation site.

In-stent restenosis, as it is called, can be expanded either with a balloon catheter or by the implantation of a second stent into the existing one. However, there is a high likelihood of recurrence of restenosis in both cases.

To establish whether a paclitaxel eluting balloon catheter reduces restenosis, in-stent restenosis in 52 patients was treated either with a novel drug eluting balloon (DEB) or with a conventional uncoated balloon.

Result: re-narrowing occurred within six months in only 5.0 per cent of DEB patients versus 43 per cent of patients treated with the conventional uncoated balloon.

He said another study showed that the drug eluting balloon is significantly superior to drug eluting coronary stents. Again, subjects in this clinical trial had in-stent restenosis.

In this study, however, one half of patients were treated with a paclitaxel eluting stent, while the other half underwent expansion with SeQuent�Please. At six months after the intervention, only 6.7 per cent of the SeQuent� Please patients versus 20.4 per cent of paclitaxel eluting stent recipients required re-intervention.

The positive study findings are already reflected in the guidelines of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK).Good results were also obtained for the use of SeQuent� Please to treat stenosis of small arteries, with restenosis rates of only 5.5 percent in patients treated with SeQuent� Please alone.

Considerably higher percentages have been observed in similar studies of drug eluting coronary stents in this therapeutic indication.

Further applications for SeQuent� Please are currently being investigated by B. Braun Melsungen AG in an extensive study programme.

-- BERNAMA

HIV In Sarawak: Challenges Are Abound (BERNAMA)

2009-12-13T16:17:00.001+08:00

By Melati Mohd Ariff

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- Her voice was tinged with sheer frustration as she spoke of her works advocating HIV and AIDS prevention programmes in her native state of Sarawak.

Her frustrations were not due to the workload but the extreme challenges she and her team from Sarawak Aids Concern Society (SACS) had to struggle against in carrying out their advocacy works.

One of the challenges, she said was to reach a significant proportion of the people still living in the rural and remote areas including places like Baram in Miri, Belaga and Kapit near Sibu and Limbang.

To prove her point, she had on the big screen the map of Sarawak to which she described as "sparsely populated with a huge land mass the size of West Malaysia minus Melaka."

LIMITATIONS

If trains and highways are the norms for transportations in West Malaysia, in the interior of Sarawak, rivers and their tributaries are the equivalent.

Tar sealed roads are a rarity in the interior and more often the roads are just loose stones or plain dirt roads, popularly known by the locals as timber tracks.

"These roads are subject to being damaged easily by weather and heavy use and as a result, often become dangerous and impassable," Rahmah Wahap-Nicholls, SACS's programme manager told participants of a roundtable discussion on HIV and AIDS held by the United Nations Theme Group on HIV in Kuala Lumpur recently.

According to this gutsy 57-year old retired nurse, even though river transport is the lifeline of the people living in the interior of Sarawak, it too has significant limitation.

She explained not only is the cost extremely high, at certain time of the year, the rivers can either be too low or dry at places and at the extreme end, it may swell with fast flowing rapids.

Still she said some parts of Sarawak are only accessible by air and the cost to get to some remote places can be higher than a return flight for a Kuala Lumpur-London trip.

SARAWAK HIV AND AIDS SCENARIO

Despite the relatively low accumulative figures of HIV and AIDS cases in Sarawak as compared to other states, Rahmah said the number is steadily rising year on year.

Up to 2009, she said the reported cumulative figures are slightly over 1,000.

"The worrying trend is that more and more housewives are getting infected. For the first six months of 2009, 57 per cent of new cases are housewives. As the main mode of transmission is heterosexual sex, focus on this group needs to be scaled up," she said, adding that the husbands of the infected women did not want to get themselves tested, saying that the virus is not from them.

Rahmah also pointed out her concern on HIV infection among the young population of Sarawak between the ages of 20 to 39 years.

The problem, she said, was not so much of injecting themselves with drugs but instead indulging in free sex.

Even students are prone to experimenting amongst themselves.

"Many students said they do not have other entertainment except to entertain each other. The teachers told us this even. We received many requests from schools right in the interior of Sarawak to implement HIV prevention programmes and it is not possible to reach these schools within a day or two.

"They asked us to give talks to their students and we cannot immediately response for the obvious reason, namely manpower and funds. By the time we got to the school, when the students are in form five or six, the teachers would tell us it is almost too late," said a frustrated Rahmah.

AFFECTING THE INTERIOR

Another thing that worrying Rahmah and her colleagues is that the deadly virus has even managed to find its way deep in the interior of the State.

HIV, she explained has not only affected those living in towns and cities where easy access to treatments and drugs are available but also in the interior rural areas where journey to the nearest district hospital may take a day or two by timber tracks and boats.

If the arduous journeys are in itself not an obstacle, she said, the cost of getting to the nearest hospital is. Many living in the interior are farmers and have irregular income.

According to Rahmah, for people in this kind of situation, the prospect of spending a large sum of money on transport to collect their medications is simply not an option, since this would mean spending the family's daily living expenses on cost of travel.

"We are talking about maybe around RM80 from one end of the river to another. Who wants to go there even if the service is free? Sadly this is often the scenario that we come across during our travels," she sighed.

POOR KNOWLEDGE

Based on SACS experiences whilst implementing its programmes throughout the state, particularly in the interior, Rahmah said knowledge and awareness of HIV and AIDS is generally very poor.

Misconceptions abound, she said, it was alarming to realise how truly lacking and inadequate previous attempts had been to educate the rural population on HIV and AIDS.

"After almost 30 years of this epidemic, some are still asking whether the virus is still around or it is killing people. There was also fear to get tested because if they know they are infected and they have to get the drugs, how are they going to assess it?

"Might as well they did not know or they just accept it after all they say they are going to die anyway? This is then one of our biggest challenges, to embark on spreading knowledge on HIV and AIDS and prevent transmission through sustainable programmes to the rural population of Sarawak.

"As one of the very few NGOs dedicating itself to fighting HIV and AIDS in Sarawak, SACS is facing other challenges. The current low figures of HIV and AIDS cases tend not to warrant attention," said Rahmah.

She expressed disappointment and dismal that HIV and AIDS is a low priority area and the recession inevitably has impacted funding.

"Whilst HIV and AIDS projects in many states in Peninsular Malaysia enjoy support from their state governments, we at SACS has yet to be the recipient of a similar privilege," she explained.

RISK FACTOR

Besides the challenge to obtain enough funds for SACS programmes, Rahmah also touched on yet a significant risk factor in the spread of HIV in Sarawak, namely the presence of a large migrant workforce in many parts of the state.

According to her, the mushrooming of plantations at a very fast rate in Sarawak has resulted in the state to be increasingly dependent on cheap foreign labour.

Sarawak's timber industries, she added also employ large numbers of workers from neigbouring country.

Rahmah said timber camps are located deep in the interior where access to the workforce is subject to agreement and cooperation from these companies.

"For instance, there are timber camps all around Belaga and Kapit and plantations in large areas in Miri. They are not accessible easily to members of the public. There are also timber camps that you are not even aware of their existence and the only way to get to those places is by timber tracks constructed by the companies in addition to journeys by air and boats," she explained.

SACS, according to her has had a measure of success in reaching the target group but this has not been without difficulties.

"Many companies are suspicious of the motives of NGOs operating in Sarawak and unfortunately for us, this has meant initially at least we have difficulty in getting permission to enter or do awareness programme in their premises,"she explained, adding that many of the workers at the timber camps came from Kalimantan and the number is massive.

NOT GIVING UP

Despite the uphill task she is facing, Rahmah is not giving up, clinging firm on the old adage "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going."

"I must be honest and admit that many a time when we are faced with the impossible, the human spirit does get a battering and it is the deep commitment to this cause that reminds us that doing nothing or turning away is not an option,"she told Bernama.

Besides her teammates from SACS, Rahmah also has the undivided support from her husband, Colin Khalid Nicholls and her three adult children. Colin, she said also provided technical support for SACS and looking after its website, www.sarawakaidsconcern.org

Rahmah's almost 26 years experience of working as a trained nurse in the UK where she met her husband who was also a trained nurse provided her with the much needed strength to persevere in her HIV and AIDS advocacy works.

During her sojourn in the UK, she has also spent some years as a volunteer counselor with a charity in Kent, supporting and counseling survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The couple returned to Sarawak in mid 2006 following a self-imposed retirement and eventually got involved as volunteers in SACS through some mutual friends who had been volunteering with the Society, formed on May 19, 1998.

"It was only on deeper involvement with the SACS that I got to find out the enormity of the tasks ahead. The society was in need of direction, having spent the previous seven years only implementing ad hoc programmes in Kuching, leaving the rest of Sarawak uncovered.

"Laying the foundation of expansion becomes my priority in 2007. This was a very challenging period primarily due to extreme shortage of funds available for the society to start the enormous task ahead of us, " Rahmah told Bernama.

In 2008, Rahmah said she set herself a task of expanding SACS's services to other parts of Sarawak, namely to reach out to the indigenous people living in the interior.

"In parts we have managed to achieve this but the more meaningful consequences of that must be the increasing capacity of the society to do more work all over the state in the form of grassroots involvement with programmes targeting their own community.

"Mobilising people to take ownership of the responsibility for their own community is certainly one I am very proud of," said Rahmah.

-- BERNAMA

Football Steals The Show In Vientiane (BERNAMA)

2009-12-13T16:11:00.000+08:00

From Zulhilmi Supaat

VIENTIANE, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Although aquatic events provided Malaysia with five gold medals, including setting three new records and improving on four national records, the focus was definitely on football after K.Rajagobal's squad qualified for the semi-finals.

The Malaysian squad beat Thailand 2-1 to deny Thailand a berth in the semi-finals for the first time in 36 years.

The last time the Malaysian squad took a gold medal in the biennial games was 20 years ago in 1989 in Kuala Lumpur under British coach, Trevor Hartley.

Malaysia today won six gold medals, three in swimming, karate (2) and diving (1).

The national contingent also won three silver medals (karate, shooting, snooker and billiards) and nine bronze medals (swimming - 2, shooting - 2, taekwondo - 2, diving - 1, karate - 1 and cycling - 1)

National swimmer, Daniel Bego, broke the SEA Games record and the national record in the 200m men's freestyle with a time of 50.16 seconds.

The games record was previously held by Richard Sam Bera of Indonesia (50.80s) and Daniels's national record was a time of 50.94s set in the World Swimming Championship in Rome.

Siow Yi Ting also broke a games record in the 100m women's breast stroke with a time 1:09.82s.

Siow erased the record of 1:10.55s set by Nicoletta Teo of Singapore in Korat, Thailand last year, and her national record of 1:11.29s set in the Doha Asian Games in 2006.

Khoo Cai Lin in the 400m women's freestyle set a personal best with 4:10.75s, some six seconds faster than her national record of 4:16.96s.

The time renewed her SEA Games record of 4:18.20s set in Korat, Thailand.

Malaysia also set a new national record via the women's freestyle quartet with a time of 3:51.40s, bettering the old record of 3:54.91s.

Karate contributed two gold medals through Mohd Hatta Mahmud in the men's kumite below 84kg while Jamalliah Jamaludin got a gold in the women's kumite above 60kg.

The shooting squad's hopes for a gold were dashed after Bibiana Ng managed a silver in the 10m Individual Women's Air Pistol.

Bibiana Ng and team mates Joseline Cheah and Siti Nur Masitah Mohd Badrin then won a bronze in the 10m Team Air Pistol event while another bronze was won in the 50m Women's Team Prone Rifle event after Muslifah Zulkifli, Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi and Nor Ain Ibrahim failed to defend their title won in Korat.

At the end of the third day of the 25th games, Malaysia was at fifth place with eight golds, nine silvers and 18 bronzes.

Vietnam is at the top spot with 14 golds, 10 silvers and 10 bronzes, followed by Singapore (14, 6, 12), Thailand (13, 22, 17) and Indonesia (11, 7, 14.)

Tomorrow, the fourth day of the 25th SEA Games that began officially on Dec 9 and ends on Dec 19, the focus returns to aquatic events.

Leong Mun Yee, Pandalela Rinong and Yeoh Ken Nee will take part in the diving event and Daniel Bego in the swimming event.

Meanwhile, other events like badminton and golf are still in the early rounds.

-- BERNAMA

Free Screening For Kelantanese At Risk Of HIV Infection (BERNAMA)

2009-12-13T16:07:00.000+08:00

MACHANG, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- People in Kelantan who feel they may be at high risk of contracting HIV have been advised to undergo free screening at government health facilities.

Kelantan Deputy Director of Health Dr Abu Hasan Ashaari said the health authorities had detected infection in people regardless of the age factor, even in people 60 years and above.

"They are from both genders, and are particularly those who marry often and are unaware they are carriers of the virus," he told reporters after launching the state-level World Aids Day 2009, here.

Dr Abu Hasan said Kelantan had the highest incidence of HIV infection among the states, adding that the highest number of 1,239 cases were detected in 2005 or equivalent to 93.9 per 100,000 people in the state.

"Between January and October this year, 494 cases were reported or equivalent to 30.2 per 100,000 people," he said.

Dr Abu Hasan said the virus was spread by drug addicts through the sharing of syringe needles and prostitutes in towns on the Malaysia-Thailand border.

He said the authorities planned to reduce the incidence of HIV to 22 per 100,000 people by 2015 with the cooperation of everyone.

-- BERNAMA

International Medical University Will Be Build In Perak (BERNAMA)

2009-12-13T15:32:00.000+08:00

International Medical University Will Be Build In Perak

From Kamarul Ariffin Md Yasin

LONDON, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- An international medical university will be built in Perak next year in collaboration with several leading universities, mainly from India, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said Saturday.

He said the project, which would involve an investment of RM7 billion to RM8 billion, had been planned for the past two years through private initiatives and the state government would have equity in it.

"It's some kind of (university) consortium. Initially, the Malaysian-based company will invest RM300 million. We hope they can start operation by next year with a minimum intake. They can have pre-university courses first," he said at a meeting with Malaysian students in the United Kingdom at King's College London.

Dr Zambry said the state government had allocated 120ha of land in Gua Tempurung, near Ipoh, for the company to build the university.

"After the whole project is completed we believe it can accommodate 10,000 students from all over the world. We hope to give more people an opportunity to study in the medical field," he said.

Touching on eradication of poverty in the state, he told the students that the state government would cooperate with Ikhtiar Malaysia.

"Basically, we will transform from an agro-based to a service-based economy," he said, adding that the state government wouldl look into the issue seriously.

"We will address poverty. It's not only about poor people or hardcore poor. We also have to look at those who are not from a poor background but suddenly become poor...vulnerable, like single mothers who are left destitute after their husband's death," he said.

Dr Zambry later met members of the United Kingdom Umno Club and Perakians in the United Kingdom at Malaysia Hall.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysia Not Spared From H1N1

2009-12-11T19:49:00.002+08:00

By Jumiati Rosly

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The influenza A (H1N1) pandemic caused panic worldwide this year, and Malaysia was no exception.

Setting the National Influenza Pandemic Preparation Plan in motion, the health ministry launched a big campaign to create public awareness of H1N1 and impart preventive measures to check its spread.

H1N1 was first detected in April in Mexico, forcing the government to shut down public buildings and public places.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 622,482 positive cases of H1N1, with 7,826 deaths globally, until Nov 22.

Malaysia recorded 77 H1N1-related deaths.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would increase the anti-viral stock via a RM20 million allocation.

To avoid panic, the health ministry plans to switch to seasonal influenza vaccines which contain H1N1 vaccine by February/March to protect against influenza-like diseases.

Malaysia has ordered 400,000 doses of H1N1 vaccines worth RM14 million, to be received in stages for high risk groups like pregnant women and 18-60 year-olds with chronic diseases, while 200,000 had been set aside for frontline medical staff.

The education ministry has allocated RM10 million for preventive equipments like thermometres, sanitisers, nose and mouth masks to students and school staff.

H1N1 was also a big worry for Malaysian haj pilgrims where 26,000 were given seasonal influenza vaccination as prevention.

In February, the health ministry declared war on dengue fever and although statistics for November showed a drop, it was dissatisfied as most cases were detected late. Only 35 per cent were detected early.

Statistics for November showed there were 34,975 dengue cases with 75 deaths, a drop from the 38,995 cases and 84 deaths for the corresponding period last year.

Some 13,895 premises were slapped with compound fines amounting to RM2.6 million for breeding aedes mosquitoes, owners of 13,230 premises were warned and 50 owners of other premises taken to court.

The proposed privatisation of the National Heart Institute (IJN) by Sime Darby Bhd which wanted to take over a 51 per cent stake was another hot topic.

It was shelved by the Cabinet, following protests from various quarters.

The government assured that IJN would not be sold or privatised as long as there was no other alternative for the people to receive heart treatment.

The health ministry also announced that the human papillomavirus immunisation programme to prevent cervical cancer in 300,000 girls aged 13, would be implemented next year.

The immunisation programme costing RM150 million annually, was approved by the Cabinet.

The vaccine would be more effective to prevent cervical cancer among teenagers as compared to adults over 40 years of age.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women after breast cancer.

-- BERNAMA

Jururawat Islam sedia berbakti (Utusan Malaysia Online)

2009-12-09T10:26:00.001+08:00

Oleh Zulkiflee Bakar

ISHAK Yeop Hamzah bertanya sesuatu kepada sebahagian jururawat yang mengikuti Program Orientasi Tugas Kejururawatan di Yala, baru-baru ini.

KOMITMEN Malaysia dalam membantu kerajaan Thailand bagi membawa keamanan di tiga wilayah di selatan negara itu yang majoritinya terdiri daripada penduduk Islam sememangnya tidak dapat dinafikan lagi.

Apatah lagi, di dalam Islam sendiri, kita digalakkan membantu sesama Muslim dengan apa cara sekali pun. Begitu juga Malaysia, kerajaan negara ini tidak mahu hanya menjadi pemerhati kepada pergolakan yang berlaku di Narathiwat, Yala dan Pattani.

Atas sebab itulah, Malaysia bersedia menubuhkan Task Force 2010 (Malaysia) yang bekerjasama dengan Task Force 960 Thailand bagi merangka pelbagai program yang bertujuan membantu penduduk Islam di tiga wilayah yang bergolak berkenaan.

Sejak kewujudannya, Task Force 2010 (Malaysia) yang dipimpin oleh Ketua Pengarahnya, Leftenan Jeneral Datuk Wan Abu Bakar Omar telah mengatur pelbagai program terutamanya dalam soal memberi kemahiran kepada belia selatan Thailand dalam pelbagai bidang termasuklah kejururawatan, komputer dan elektrik.

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Usaha Task Force 2010 (Malaysia) itu bertujuan bagi memastikan, selatan Thailand akan mampu mempunyai golongan generasi belia yang berupaya untuk membantu masyarakat sendiri dan sekali gus mengelakkan mereka daripada terjebak dalam sebarang kegiatan yang tidak sihat.

Ia kerana sudah menjadi lumrah dalam sesuatu konflik, apatah lagi melibatkan gerakan puak pemisah, generasi muda pasti menjadi sasaran untuk dipengaruhi bagi meneruskan perjuangan songsang berkenaan.

Justeru tumpuan harus diberikan kepada golongan belia supaya mereka mempunyai kemahiran yang mampu membantu mereka meneruskan kehidupan di tanah air sendiri dengan melakukan pekerjaan bersesuaian.

Pada 2 Disember lalu, Task Force 2010 (Malaysia) dengan kerjasama Task Force 960 terus mengorak langkah bagi memberikan pendedahan kepada belia dari selatan Thailand yang pernah mengikuti kursus kejururawatan di negara ini.

Kali ini, seramai 40 orang daripada mereka mengikuti Program Orientasi Tugas Kejururawatan di Kolej Kejururawatan Boromrajchoni Southern Region Thailand di Yala selama sebulan.

Program itu bertujuan memberi penekanan terhadap kerja-kerja praktikal sebagai jururawat seperti yang sedang digunapakai dan diperakui oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Thailand.

Kesemua mereka sebelum ini telah mengikuti Program Latihan Pembantu Jururawat selama setahun di Universiti Kuala Lumpur - Royal of Medicine Perak (UniKL-RCMP). Ia dianjurkan oleh kedua-dua task force berkenaan.

Melalui pendedahan selama sebulan di Yala itu, ia sudah pasti akan memberikan ilmu yang bermanfaat dalam usaha memastikan mereka menjadi jururawat yang berkebolehan.

Selepas mengikuti program orientasi itu, mereka akan meneruskan khidmat masing-masing sebagai pembantu jururawat terlatih di Hospital dan klinik kerajaan sekitar Yala, Patani dan Narathiwat.

Penghargaan

Atas sebab itulah, tiada apa yang mampu mereka lafazkan selain mengucapkan penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada kerajaan Malaysia kerana sebelum ini telah memberikan peluang untuk mengikuti program latihan di negara ini.

‘‘Segala jasa yang dilakukan oleh Malaysia melalui Task Force 2010 (Malaysia) akan kami kenang sehingga akhir hayat,’’ kata Suraya Samah dari Yala.

Suraya berkata, walaupun jururawat bukanlah menjadi cita-cita utamanya tetapi sejak mengikuti kursus dalam bidang itu, beliau mula tertarik dengan kerjaya berkenaan.

‘‘Saya akan berusaha untuk memberikan perkhidmatan terbaik kepada masyarakat di kawasan saya,’’ katanya.

Rakannya, Suhaida Awai dari Narathiwat pula berkata, kesungguhan kerajaan Malaysia melalui Task Force 2010 (Malaysia) yang terus merancang pelbagai program bagi meningkatkan kemahiran mereka adalah sesuatu yang menyentuh perasaan.

Katanya, keadaan itu membuktikan bahawa Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara Islam sentiasa berusaha membantu saudara sesama agama di negara lain.

‘‘Ilmu yang diperolehi tidak akan kami sia-siakan. Sebaliknya ia akan dicurahkan sepenuhnya bagi berbakti kepada penduduk,’’ katanya.

Suhaida berharap, selepas ini program latihan kejururawatan seumpama itu akan diteruskan bagi memberi peluang kepada belia lain pula di selatan Thailand mengikutinya.

‘‘Saya percaya ramai yang ingin menyertai kursus ini kerana ia akan mampu membantu kami mendapat pekerjaan,’’ katanya.

Hasmah Sama daripada Pattani pula berkata, beliau berterima kasih dengan keprihatinan Malaysia dalam melaksanakan kursus jururawat tersebut.

Apa yang menarik, biarpun kebanyakan daripada mereka berkelulusan sekolah agama, tetapi sepanjang mengikuti program latihan berkenaan, mereka berupaya menunjukkan kemampuan yang memberangsangkan dan mampu menjadi jururawat Islam yang cemerlang.

Berucap di majlis penyampaian sijil selepas program orientasi tersebut, Pengarah Operasi Task Force 2010 (Malaysia), Brigedier Jeneral Datuk Ishak Yeop Hamzah berkata, melalui program itu adalah diharapkan ia akan memahirkan lagi kemampuan jururawat-jururawat yang terlibat.

Katanya, dengan kemampuan itu ia sudah tentulah mampu memberikan mereka manfaat untuk menabur bakti di tanah air sendiri terutama di Yala, Pattani dan Narawathiwat

‘‘Tanamkanlah keazaman pada diri masing-masing untuk memberi perkhidmatan terbaik kepada masyarakat,’’ katanya.

Ishak berkata, masyarakat di ketiga-tiga wilayah berkenaan sudah pasti akan berasa bangga jika jururawat-jururawat terlibat mampu menunjukkan komitmen yang tinggi dalam melaksanakan tanggungjawab yang diberikan.

‘‘Sebab itulah, mereka perlu berjanji bahawa kelayakan dan pengalaman yang sedia ada dengan diri masing-masing akan digunakan sepenuhnya untuk berbakti kepada masyarakat di selatan Thailand.

‘‘Mereka harus sedar bahawa tugas jururawat adalah amat dihormati dan sentiasa dipandang mulia,’’ katanya.

Sememangnya hanya melalui perkhidmatan yang terbaik sahaja, ia sudah pasti mampu membantu mereka untuk mencatatkan kejayaan lebih cemerlang di masa-masa akan datang.

Apa yang lebih penting dengan memberikan pendedahan kepada belia di selatan Thailand mengikuti program seumpama ini, ia akan sedikit sebanyak membantu membawa keamanan di wilayah yang bergolak tersebut.

Di samping itu juga, adalah menjadi harapan agar program ini akan dapat membantu usaha-usaha membawa keamanan ke selatan Thailand.

Apa pun rumusannya, program orientasi yang diadakan itu sekali lagi membuktikan bahawa Malaysia sememangnya ikhlas dalam membantu Thailand memulihkan keadaan di selatan negara itu.

Dan bukti keikhlasan Malaysia akan lebih nyata, apabila Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak melawat Narathiwat pada Rabu ini.

Semoga lawatan itu akan memperkukuhkan lagi kerjasama antara kedua-dua negara bagi memastikan cahaya keamanan kembali bersinar di bumi selatan Thailand.

CDC: Swine flu is widespread only in 25 states

2009-12-08T11:40:00.001+08:00

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe, Ap Medical Writer – Fri Dec 4, 11:46 pm ET

ATLANTA – Swine flu infections continue to wane, just as vaccine is becoming plentiful enough that some communities are allowing everyone to get it, not just those in priority groups.

Swine flu was widespread in only 25 states last week — mostly in the Northeast and Southwest, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

In late October, 48 states were reporting widespread cases of swine flu. But since then, there's been a decline across the country, and it appears that a fall wave of swine flu infections has peaked.

Meanwhile, a shortage of swine flu vaccine is easing, with 73 million doses now available, roughly twice as much as there was a month ago. And another 10 million doses are expected in the next week, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC's director.

Initially, limited supplies caused the CDC to advise state and local health officials to reserve doses for those at highest risk for severe complications from swine flu or those who take care of them. That group includes pregnant women, children and young adults, health-care workers and people with asthma and certain other health problems.

Demand for the vaccine is still high in many places, but enough has become available that some communities are now giving it to people outside the priority groups, Frieden said.

"The number of communities that do that will increase in the coming weeks," he predicted, at a press conference in Atlanta.

At least three states — Alaska, Arkansas and Oklahoma — have begun offering swine flu vaccine to all comers. And some communities have opened vaccinations up, including Broward County, Fla., and Sacramento County, Calif., said Paula Steib, spokeswoman for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Since it was first identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.

The swine flu pandemic has so far hit in two waves in the United States: First in the spring, then a larger wave that started in the late summer.

Flu is hard to predict, and health officials say they are worried of the possibility of a third wave this winter. The CDC said a new round of public service announcements about getting vaccinated are to begin next week.

___

On the Net:

CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Two dead, two critically injured as car plunges from third floor of mall (BERNAMA)

2009-12-07T12:46:00.000+08:00

KOTA BARU (Dec 6, 2009) -- Two students from Masterskill College of Nursing and Health here were killed while another two were seriously injured when a car plunged from the parking area of KB Mall here at 5.40pm today.

Kota Baru district police chief ACP Zahruddin Abdullah said the dead were Siti Nor Amira Samsuddin, 19 and Siti Nor Diana Azman, 18 while Rashidah Ahmad Lutfi, 24 and the driver of the car, Nor Ain Said, 19 suffered serious injuries.

"The incident happened at about 5pm when the Ford Laser TX3 car driven by Nor Ain lost control and plunged while being pushed after it had broken down on the third floor of the parking area.

"The ill-fated car landed near the escalator of the KB Mall," he told reporters at the scene.

He said Siti Nor Amira from Felda Chiku Tujuh, Gua Musang died at the spot while Siti Nor Diana from Chabang Empat, Tumpat died on the way to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital here.

He added that Rashidah from Jerteh, Terengganu and Nor Ain from Kampung Chekeli, Dewan Beta here were being treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital and that their condition was critical.

Zahruddin said during the incident, apart from the driver Nor Ain, the other three victims who were on the ground floor, were crushed by the plunging car.

He added that the car had initially broken down on the third floor before Nor Ain, her sister Nurul Afika, 17 and their friend Sabri, 27, from Besut, Terengganu, decided to push the car.

"Nor Ain and her sister were in the car while Sabri was pushing the car when the driver lost control and the car hit the retaining wall and plunged down," he said.

He added that Nurul Afika miraculously escaped unhurt and went home in trauma after the incident while Sabri disappeared from the scene.

A witness, Johan Salleh, 47, said he was on the ground floor and saw the car plunging down.

"I was able to drag my son away but he remains in trauma," said Johan.

Police and the Fire and Rescue Department were at the scene to extricate the bodies.-- BERNAMA

Flood Situation Improves In Terengganu And Pahang (BERNAMA)

2009-12-07T12:38:00.000+08:00

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- The flood situation in Terengganu and Pahang continued to improve as the number of evacuees at flood relief centres drop substantially from Sunday night.

The number of flood victims remaining at relief centres in Terengganu dropped from 400 last night to 138 this morning while Pahang also saw a drop from 951 Sunday night to 517 Monday morning.

A spokesman of the National Security Council (NSC) for Terengganu said the floodwaters had completely receded in some districts except in Kemaman and Kuala Terengganu where 74 and 64 flood victims remained at relief centres.

All main roads including Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan and Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kota Baharu was opened for traffic while water level at all main rivers in Terengganu fell below the danger level.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from the Pahang State Flood Operations Control Centre said 386 flood victims remained at flood relief centres in Kuantan and another 131 in Bera.

Victims in Kuantan are housed at flood relief centres in Kampung Pahang Community Hall, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Paya Besar, Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Semangat, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pandan, Kampung Soi Community Hall, Sekolah Menengah Gudang Rasau, Dewan Orang Ramai Sri Damai and Kampung Sri Melati surau.

In Bera, there was no change in the situation from last night as 131 flood victims, comprising 30 families from Kampung Paya Tateh, remained at the Rakan Muda Complex in Kerayong.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysians urged to be wary of second H1N1 outbreak

2009-12-03T15:39:00.002+08:00

PENANG:Malaysians are advised to be alert for a possible second wave of the H1N1 influenza outbreak.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai raised this concern as the northern hemisphere had recorded a 95% jump in cases.

More to come

--- THE STAR

Aussie Minister Advises Families To Receive A/H1N1 Flu Vaccination

2009-12-03T15:35:00.001+08:00

CANBERRA, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- Australian Health Minister Nicola Roxon on Thursday urged Australians to shed their complacent attitude and make sure their families are vaccinated against A/ H1N1 flu, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

As the vaccine became available for children as young as six months on Thursday, Roxon said high A/H1N1 infection rates in North America were concerning.

"We are in a global battle against this pandemic," Roxon told reporters.

She advised all families to be vaccinated before the new school year, but preferably before Christmas.

Roxon said the A/H1N1 flu season that struck overseas this year was earlier than expected and could well be the same in Australia.

While the vaccine has been available for months, only 5 million doses have been administered from the stock of 21 million doses.

"We're always worried that when protection is available that they take advantage of it, that they not be too laidback in an Australian way to protect themselves against something that could be a big risk in the future," Roxon said.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved Panvax Junior for young children on Thursday. The A/H1N1 flu vaccine will be free for all children between 6 months and 9 years within two weeks.

The urgent message to vaccinate children ahead of this flu season comes after health statistics in Canada and the United States revealed worrying trends.

Children under nine years will need two doses for the vaccine to work fully. The first dose provides good protection, and the second dose taken 28 days later will boost the initial shot.

-- BERNAMA

Tuberculosis (TB) - http://www.cdc.gov/

2009-12-02T10:41:00.002+08:00

Basic TB Facts

How TB Spreads

TB is spread through the air from one person to another. The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

TB is NOT spread by

shaking someone’s hand
sharing food or drink
touching bed linens or toilet seats
sharing toothbrushes
kissing

Latent TB Infection and TB Disease

Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection and active TB disease.

Latent TB Infection

TB bacteria can live in your body without making you sick. This is called latent TB infection (LTBI). In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing. People with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms. The only sign of TB infection is a positive reaction to the tuberculin skin test or special TB blood test. People with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB bacteria to others. However, if TB bacteria become active in the body and multiply, the person will get sick with TB disease.
TB Disease

TB bacteria become active if the immune system can't stop them from growing. When TB bacteria are active (multiplying in your body), this is called TB disease. TB disease will make you sick. People with TB disease may spread the bacteria to people they spend time with every day. Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB disease. Some people develop TB disease soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria. Other people may get sick years later, when their immune system becomes weak for another reason.
For persons whose immune systems are weak, especially those with HIV infection, the risk of developing TB disease is much higher than for persons with normal immune systems.

The Difference between Latent TB Infection and TB Disease

A Person with Latent TB Infection	A Person with TB Disease
• Has no symptoms	• Has symptoms that may include: - a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer - pain in the chest - coughing up blood or sputum - weakness or fatigue - weight loss - no appetite - chills - fever - sweating at night
• Does not feel sick	• Usually feels sick
• Cannot spread TB bacteria to others	• May spread TB bacteria to others
• Usually has a skin test or blood test result indicating TB infection	• Usually has a skin test or blood test result indicating TB infection
• Has a normal chest x-ray and a negative sputum smear	• May have an abnormal chest x-ray, or positive sputum smear or culture
• Needs treatment for latent TB infection to prevent active TB disease	• Needs treatment to treat active TB disease

73 H1N1 Cases With Five Deaths During This Year's Haj Season

2009-12-01T08:32:00.001+08:00

MECCA, Nov 30 (Bernama) -- There were only 73 Influenza A(H1N1) cases with five deaths recorded out of nearly 2.5 million pilgrims who performed the Haj this year.

Health Minister Abdullah Al-Rabeeah was quoted as saying this by Saudi Arabian English daily Arab News.

The newspaper also quoted the Civil Defence director-general, Gen. Saad bin Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri, as saying that there was a big drop in the number of accidents this Haj season compared to previous years.

"The huge drop is mainly attributed to the completion of the five-storey Jamrat Bridge and the expansion of the Arafah area by more than 30 per cent," he said.

Al-Tuwaijri said these projects had further boosted the capability of the Civil Defence agency and other government bodies in carrying out their tasks efficiently.

"It also enabled the pilgrims to perform the Haj rites in ease and comfort," he added.

-- BERNAMA

KPJ Penang Specialist: Caring For Your Heart (BERNAMA)

2009-12-01T08:31:00.000+08:00

By Lizawati Bahanan

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Nov 24 (Bernama) -- KPJ Penang Specialist hospital is set to emerge as the leading specialist centre especially in the Seberang Perai and southern Kedah districts.

KPJ Penang's General Manager for Risk Management Service Abdol Wahab Baba notes that the hospital under the Johor Corporation will be concentrating on treatment for heart ailments.

"Actually the heart care service was planned for the second phase but due to the overwhelming demand KPJ has introduced the service in the first phase itself.

"As the facilities for heart care in the Seberang Perai district is still lacking compared with the one available on the island, KPJ has taken the opportunity to provide this facility," he told Bernama.

Abdul Wahab adds that at present only the operating theater is yet to be equipped and for this purpose they are looking for investors and competent surgeons.

MULTI DISCIPLINE CARE

"Treatment for heart aliments is already available except for heart by-pass, maybe we will be able to introduce this next year," he says.

Other than this KPJ Penang Specialist offers other disciplines like anaesthesiology, ENT surgery, gastroenterology and general surgery.

The other disciplines are internal medicine, nephrology, obstetrics & gynaecology, ophthalmology, orthopaedic, (paediatrics), rheumatology, radiology and urology.

"The hospital is the 19th opened by KPJ to provide specialist care for the people living in this area.

SPECIALIST CLINIC

"With our presence here the public no longer need to go to the island to seek treatment," he said.

The hospital located in Bandar Perda started operations on August 1 this year with the first phase completed in 2008 and the second phase is to be developed in the future.

The KPJ Penang Hospital building has a floor space of 200,000 square feet and the five story building costs RM45 million.

As for a start KPJ Penang only provides 88 beds and 25 consultation clinics, but if there is demand KPJ will increase the bed to 112 in the future.

"Under the second phase KPJ Penang plans to add another 100 beds and when fully completed the hospital will have 236 beds and 40 specialist clinics.

THE STATE OF THE ART EQUIPMENT

"Other than having highly experienced medical experts, KPJ Penang is also equipped with the state of the art equipment like the 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 64-Slice Computer Tomography (CT) Scanner and the Catheterisation Lab," he said.

He says that KPJ Penang has invested RM25 million for the purchase of the latest equipment in providing healthcare services to customers.

As up to October 2009, there were 224 employees in KPJ Penang with 110 of them being nursing staff and another 114 in the allied health and support services, he said.

"KPJ Penang also has 20 full time specialist consultants and expects the number to increase with time," he says.

Abdol Wahab points that under the five year plan KPJ anticipates accumulated revenue of RM471 million with a pre tax profit of RM11 million.

OTHER FACILITIES

"Next year KPJ plans to increase the number of beds and other facilities like heart operating theater, urology and dialysis," he said.

In 2008 KPJ hospitals received 1.96 million outpatients and 196,291 inpatients.

As for the half year beginning Sept 30, KPJ reported a revenue of RM709.52 million compared with RM615.07 million for the same period in 2008.

KPJ listed in Bursa Malaysia recorded a pre tax profit of RM76.47 million for the half year ending on Sept 30 compared with RM60.29 million for the same period last year.

-- BERNAMA

Orange juice weakens teeth enamel (The Sun Daily)

2009-11-15T22:19:00.001+08:00

ACIDIC fruit juice such as orange juice could be worse for your teeth than whitening, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Dentistry.

A research team from the Eastman Institute for Oral Health of the University of Rochester Medical Centre used a new focus-variation vertical scanning microscope to compare the effects of acid on tooth enamel with the effects of 6% hydrogen peroxide, the common ingredient in over-the-counter teeth whitening agents.

The study found that the acid from fruit juice changes the hardness and enamel of teeth significantly more than whitening agents.

"The acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away,’"said Yan Fang Ren, who led the research. "The orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84%."

Juices and sodas have long been known to have high acidic content, which can affect enamel hardness and cause tooth erosion.

Weakened enamel accelerates degeneration of the tooth and increases the risk of tooth decay. Whitening has also been shown to affect the hardness of teeth, but this is the first study to compare the two.

"Most soft drinks, including sodas and fruit juices, are acidic in nature," Yan said.

"Our studies demonstrated that orange juice, as an example, can potentially cause significant erosion of teeth."

He added that drinking sodas and juices daily could heighten the risk of tooth erosion.

The study also found that the longer teeth are in contact with the acid, the more severe the erosion will be.

"People who sip their drinks slowly over 20 minutes are more likely to have tooth erosion than those who finish a drink quickly," the report stated. – AFP-Relaxnews

Tips for stronger teeth

2009-11-15T22:17:00.001+08:00

THE quality of your teeth is often used as a measurement of your general health. Keeping your teeth strong and healthy not only gives you a pearly white smile, it protects your mouth and other parts of your body.

Cavities and infections in the mouth can cause a range of other ailments such as ear infections and mouth pain.

Here are some steps to follow for strong, healthy teeth:

» Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush at least twice a day (after you wake up and before you go to bed).

» Floss at least once every day to ensure that food doesn’t deteriorate between your teeth and end up creating cavities that can weaken your teeth. Flossing also helps circulate the blood into your gums, which support your teeth.

» Rinse with a mouthwash that contains fluoride at least once a day. Fluoride strengthens your enamel and prevents soft spots, which have the potential to turn into cavities.

» Consume foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D, which promote bone health.

» Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and protein.

--- The Sun Daily

Nurses calling for safer staffing (BBC News)

2009-11-05T21:30:00.000+08:00

More than half of nurses surveyed said they did not have enough time

Four out of 10 nurses say staff shortages compromise patient care at least once a week, according to the Royal College of Nurses.

An RCN manifesto to all the political parties says NHS employers must assure themselves they have safe staff levels.

The RCN, whose survey covers the views of 9,000 nurses, is warning against job cuts due to possible reduced funding.

NHS trusts said managers were increasingly examining their workforces to best use the skills of their staff.

'Heavy workload'

THE RCN MANIFESTO

Stand up for staff who speak out

Safer staffing levels

Give nurses time to train

Regulate the drinks industry

Improve care for long-term conditions

Current levels of health spending should be maintained

The RCN has issued its 2009 Employment Survey which covers the views of 9,000 nurses.

It shows that more than half (55%) say they are too busy to provide the level of care they would like.

Almost two thirds (67%) consider their workload is too heavy.

And nurses say they are looking after more patients on the wards.

Dr Peter Carter, head of the RCN, said staff were concerned that they were delivering the basics but were unable to provide the full range of quality care they would like.

He said: "Nurses and healthcare assistants feel up against it, worn down and exhausted by the pressure to make efficiencies and frustrated by being prevented from delivering the quality of care they want to be providing."

'Shortfall'

The RCN are also warning of a shortfall in the number of nurses in coming years.

The RCN's Labour Market Review said about 200,000 nurses are expected to retire in the next 10 years, there will be fewer newly qualified nurses and fewer nurses moving to the UK because of restrictions on migration.

The RCN says the impact of growing retirements from the profession will be felt first in the community sector where most of the nurses tend to be older.

Dr Carter said: "The nursing workforce has grown in recent years but only just enough to keep up with rising demands on healthcare.

"We expect the next few years will be the most challenging for staff levels in decades.

"There is considerable pressure to focus on short-term funding constraints and cut staff numbers without taking patient needs into consideration.

"Policy makers must look at the workforce in conjunction with their ability to deliver high quality and safe care."

Karen Charman, head of employment services at NHS Employers which represents trusts in England, said NHS organisations certainly needed to have a clear method of working out safe staffing levels in order that patient care was not harmed.

"There are a number of different ways of achieving this and we believe that this should be determined at local level," she said.

"Advice from professional bodies is extremely important to help trusts ensure that clinical standards and staffing levels are right to ensure the safety of patients.

"However, fixed staffing ratios do not provide the flexibility to meet differing local circumstances and care settings

"Employers are increasingly examining the different roles within their workforce to best use the skills of their staff."

Kannika Damrong pelajar terbaik Kolej Kejururawatan Melaka (Utusan Malaysia Online)

2009-11-05T21:24:00.000+08:00

ARKIB : 28/10/2009

SEBAHAGIAN graduan Majlis Konvokesyen Kolej Kejururawatan Melaka Ke-8 di Melaka, semalam. - utusan/Gaie Uchel

MELAKA 27 Okt. - Mengharungi hidup tanpa bapa tersayang, tidak mematahkan semangat Kannika Damrong Pradid, 25, untuk menerima Anugerah Graduan Akademik dan Kurikulum Terbaik pada Konvokesyen Kolej Kejururawatan Melaka Ke-8 hari ini.

Beliau antara 75 pelajar kolej berkenaan yang menerima Diploma Kejururawatan pra asas daripada kumpulan Julai 2006.

Buat Kannika Damrong, dia tidak menyangka berkat kesungguhannya selama beberapa tahun membuahkan hasil apabila berjaya meraih anugerah tersebut.

''Bagi saya, seseorang pelajar atau pelatih jururawat itu harus bijak mengatur masa dan aktiviti riadah memastikan semuanya berjalan dengan teratur," katanya yang berasal dari Kelantan.

Pada majlis itu, keseluruhan seramai 223 pelajar termasuk 148 menerima sijil dan selebihnya diploma masing-masing.

Majlis tersebut telah disempurnakan oleh Pengarah Kesihatan negeri, Datuk Dr. Azmi Hashim.

Kannika Damrong yang memperoleh keputusan 3.45 purata nilai gred keseluruhan (CGPA) berkata, dia menggunakan masa sepenuhnya ketika berada di dalam kuliah.

''Saya hadiahkan kejayaan ini kepada ibu saya yang sentiasa memberi pendorong kepada saya untuk menerima anugerah ini," katanya.

Sementara itu, bagi Rabiatul Adawiah Abu Bakar, 22, yang menerima Anugerah Graduan Cemerlang Akademik melahirkan rasa gembira atas kejayaan tersebut.

Katanya lagi, dia mengamalkan belajar secara berkumpulan bagi memastikan keputusan praktikal dan akademik mencapai keputusan yang baik.

''Saya mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada kedua ibu bapa serta tenaga pengajar yang tidak pernah putus memberi sokongan dan mendorong sehingga saya mencapai kejayaan ini," katanya.

Pada majlis tersebut juga sepasang suami isteri, Zulkarnain Mohd. Iskandar, 32, dan Rozita Rashid, 28, masing- masing menerima sijil kursus Pos Basik Kebidanan dan Perawatan Ortopedik.

Pasangan itu menyifatkan kejayaan ini merupakan berkat usaha gigih mereka.

''Setiap masalah yang timbul kami galas sebagai cabaran kerana semua itu mengajar kami untuk jadi yang terbaik sepanjang mengikuti kursus selama enam bulan ini.

''Saya dan isteri harus bijak mengawal emosi ketika berhadapan dengan anak dan kerjaya serta menjalankan latihan kursus yang telah ditetapkan.

''Malah, ada satu ketika, kami terpaksa bersengkang mata untuk mengulang kaji di musim peperiksaan kerana pada waktu siang, komitmen terhadap kerjaya dan anak-anak harus diberikan terlebih dahulu," katanya yang mempunyai dua cahaya mata berusia dua dan empat tahun.

Do Nursing Career Opportunities Still Exist?

2009-11-05T21:15:00.000+08:00

By Matt Murren

Nursing is one of the fastest growing in most in demand skill sets in the health care market today. With the increase in retirees over the next 5-10 years, nursing will continue to grow. The demand should outstrip the supply for years to come. This means lots of nursing career opportunities for you. If you are not sure what opportunities exist in nursing, we will cover those in this article.

Is currently estimated at their over 100,000 vacant nursing positions at the moment. Over the next 10 to 20 years experts expect this number to increase well over 100,000 as baby boomers swing in the full retirement and require more hands-on care. Does this mean for you? Big opportunities ahead…

One of the largest advantages of considering a nursing career is the pay. Nurses make anywhere from $45,000 to $65,000 per year. I’d say that’s a great opportunity. In addition, most nurses typically receive a signing bonus and excellent benefits.

The opportunities to continue to expand as traveling nurses as well as home health care options become greater and greater. The most common settings for nurses are still Hospital’s, Physician offices, and outpatient care facilities.

Before you can jump in and take advantage of all the benefits you must decide what field in nursing you want to pursue. Here are some of the entry level requirements after high school to become a nurse.

· Associates Degree in Nursing: The Associates Nursing Degree is offered at junior and community colleges. This is a 2 to 3 year program that will prepare you for patient care.

· Bachelor in Nursing: This is a four year program offered at colleges and universities. Bachelors of Nursing students have the greatest career opportunities in the nursing field.

· Licensed Practical Nurse: LPN’s are usually under the direct supervision of RN’s and Doctors. They typically take vital signs , temperatures etc.

· Hospital Diploma Programs: These programs are 2-3 year programs that prepare nurses in a variety of care scenarios.

All nurses must pass the RN exam which is accredited nationally. Nursing is a great career for those that want the ability to relocate. Nursing careers exist all of the United States, especially in areas where people are moving for retirement.

There are also many specialties you may find yourself interested in. After you achieve your degree or certification you may want to consider nursing experience in pediatrics, surgical, PeriAnesthiesia, or Informatics. These are only a few of the options available to you in the nursing career.

Some nurses find that once they get into a direct care environment, they are able to get a sense as to what specialty is for them. Many times, those nurses that go after specialization will make a little more money as it requires additional training and studying.

I think you will be happy with your decision to enter a nursing career. Best wishes in your new adventures.

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.nursing-jobs-advisor.com
Nursing Career Opportunities

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Murren

A Nursing Job That's Right For You

2009-11-05T21:14:00.001+08:00

By Sue Holsinger

If you're considering a nursing job, you'll have a lot of employment options to consider.

Nursing is among the oldest of professions, and with modern medical breakthroughs a nursing job can be highly lucrative. A nursing job will require you to be dedicated and diligent. If you don't think you would enjoy giving 100% you probably won't enjoy a nursing job.

However if you like science and medicine and enjoy helping people, a nursing job could bring you great satisfaction.

Many options in work environment exist in nursing jobs today. The common picture of a nurse is of someone standing next to your hospital bed, but today nurses perform many different functions both in hospitals and patient homes. You'll find a lot of nursing job options available in an environment that will suit you.

Private nursing jobs may involve working in a hospital or home with a single patient, helping them recover from an illness or surgery. Caring for a patient with a chronic or terminal disease could also be a private nursing position.

Another nursing job, that of Hospice Nurse, works with dying patients and their families to ease the death transition. Hospice Nurses also act as liaison between doctors and medical staff, allowing the patient to remain at home where they are comfortable for the remainder of their life.

More traditional nursing jobs involve operating room nurses. These nurses are the surgeons right hand, and must have a good understanding of the procedures being performed and the equipment used. If you are detail oriented, a job as an operating room nurse could be for you.

Can you remain calm in a crisis? If so, a job as a trauma nurse could be right up your alley. These nurses work in large hospitals or trauma centers, and may be responsible for helping save the lives of people injured in accidents or catastrophic events.

Institutional nurses treat all manner of sickness and injury in young patients. If you are someone who likes kids, you might enjoy this type of nursing job. Institutional nurses work in schools, colleges, shelters and nonprofit organizations. This is a low-stress nursing job where you could get to know your patients.

Today, home health care nurses work in a variety of settings from the rural to the urban. This nursing job involves traveling from patient to patient, caring for their needs and relaying medical information to doctors and medical staff. Home health care nurses help patients to remain at home and still get the care that they need. As a home health care nurse, you would need to use mobile equipment to monitor patient health. This nursing job would allow you to interact closely with patients.

Another nursing job is that of hospital nursing. Hospital nurses are expected to master new equipment and technologies quickly. This nursing job involves responsibility for patient care as patients recover from surgery or sickness. The speed of patient recovery depends on the care hospital nurses provide. This nursing job is very satisfying when patients improve under your care.

Get started on your nursing career now! Check into local nursing schools and ask about the curriculum. With qualified nurses in short supply, nursing school graduates can choose their employers and receive hiring bonuses as well.

Sue Holsinger is the web author of http://www.nursing-info.net and [http://www.gr8nursingjobs.com]. These websites provide an online resource for those searching for information about nursing and nursing jobs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sue_Holsinger

Good Blog Content

2009-11-01T23:58:00.001+08:00

By Jeremy Long Chia Teik

In blogging, content is the lifeline of blogs. It is what makes each blog ticks, come alive or stand out from the rest. We cannot dispute the fact that content is the driver and the direction that the blog is moving is controlled by this driver. Whether we like it or not, content remains the primary yardstick to the success of each blog. Therefore, it is not wrong to say that good blog content matters the most as far as the success of the blog is concerned.

Blog content is read within the posts that are placed in the blog. It follows therefore that before posts can be made, content must be developed first. Such content development can be initiated through writing, compiling and linking. No matter which route is chosen for content generation, the fact still remains that it has to be developed first and has to be of quality and relevance to the title of your blog, that is to say, it must agree with your niche.

Often a mind-boggling question is the topic of frequency of posting. How often is a blogger required to submit new posts? What kind of posting schedule is preferred or should be followed? There are really no hard and fast rules concerning the frequency of submitting fresh posts. The one thing to look at is how much time can be spared for writing the new posts. Each post would require different amount of time to think out what you intend to say, read and edit what is being written and counter-checking spelling or grammatical errors. The point here to emphasize is that a fresh post will be best written at a time slot which you really can afford to spare, so that it will not be completed without inspiration but with refreshing zest and creative imagination.

Blog content may be generated in various styles best suited to your blog:

(1) Compiled -- This permits quoting content from other blogs or experts with proper referencing .

(2) Narrative -- Similar to an essay which can either be lengthy or short.

(3) Link lists -- This style is time-saving. What is needed is merely creating the links and organizing them.

(4) Supplementary links -- This requires creating the links in HTML within your posts for content similar to yours.

Throughout the presentation of the blog content, it is always good to be the voice of the blog, that is to say, be yourself. Write as you think and keep the thoughts flowing smoothly, continuously and creatively real. Should any idea for a blog post pops up, it is always beneficial to write it down first and post it later. Do not neglect this idea as it may turn out to be your blog's number one post!

To write good posts, good content is the prerequisite. This can be generated if it follows certain guidelines:

(1) Be attention-seeking

A piece of good content is attention seeking. It contains information that is helpful and valuable to visitors who will return to source for others. Your blog will be bookmarked in the process. It will become a popular resource blog.

(2) Inducing subscription

With the content that is updated on a regular basis, it is good to provide visitors with a subscription feature. They will be able to subscribe through the feed system on your blog.

(3) Always aiming for more links

None is further from the truth that if your blog has more incoming links, your rankings on search engines will vastly improve. This is a result that will happen only after your blog has gained a favorable impression with other bloggers in terms of good blog content. In their eyes, your blog is their valuable resource center.

(4) Welcoming comments

To encourage openness and friendly interaction, always encourage visitors to post their comments on your blog. It is good for self-development. Comments should be taken with a positive mindset.

(5) Encourage action-taking

In your content, it is always possible to arouse the interest and urgency of the visitors to engage them in your call-to-action undertaking. It has to be one call that is strong and emphatic.

When there is a vast amount of posts on your blogs, it is good to place them into archives. The archive feature stores and places your posts in neat arrangement on daily, weekly and monthly basis. Your posts should be placed in categories that they fit into. Categories can be customized to your taste, style and creativity.

Generating good blog content should be the dream of every blogger. It will bring satisfaction and joy knowing that your blog content is well read by visitors and that your blog has turned out to be the hot favorite as a valuable resource.

Webmaster: Jeremy Long Chia Teik.

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How to Be a Good Blog Writer

2009-11-01T23:55:00.000+08:00

By Anirban Bhattacharyya

Writing is an art, and presenting content, wrapped up in finest language, is a skill which one acquires over time. It is a known fact that everybody cannot write fiction, as fiction is narrative in representation and you need a plot, a story as its background, leaving aside the wizardry over the language. But I believe, one can always pursue non-fictional writing, as it has nothing to do with flair of writing. If you want to be a good non-fictional writer, then you should know your subject well and you have the minimum mastery over the language, so that you can represent facts in an articulate and coherent manner.

However, the boundary between 'once a writer', writer and a good writer is wide. If you don't have ample knowledge and information then once you can write a good article with all the little information you have but you can not produce good content always. A writer is in better position than 'once a writer', but obviously he lacks some virtues which a good writer possesses.

Producing content for professional reasons or for someone is the job of content writer where writing only for you and distributing it for the spread of knowledge is the passion of blog writer. Money is always important but it cannot be the purpose for joining blog community. Other than having an in-depth knowledge in his subject and his aptness in reflecting the same in words, a good blog writer is ethically strong. George Orwell once said;

"A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus:

1. What am I trying to say?

2. What words will express it?

3. What image or idiom will make it clearer?

4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?"

All these points alluded by him are very true and in this article I tried to expand the view.

Be true to yourself: You know you cannot exist as a writer if you do not have any reader. It is readers who give you the crown of writer, so you shall not forget your readers. In the initial phase of writing, you build a reader community and it's equally important for you to retain them. If you are not true to yourself, if you are stealing content and marketing it in your name, then one day you will get exposed. And on that very day your reader base will turn away from you, leaving you in lurch, groping for survival.
Reveal the source: We all know you are neither an information warehouse nor a production center. So, you definitely have some source of information. If the source is not electronic, then you might have the liberty to keep it secret. But publishing the link of original source not only increases your sense of honesty, but also gives the reader the chance to read more on the same topic. Do not think that, this will make reader to get more inclined to source. This is not true, as reader will come back to your site, because they will know from you they can start developing their knowledge base.

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. [C. S. Lewis]"

Don't propagate negativity: A blogger can be critic but he can't be a biased enough to attack others or spread negativity through your blog. Also a blogger should be extra cautious when the subject is sensitive. Political or religious topic might hurt some of your readers which you are not aware of. So balancing between two poles of debate is very important.
Know your subject well: Context is king, so even if you are very good in English, still you must have a good knowledge base before you start writing. You can't fool readers and you should keep aside yourself from this intention. A very good preparation will also help you to represent facts in much lucid way.
Write contemporary: Don't write anything which do not fit the current context. Like writing a review of old-fashioned, obsolete cell phone, will always be sent to trash by readers. Also while writing, please be aware that if there already happened any advancement of knowledge. In this world, people progress every second. So if you thought of any subject a week ago, then it is always better to brush up your knowledge on any recent progress of the topic.
Never be grandiloquent: If you are not writing for any English thesaurus, then it is better to use common words instead of big bombastic words. Use of phrases and group verbs often make your article more attractive and lucid. "Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. [C. S. Lewis]"
Be roman when in Rome: There exists a blogger community and you are a part of it. So respect all bloggers and read their blogs, comment properly, so that others don't think you are from Mars. Be a good member of this fraternity and link others to your blog and they will reciprocate by visiting yours and linking to you.
Write proper English: Ultimately you are expressing yourself through a language and so your knowledge over the language is important. Using abbreviated form of English, as we do in chat or IM, as well as using colloquial words and slang should be avoided.
Never personify: It is well if you write some paragraph about you and it is amusing until and unless it is attracting me. But I am not at all interested in knowing you, your personal trip unless there are some interesting aspects in the facts. So, try to avoid personification of the subject.
Keywords: If you want to make your blog easily accessible through search engines you have to know the keywords of your subject and you have to use it somewhere. Like if you are writing review of any mobile phone and drop the keyword cell phone, then people who are searching cell phone will miss your blog. As the blog will not be indexed against the keyword. You shall not jump into using all keywords but a select few which has higher ranking in terms of search density.

Anirban Bhattacharya is an open source programmer and has almost 8 years of industry experience. For the past 5 years he is an active coder in LAMP (Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP) technologies. He has wide knowledge in project management and software development life cycle. He spends his free time in writing technical articles for his blog http://www.wertex.org

His past experience has enabled him to gather knowledge on various open source technologies, PHP frameworks and other related areas. He can be contacted at anirban76b@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anirban_Bhattacharyya

5 Tips For Developing Good Blog Topics

2009-11-01T23:54:00.000+08:00

By Codrut Turcanu

Blogs often fail because their owners run out of topics to write about, and in a fit of frustration and writer's block, they give up. People have trouble coming up with ideas oftentimes, and that's okay. It doesn't say anything bad about your ability as a blogger. It just means that you need to come up with a new method of developing ideas.

Here's a good writer's best kept secret: when you run out of ideas of your own, look to other people for inspiration. The following are great tips for developing blog topics when your own creativity well comes up dry:

Tip for Developing Good Blog Topics #1: Go to the Search Engines

I myself have found Google to be very accommodating in providing me with blog topics. Run a search that focuses on your blog's niche. For example, let's say that your blog's niche is tattoos. You may consider typing the following phrases into the search engine:

• How do I get a tattoo?

• I'm having problems with my tattoo

• I need help with my tattoo

Look through the results and see what you find. People read blogs in order to find out information. "How to"-type topics are great, and this is a great way to find them.

Tip for Developing Good Blog Topics #2: Join a Forum

The majority of Web Sites today have forums. Join forums that focus on your blog's niche and see what people are talking about, and then make them the focus of your blog. I've found that this method usually provides weeks' worth of blog topics.

Tip for Developing Good Blog Topics #3: Check Out Other Blogs

This doesn't mean that you should copy their topics. Remember, one of the main ingredients in developing a strong blog readership is to provide topics and content that are unique. However, reading other peoples' blogs usually provides inspiration and often promotes the chance to write about a topic from a fresh perspective that people will enjoy. Again, don't copy other peoples' blogs!

Tip for Developing Good Blog Topics #4: Watch the News

Local and national news shows are always abreast of the latest topics and trends in the world. They also provide a plethora of blogging ideas to choose from. You may not always find information that suits your blog's niches; however, you should still stay tuned in to the news to make sure you don't miss out on the chance to write about a topic before others do.

Tip for Developing Good Blog Topics #5: Ask Your Readers

A good blogger always provides a way for his readers to contact him. It's a great way to build relationships with readers and to keep them coming back. If you feel like you're running out of blog topics, then ask your readers what they would like to read about.

When you go in search of fresh topic ideas it is important that you do not plagiarize. For starters, it's unethical, and secondly, it means that your blog is not cutting edge and will not stand out from the many other mediocre blogs on the Internet.

It's common for people to run out of topic ideas for their blog. When this happens to you, don't panic and don't give up on your blog. Instead, get creative and let the ideas of other people inspire you.

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Good Blog Traffic - How to Get It

2009-11-01T23:49:00.000+08:00

By Mark West

Most people who are into blogging share the same goal and that is to express their thoughts or share their views, opinions, feelings, and everyday experiences to others. You can only do this if you have readers who will keep on following your updates and posts. It would be better if you keep on improving your blog traffic so you can share your thoughts with more people. But how do you improve your blog traffic?

Your main purpose for creating a blog site is not really a main concern. Some people blog to make money by promoting their online business or by attracting advertisers, while some just want to expand their circle of friends. Either way, you will still need to drive more traffic to your site to get the most out of blogging. Another important thing in improving your blog traffic is to keep your readers interested in following your posts. This is also considered by some as one of the most difficult part of blogging because readers could easily get bored and they would surely stop following your updates once they have lost interest in them.

The main key to keep your readers coming back for more is your blog content. You should always write quality content and this means that it should be beneficial and useful to your readers. Most readers like to read blogs that could provide them with useful information. It would be better if you will write your content in a friendly and conversational manner so your readers would feel that you are personally talking to them. It will somehow build a friendly connection between you and your readers so they will surely enjoy following your posts. You could also include some links and tags that will take them to another site that you think is relevant to or could support your content.

Seeing your blog traffic increase should not make you stop from writing content and posting more blog updates. Always find some time to create a new and interesting content and post on a regular basis. Even if readers like your previous posts, if you failed to give them more to read, there is also a very big chance that they would stop following you and this is the last thing that you would want.

It would also help keep your readers interested in your blogs if you will let them share and express their thoughts and opinions about what you have written. This way, you can make them feel that you are not only interested in generating more traffic to your blog but also in hearing what they have to say through comments and feedback. Make sure to respond to their comments and don't forget to thank them for taking time to post a comment or a feedback.

You should constantly look for some ways to improve your blog traffic so a little reading would help a lot. You could search for new write ups that will teach you new ways to optimize your blog to make it more search engine friendly. You could also look for some information that will teach you what you should and should not do because these things could greatly affect your blog traffic. Be more concerned about your readers and concentrate on what they want and what they need and you can be sure that they will appreciate your every effort.

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Online Nursing Degree - Learn While You Earn

2009-11-01T15:03:00.001+08:00

By Ekta Jain

The great thing about securing online nursing degree is that you are in a position to pursue your training without leaving your present job and more so immediately after earning online associate nursing degree.

The availability of online degree courses in nursing makes it easiest way to gain the requisite qualification for furthering your career prospects in nursing. Earning your nursing degree online in a way is easy as you can obtain your advanced nursing degree as per your convenience from your home or at work if you have any spare time as such it is up to you- it is all online. You will enjoy the convenience of attending class online anytime day or night. Thus you will be in full control of your education. You can take or attend all your classes without staying at campus. You will enjoy the convenience of attending class online anytime day or night and in fact you are you are in control of your education.

The versatility of online degree programme in nursing provides you with a new learning experience by choosing your study hours to your convenience .The online students can be from different places and therefore never meet but can interact with each other online in order to participate in group discussions, projects, workshops. The students pursuing degree in nursing from online nursing school need not wait for textbooks to be published as they are in position to access the latest research projects for completing their assignments.

The online nursing degree program in fact is a blend of theory and advance clinical practices that will certainly make you to understand the nuances of nursing in a better way. On earning online nursing degree you can help your patients more effectively and play a vital role in developing your health unit where you are presently working.

Associate Degree Nursing Online caters to the need of people who have interest in acquiring professional qualification in nursing field. An Online Nursing Degree can take you to great heights. Know more about Online Associate Nursing Degree Schools here.

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Online Associate Nursing Degree - Online Nursing Courses

2009-10-28T07:48:00.001+08:00

By Ekta Jain

Hospitals, large or small, hire maximum number of nurses and have diverse working titles for them. Depending on the nurse's qualification, he or she can choose to work in the field of her specialization or even manage the central responsibilities.

Various Nursing Courses Explained

There are a series of courses to become a nurse to a specialized nurse. The foremost course required to start a nursing career is the practical nurse course or the PN course. This course has duration of one year and it makes you a licensed practical nurse or LPN. Next comes the online associate nursing degree or ADN. This program has duration of two or three years, as the duration can vary from one institute to another.

To become a registered nurse or RN, you have to undertake the nursing degree like the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN) and a Master of Science in nursing (MSN) diploma, after doing online associate nursing degree. The duration of the BSN program is four years. The syllabus consists of nursing administration and management training in various environments. Advanced academic qualification and practical knowledge will give you improved chances to progress in your career. The more your qualifications, the better will be your position, and the better your position; the more will be your salary.

The topmost nursing course is the doctorate in nursing. During the course of these programs, the students can choose their field of specialization, such as hospital nurse, labor room nurse, surgery specialist, dialysis nurse or outpatient nurse. Besides hospitals, nurses with online nursing continuing education degree are also employed in business houses, insurance companies and community health divisions. With a growing population of old people, a large number of nurses are also employed at homes for care of old patients. This facilitates the use of complex medical machines, at home, for their care. Well-qualified nurses can also run their own nursing business.

In addition, here are some nursing facts. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for nurses is likely to rise by 36% in the next four years. Students possessing an online associate nursing degree constitute a majority of all medical students or students pursuing any health profession. Nurses are the main source of providing care to the patients in a hospital and the major sole element of hospital personnel.

Nursing degree info is an online information bank for people who wish to make successful career in nursing. Medicare Industry is growing day by day. With this growth there will be rise in requirement for qualified Medicare personnel's. For professional growth in nursing, go for Online Associate Nursing Degree. Choose from best Online Nursing Degree Schools.

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Is Medical Tourism For You?

2009-10-28T07:40:00.000+08:00

By Patrick Marsek

A look into the system of healthcare abroad

Medical tourism is a fascinating concept, gaining quick recognition in the United States. Although the practice of traveling abroad to receive medical procedures is decades old in Europe, and has been practiced for hundreds of years in Asia, it is still quite new to Americans. So, in an effort to help explain the benefits and pitfalls of this relatively new industry, please allow me to share some of my first hand experiences with you, a potential medical tourist.

There are four basic groups of North Americans who are most interested in medical tourism and the cost savings it provides:

· 45 Million Uninsured Americans

· 250 Million Insured Americans with restricted coverage due to pre-existing conditions, resulting in out-of-pocket expenses

· 32 Million Canadians receiving socialized medicine and enduring long wait lists for many popular surgeries

· Potentially, 332 Million North Americans seeking elective cosmetic and/or dental surgery

As you can see, the market potential is huge, but, unless a well organized, comprehensive, individualized program facilitating the healthcare needs and travel desires of North American consumers has been structured, medical tourism will only remain a vision and not a reality.

Quality and Safety of Healthcare Abroad

There is much to consider before experiencing a successful medical retreat. One of the first issues to investigate would be the quality and safety of healthcare abroad. You can perform a quick search on the internet and find a host of foreign hospitals, doctors, even government organizations marketing directly the worldwide consumer with hopes of attracting them to their country. CONSUMER BEWARE! Marketing rhetoric and posh photos can be very deceiving. I can personally vouch for this type of misperception. In my travels to 11 destinations within 7 countries around the world, I have seen these misrepresentations more often than not. This presents a very interesting question; how do you know who is telling the truth and who is fabricating information? The truth is, you don’t until you have either experienced it first hand or know of a trusting source that has had the experience.

In reality, it’s impossible for most people to know first hand, because they haven’t traveled to a foreign country to inspect the quality of healthcare. So, what’s the next step? Find someone you can trust who has had the experience and is willing provide an objective point of view. Good luck in your search! This may not be an easy task to accomplish. Hence the need for a bona fide, professional, medical tourism service agency in the U.S. to help consumers make these difficult choices. By utilizing the knowledge and expertise of an unbiased medical tourism specialist, you will better guarantee your safety and comfort while traveling abroad for your surgery.

To date, there is only one American owned company that offers a complete and thorough service to guide patients through the intricacies of this complex course of action. The organization is called MedRetreat, an American company facilitating the healthcare needs and travel desires of North Americans. You can visit http://www.medretreat.com for a very comprehensive education about the entire process. MedRetreat has inspected and verified the efficacy of their hospital affiliates. Most healthcare providers in the network are either JCI accredited, or, are in the process of accreditation. And, many of the doctors are board certified by the U.S, U.K. or Australia.

My personal advice - don’t go through the process alone. Utilize the experience of a company like MedRetreat who has performed their due-diligence on your behalf. It’s like trying to bake a cake for the very first time. Without the help of an experienced baker, like good old grandma, you’re sure to make some mistakes. Traveling abroad for surgery, without the necessary knowledge, is much too important to take the chance of making any mistakes.

Cost Savings

Once you feel comfortable about the quality of healthcare overseas, then it’s time to research another important factor in considering medical tourism as an option for your surgical procedure…the cost savings. Due to two main factors, the cost is as low as 1/10th of the price in the U.S. Here are two main reasons as sited by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger:

1. “Many workers in the health care industry are basically getting paid to shuffle paper around. The health insurance companies are paid to deny health claims and the government workers at Medicare and Medicaid offices are paid to find new ways to deny payments to doctors and hospitals for services rendered. Thus, doctors' offices and hospitals have to employ entire armies of people to sit around and reclassify procedures in ways that can get paid by insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. It's a massive waste of time, money and effort.”

”As a medical tourist in another country, you eliminate these paperwork shufflers. And right there, you can save as much as 80% right off the bat. Because now, your dollars are actually going to the surgeons, anesthesiologists and other hospital workers who are attending to you during your surgical procedure. Whereas in the United States, your money is going to the insurance company and then the insurance company money is being used to pay paper shufflers.”

2. “Another reason these surgical procedures are so much more affordable in Asia or other regions of the world is because of the liability issue. In the United States, doctors and hospitals must carry extremely expensive medical malpractice insurance policies. And patients seem to love to sue in the United States. In contrast, when you undergo a surgical procedure as a medical tourist in an offshore hospital, you sign paperwork that says you agree not to sue under certain conditions. Thus, you save a fortune by essentially not funding the legal fees, settlements and malpractice insurance costs normally found in a U.S.-based healthcare practice.”

Mr. Adams goes on to say; “when you combine these two savings - the paperwork shuffling reduction and the medical malpractice lawsuits - you get an incredible deal for your dollar.”

The Medical Tourism Experience

Now that we’ve covered the two most important aspects of medical tourism, quality and price, let’s briefly touch upon on the experience of traveling abroad.

Although choosing your destination is not the most important feature of your medical care objective, you should ultimately be pleased with your selection. After all, you’ll be spending anywhere between 2-4 weeks overseas and should be able to enjoy your recuperation process. There are many alternatives, but, you should definitely choose a destination that specializes in your required procedure. Of the many locations available, I’ve found that Malaysia, Thailand and Brazil are the most popular. Make sure your service agent representative educates you about the country and culture before you go. This will prove to be a valuable investment of your time. Education is the key to a successful medical tour.

Researching and planning your recuperation period can be an exciting and adventurous process. It helps to relieve your thoughts about your surgical procedure and focus on the enjoyment segment of your medical retreat. Please be advised, depending on your surgery, you may not be able to enjoy certain activities, so, my best advice would be to look into physically inactive forms of enjoyment.

Destination Program Management

With the exception of Penang, Malaysia, which is an English speaking destination, and very easy to navigate on your own, all other destinations should offer the assistance of a Destination Program Manager (DPM) to help navigate the terrain and explain the nuances of the culture. A DPM will be your friend away from home. They will take care of all your personal needs while visiting. Remember, you will be recuperating from surgery and in most cases, not in the best physical and emotional condition to take care of the necessary details of a new environment. Here are some of the services a DPM will offer to guaranty your comfort and enjoyment:

· Meet and greet arriving customer at the airport

· Private transportation to the hotel

· Pre-arrange hotel check-in

· Private transportation to-and-from doctor consultation

· Private transportation to-and-from medical procedure

· Interpretation assistance at hospital or clinic if needed

· Provide communication assistance, such as cell phone or 24 hour contact number

· Check on recuperating patient daily once procedure is performed

· Provide emotional support if necessary during visit

· Assist with local tour and excursion arrangements

· Provide information about local dining, shopping, and pampering facilities

· Provide information about local culture and customs of destination

· Assure that customer is comfortable and content at all times

· Deliver customer to airport for departure

· Assist customer with baggage check-in upon departure

· Arrange for Airport medical assistance upon departure if necessary

So much to do…so little time

Because a successful medical retreat requires between 35-40 hours of planning, all facets of medical tourism cannot be discussed in one article such as this.

There is much to learn. The question is; how much is your time worth? Don’t waste time trying to reinvent the wheel. It would be very time consuming and cumbersome to piece together all the available information about medical tourism on the internet. It can also be very confusing and overwhelming.

There are companies perfectly capable of helping you through the process. And, some will not even charge you for their services. They receive compensation from their overseas partners for their role in the process. In fact, in many cases, you will spend less by using a professional medical tourism service agency. If you find the right organization, they will have negotiated more favorable pricing on your behalf and pass along some of the savings to you. So, in essence, you will not be able to receive a better price - even by going direct to the hospital yourself. The choice is yours. Choose well.

So, the question remains; is medical tourism for you?

About The Author
Patrick Marsek has been one of the leading U.S. advocates for medical tourism. His company, MedRetreat, LLC., is the first medical tourism service agency in the U.S. facilitating the healthcare nedds and travel desires of Americans.

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Dental Health Activities

2009-10-26T13:13:00.003+08:00

By Seth Miller

Dental health activities are designed to encourage good dental health practices and to help avoid dental cavities, gum diseases and oral cancer. State dental health programs are the primary entities responsible for conducting the core activities with regard to oral health conditions within different states. Local health departments in association with the dental community and public/private schools also arrange various dental health activities. The promotion of dental sealants and monitoring of the fluoride content in drinking water are examples of disease prevention activities. The American Dental Association provides a great deal of resources for dental health activities.

Classroom dental health activities are an integral component in the development of a child. Dental health activities to provide valuable oral care education and to promote the importance of proper dental hygiene among children are conducted with the help of posters, interactive dental health games and contests, health fairs and classroom presentations. Health educators present programs on topics such as brushing and flossing, bad breath, good nutrition and how to overcome the fear of visiting the dentist. The organization and administration of school-based fluoride mouth rinse programs and the promotion of school dental screening are examples of additional dental health activities focused on children.

Organizations such as Oral Health America develop, implement, and facilitate educational and service programs designed to raise awareness of the importance of oral health. Nationwide activities and campaigns coordinate schools, governments, care providers, and corporate and community partners in the fight against tooth decay and oral disease prevention. Many state dental health programs are involved in epidemiologic surveys, applied research projects and community needs assessments. This information is important in developing an appropriate and responsive community programming. Many public health systems operate independent public health dental activities. These activities vary in scope and size across each state depending on population requirements. State grants are allotted to develop innovative dental activities and programs specific to individual states? needs, and improve access to oral health services.

Dental Health provides detailed information on Dental Health, Dental Health Plans, Dental Health Care, Child Dental Health and more. Dental Health is affiliated with Dental Plans.

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Dental Health Activities

2009-10-26T13:13:00.002+08:00

By Seth Miller

Dental Health provides detailed information on Dental Health, Dental Health Plans, Dental Health Care, Child Dental Health and more. Dental Health is affiliated with Dental Plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seth_Miller

The Nursing Career

2009-10-26T13:13:00.000+08:00

By Jenny Hagbong

Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families and communities to meet again, achieve and maintain optimal health and functioning. Modern definitions of nursing define it as a science and an art that focuses on promoting quality of life as defined by individuals and families, throughout their life experiences from birth to care at the end of life.

In pre-modern times, nuns and the military often nursing services. The religious and military roots of modern nursing remain in evidence today. For example, in Britain, senior nurses are known as "Sisters". In recent times in the U.S. Canada and many nurses are flowing back to work in a "religious" on the ground across the "Parish Nursing." These nurses work within a church community to carry out health education, counseling, referrals to provide community support agencies, and connect volunteers from the Christian community with those in need of assistance.

Nurses recognize that the nursing profession is an essential part of society which has grown. The authority to practice nursing in basa is a social contract that defines the rights and professional responsibilities, as well as mechanisms for public accountability. The practice of nursing comprises an altruistic behavior, is guided by research and nursing is governed by a code of ethics.

Nursing continues to develop a broad range of knowledge and skills associated. There are a number of educational paths to become a professional nurse, but all involve extensive study of nursing theory and practice and training in clinical skills.

In almost all countries, nursing practice is defined and regulated by law and entry into the profession is regulated by national, state or territorial boards of nursing.

The American Nurses' Association (1980) has identified nursing as "the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems." Just as medical diagnoses help in the planning, implementation and evaluation of health care, nursing diagnoses help in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care.

Like other disciplines maturation, nursing has developed various theories that fit the differences and philosophical beliefs or paradigms of the world. Nursing theories nurses to help direct its activities to achieve specific goals with people. Nursing is a knowledge-based discipline committed to the betterment of mankind. Nursing has not only become a profession, but also an art.

Nursing is the most diverse of all health professions. It is a universal role that appears in some form in all cultures.

Nursing can be divided into different specialties or ratings. In the U.S., there are a large number of nursing specialties. Professional organizations or certification boards issue of voluntary certification in many of these areas.

These specialties include attention throughout human life based on the patient's needs. Many nurses who choose a specialty become certified in that area, which means they possess expert knowledge of specialty. There are over 200 nursing specialties and sub-specialties. Certified nurses often earn a salary differential over their non-certified colleagues, and studies of the Institute of Medicine have shown that specialty certified nurses have higher rates of patient satisfaction and lower rates of work-related errors in patient care.

Nurses in practice a wide range of environments from hospitals to people who visit in their homes and take care of them in schools for research in pharmaceutical companies. Nurses working in shaping health (also called industrial health), free standing clinics and medical offices, nurse management clinics, long-term care, and camps. Nurses working on cruise ships and in military service. They act as advisers and consultants to health care and insurance industries. Some nurses are working with lawyers and other lawyers as legal nurse consultants, reviewing patient records to ensure that adequate attention and gave testimony in court. In many cities, nurses can even enter their names on a "record" and work a variety of temporary jobs.

In the modern world, there are a large number of nursing specialties:
Ambulatory Care Nursing
Advanced nursing practice
Behavioral health nursing
Camp nurses
Cardiac nursing
Cardiac catheter laboratory nursing
The case management
Clinical nurse specialist
Clinical research nurse
Nursing in community health
Correctional nursing
Nursing critical care
Developmental disabilities nursing
District nursing
Emergency nursing
Environmental Health Nursing
Flight nursing
Forensic nursing
Gastroenterology Nursing
Genetics nursing
Geriatric Nursing
Health visit
Hematology oncology nursing
HIV / AIDS nursing
Home health nursing
Hospice nurses
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy Nursing
Intavenous therapy nursing
Infectious diseases nursing
Legal nursing
Legal nurse researcher
Maternal-Child Nursing
Medical-Surgical Nursing
Military and uniformed nursing services, including Public Health Service
Neonatal Nursing
Neuro-surgical nursing
Nurse anesthetist
Nurse-midwife
Nurse professional
Nursing educator
Nursing Informatics
Nursing Management
Obstetrics, Gynecology nursing
From health nursing
Nursing oncological
Operating Theatre nursing
Orthopaedic nursing
Ostomy nursing
The pain management and palliative care nursing
Pediatric Nursing
Perianesthesia Nursing
Perioperative Nursing
Plastic and reconstructive surgical nursing
Private Nursing
Psychiatric nursing or mental health
Public health
Pulmonary nursing
Improving the quality
Radiology nursing
Rehabilitation nursing
Nursing kidney dialysis
Renal nursing
Research
School of Nursing
Sub-acute nursing
Substance abuse nursing
Tele-medicine nursing
Telemetry Nursing
Telephone triage nurses
Transplant nursing
Travel Nursing
Urology nursing
Utilization Management
The wound care
Professional organizations or certification boards issue of voluntary certification in many of these specialties.

Assistant Nursing skills are all learned tasks used to help residents or patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and providing bedside care, including basic nursing procedures under the supervision of a registered nurse ( RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN).

At present, hospitals and extended care facillities an assistant nurse is an important part of a medical team that includes staff outside many of the nurses. In the quest to earn a profit of care many hospitals in the United States have reduced their nurse to patient ratios, which requires a nurse to care for as many as twelve or fourteen patients at once. To that good attention being given to patients that a nurse assistant is needed to provide routine care so that nurses can focus on tasks that only he / she can do, such as care plans, evaluations of nursing, administration of medications, and help surgery preparation room. The auxiliary nurse should not only be highly skilled in the current procedures being carried out, but must also be able to make quick observations of the patient's condition and information to report to the nurse. Since the nurse can not spend large amounts of time in a room with the patient, the nurse assistant is known as the nurse "eyes and ears".

A nurse assistant must have a solid understanding of emergency procedures and be able to stay calm in stressful situations. They should be able to introduce a Code Blue and be well drilled in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Jenny Hagbong writes for Finding the Best Online Associate Degree Nursing Program. Provides detailed information on Nursing Degree, Nursing News, Famous Nursing, Online Nursing and more. please visit http://www.nurseme.org

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May 12 declaed National Nurses Day (Utusan Malaysia Online)

2009-10-26T11:34:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR Oct.12 – The government has declared May 12 as the national Nurses Day, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

"This is to acknowledge the nurses” continuous contribution to the country”s healthcare sector,” he said at a news conference after opening the International Nursing Conference, near here.

He said that the move was approved by the Cabinet recently. - Bernama

H1N1:Obama isytihar darurat

2009-10-26T11:33:00.001+08:00

WASHINGTON 25 Okt. – Presiden Barack Obama mengisytiharkan selesema babi sebagai ‘darurat negara’ sewaktu Amerika Syarikat menghadapi berjuta-juta kes jangkitan dan lebih 1,000 kematian.

Pengisytiharan darurat yang ditandatangani petang kelmarin itu, membolehkan para doktor dan jururawat melangkaui keperluan tertentu Persekutuan, supaya mereka boleh mengendalikan pesakit influenza A (H1N1) dengan lebih baik.

Ia dibuat hanya beberapa hari selepas Setiausaha Kesihatan, Kathleen Sebelius memberi amaran bahawa permintaan vaksin strain flu tersebut melebihi bekalan.

“Pandemik H1N1 2009 terus meningkat, kadarnya melonjak dengan cepat dalam banyak komuniti di seluruh negara dan terdapat kemungkinan pandemik tersebut membebani sumber-sumber penjagaan kesihatan di sesetengah tempat,” kata Obama.

Ketika rakyat AS menanti penghantaran vaksin, 46 daripada 50 negeri kini melaporkan penyebaran selesema babi, yang agak luar biasa awalnya, memandangkan kemuncak musim selesema yang biasa ialah pada bulan Januari atau Februari. – AFP

--- UTUSAN MALAYSIA

The Pre-Nursing Experience

2009-10-25T22:22:00.001+08:00

By Nancy Kimmel

What are the requirements to gain admission into nursing school? Actually, they differ from one school to the next but all have certain main pre-requisite classes that are required for students to take. These include courses in Anatomy & Physiology, Social Sciences, Biology, English I & II, Psychology, Life Span Psychology, a Pharmaceutical course and a Chemistry course. Most nursing schools require a grade of C or better for each of the above named courses.

If this isn't enough stress, the student must complete the Nursing Entrance Test prior to getting their name on the nursing school admission list. Consequently, for the associate degree nurse, the entire program can be expected to take up to three years to complete. The up side of this is that many four year degree granting institutions offer a one year curriculum to graduating Associate Degree Nurse (ADN) for completion of a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. It is quite likely, that when the ADN graduates and finds employment, that the hospital where he or she is employed will pay their tuition for their Bachelors Degree completion. All of this sounds very enticing to many who wish to pursue nursing careers.

The nurses pay is also an incentive to enroll in Nursing School, though it should not be the main reason. Hence, with the occurrence of the mass lay offs from many of the automotive industries, those without jobs are entertaining the thought of going into the field of nursing. There is a huge influx of people who are in the nursing program or who plan to enroll in the nursing program ranging in ages from 32 to 52. Many of these students bring with them a vast life experience base. Therefore it is not surprising to find nursing students that have one or two Bachelor Degrees, previous careers in engineering, science, secretarial fields, emergency medical technicians and teachers.

This type of cross section was not the norm twenty or thirty years ago, when most of the nursing students were in their early twenties. There are quite a few current nursing students that are holding full time jobs and juggling kids and spouses needs. The responsibilities that the new nursing students must bear become at most unbearable when actual nursing school begins. So, the nursing student is faced with a stressful road map right at the beginning.

Why are nursing classes so difficult? Time and time again nursing students have said the same thing, which is, "how do you study for these tests?" The frustration for the nursing student culminates when they get a poor score on their exam. Usually this low score is in the C range, which is a failing grade for most Nursing Schools. When a student gets a 79 on an exam, they know that they have to make up those points on the next test. Worst case scenario is that they go into the final with a grade of 79% or 80%. Final exams are always much harder than the exams throughout the semester. So, when a student goes into the final with a failing grade or on the cusp of failing they become unnerved. Most nursing instructors will tell their students not to take the final if they have below an 80% and just drop the class instead of chancing a failing grade.

With nursing courses ranging in the 5-10 credit hour brackets, one can imagine how much a grade point average could be affected by a failing grade. Yet, nursing students do it all the time. They sit for the final exam and throw caution to wind. The results are that some of them do indeed pass, while others fail. Those that pass the final start the next semester with renewed stress. The nursing tests are what put so much stress on the students.

Although clinical rotation can also be very grueling, most student nurses will agree that it is the nursing tests that they fear. Nursing students must be prepared to handle the stress ahead of time. Friends and family should be aware of how much stress that their loved ones have to endure while in nursing school. They can assist by helping with the children such as picking the kids up from school, or bringing over dinner a few times a week. Just being there to listen to their concerns and offering a shoulder to lean on can help a great deal.

The nursing entrance test study guide provides nurses the assistance they need with the nursing entrance test. The nursing study guide helps nurses. Visit http://www.nurseslearningcenter.com for more information.

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Are You Considering a Job in Nursing?

2009-10-25T22:18:00.002+08:00

By Julie Harvard

Healthcare careers are booming and nursing is one of the fastest growing occupations projected in next 5 years. Qualified nurses are highly in demand, thus if you are considering a job in nursing, you definitely are in the right career path.

One thing to take note is nursing jobs are a time-honored profession and a nurse must be dedicated and diligent. You must be a kind of person who can give an extra ounce of energy in order to be successfully in your nursing career path.

There are many nursing career options for you to participate in and you can select a working environment that suits your tastes and preferences. Among the common nursing jobs are:

Hospital Nurse

Most of nurses are generally working at hospital but this is not the only option in nursing job field. We will explain other type of nurse jobs in next paragraph. A hospital nurse takes care of hospital patients. If you work as a hospital nurse, your daily care and interaction with the patient has a major impact on how fast the patient recuperates and on the patient's attitude.

Private Duty Nurse

Private Duty Nurse is assigned to care a dedicated patient at hospital or at home. You will need to coordinate care between physician and family according to individual situations.

You will need to follow physician's orders for medications, treatment and keeps accurate record of patient's condition and reports to physician periodically. Beside the patient, a private duty nurse will also have the responsibility to educate the patient and the patient's family on importance of maintaining proper diet and health habits.

Hospice Nurse

A Hospice Nurse assesses patient health problems and needs and works to develop and implement nursing care plans with the goal of patient comfort. A hospice nurse typically administers care to patients in a hospice, home or long term care facility.

Operating Room Nurse

An Operating Room Nurse must understand the use of modern operating room equipment, the type of procedure the doctor is doing and the kinds of tools the doctor will need. The nurse must be ready to assist the surgeon and the surgical team in their tasks. Other then that, an operating room nurse will also need to oversee the work organization within the operating theatre, and mediate between the various hospital departments, the surgeons, and the management.

Home Care Nurse

Other than the above nursing job, home care nursing is one of the major booming sectors in health care industry. Today, home health care nurses work in rural, suburban and urban areas, traveling from patient to patient to care for and monitor the patient's needs and communicate with doctors and other medical staff. With the enhance of medical technology, home care nurses can now use mobile monitoring equipment to monitor everything from heart rate and blood pressure to blood sugar for diabetics and more, so the nurse can treat one patient and check on another one in the car on the way to visiting a third patient.

Earn Your Nursing Degree

In order to start your nursing career, you must be qualified in this field. Although you can start you nursing career as LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) or RN (Registered Nurse), a higher degree you are more employable, you will earn a higher salary, and you will have much more freedom to chart your own career path. Beside the traditional classroom-based nursing degree, now you can earn your nursing degree online. The major benefit of pursuing the nursing degree online is that you can attend the online class at any location and at your own schedule. And the best part is you can continue with you current job while getting your nursing degree online.

In Summary

If you think nursing is for you, look into local nursing schools or online universities that offer the related nursing courses and get started on the career path to nursing.

Jullie Harvard is the author of http://www.studykiosk.com. This site featured over 1,000 online degrees and you can get more information on Online Nursing Degree at this site.

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Julie Harvard - EzineArticles Expert Author

Nursing Career - A Smart Choice

2009-10-25T22:16:00.002+08:00

By Linda Raye

If you have been considering entering into the healthcare industry as a professional nurse, here are some points to consider….

Nursing careers encompass a wide range of activities related to the field of delivering healthcare. As pure healthcare professionals employed in hospitals and similar other healthcare units, people in nursing careers cater to treatment, safety and recovery of acutely or chronically ill or injured people, health maintenance of the healthy, and treatment of life-threatening emergencies in a wide range of health care settings.

Additionally, nursing careers also span many non-clinical functions, such as medical and nursing research, forensic research, nursing education, medical insurance, serving medical, pharmaceutical and healthcare companies and so on.

In the United States, it is estimated that nursing careers of about 50 percent of nurses start at hospitals of all hues. Indeed, hospitals remain the largest employers of registered nurses. But there are other avenues for promising nursing careers, some of which are enumerated below:

• Working in specialized healthcare units and long-term care facilities (hospice nursing, standalone nursing homes, patient rehabilitation, etc.).

• Assisting medical specialists like surgeons, ophthalmologists, obstetricians and others.

• Nursing-on-call on private duty for home patients (home health agencies).

• Serving in outdoor community health clinics.

• Educating aspiring nurses as teachers.

• Engaging in medical, nursing and forensic research, either self or as assistants.

• Independent nursing careers like legal nurse consultants, medical writers, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and so on.

• Serving international organizations, like United Nations, Red Cross, etc.

• Serving insurance companies and managed care centers.

• Serving in statutory bodies responsible for hospital regulations.

• Serving companies engaged in healthcare and medical business.

Job consultants have long noted an increasing uptrend for nursing careers. By all accounts, the employment opportunity for registered nurses is expected to grow at a much faster pace through 2014 compared to all other occupations. Since the occupation is very large and in view of rising median age of registered nurse population, the requirement of registered nurses is likely to create the second largest of new jobs among all occupations.

Even though nursing careers are on an upswing, there are not enough facilities, competent to meet the growing demand. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that the shortage of faculty in nursing schools has reached an alarming proportion. This is happening because on one hand the present faculty workforce is fast approaching retirement, and on the other, the pool of younger replacement faculty is decreasing.

This has thrown a unique opportunity for experienced registered nurses to pursue nursing careers of teaching and counseling new students. Among other considerations in favor of teaching profession, higher emolument is surely a big motivating factor. Since teaching requires higher education in nursing (masters degree or higher), experienced nurses who already have bachelor degrees, may consider enrolling for higher education in order to enhance their nursing careers. At the same time, as the nursing institutes re-organize their teaching facilities, school-level graduates may find nursing careers lucrative to pursue and excel.

Many institutes of repute offering nursing courses, for example University of Northern Colorado, Duke University School of Nursing in Durham and SDSU College of Nursing to name a few, are offering accelerated BSN programs (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) as a direct response to shortage in nursing. These programs allow students, who already have a degree in another discipline, to earn a BSN degree in only 16 to 20 months instead of traditional 4-year program.

Often people in mid professional career feel that nursing careers are more suitable for them. Accelerated BSN programs aim to hasten their journey back to their heart’s desire. In order to sweeten the things for them, many hospitals in fact sponsor students for these programs to assist their nursing careers. They pay tuition fees in lieu of their working for them after graduation. Hospital authorities are effusive in their praise for second-career nursing students. They say that students, who opt for nursing careers after having spent early life in other fields, often make terrific nurses. They come as matured persons, broadly educated and knowing how to conduct themselves in the workplace.

Nursing careers have several tales. The ability to serve mankind is certainly one of them. Bravo to that.

Copyright 2006 Linda Raye

Linda Raye is an accomplished author specializing in healthcare. Nursing is just one of her passions. You can contact her at LRaye@cinci.rr.com or visit the website at http://www.nursingchoice.com

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Setting Up Your Office For "Health"

2009-10-25T22:13:00.002+08:00

By Loretta Lanphier

If you work and are spending one third to one half of your day in an office setting then your surroundings there are as important as those in your home. Although we usually have little control over the buildings we work in, being aware of problems that can affect us will enable us to take counter-measures and may encourage the creation of stimulating and nurturing environments. Below are 10 steps that will help to provide an office that is balanced and conducive to good health and well-being, which will ultimately benefit your health and the health your company.

1) Ergonomically Correct Chair: Make sure that your chair is comfortable and has adjustable height and arms. When you are sitting straight with feet flat on the floor your arms should be at a 90-degree angle when typing on the computer. If you are having to strain or stretch to reach your computer then you are putting stress on the back and shoulder area. Chairs can certainly be expensive but in the long run it will cost much less than spending time at the chiropractor.

2) Green Plants: Plants do more than just enhance the beauty of your surroundings, many actually clean pollutants out of the air as they add oxygen and humidity to the indoor environment. New findings suggest, however, that they may add more than just color and interest. They also filter the air, and can fight against the common high-tech ill, sick building disease. Recent research undertaken by the NASA Space Administration in America has yielded some very interesting results. In a test lasting two years conducted by Dr. B.C. Wolverton at the Stennis Space Centre in Mississippi it was discovered that common houseplants are capable of converting chemical air pollutants into harmless substances. Ivy, one of the smallest of houseplants, does an excellent job of cleaning the air of toxins, especially benzene and TCE. The humble potted Chrysanthemum is another goodie. You can place a number of plants around your office or make up a high scoring clean-air cocktail by adding such plants as Peace Lilies and Parlour Palms. Better still are various forms of Dracaena, Dracaena Warnecki and Dracaena Janet Craig are real pollutant sucking types. Chinese Evergreen and the humble Philoderdron are also two to watch out for.

3) Lighting: Studies suggest that natural light increases human productivity and reduces fatigue and stress. By simply replacing your antiquated fluorescent tubes with full-spectrum tubes, you can instantly enhance your environment and your well-being! Full spectrum lighting emits a natural, balanced spectrum of light that is the closest you can get to sunlight indoors. Based on years of study not only do they bring out true, vibrant colors but they can also ease eye fatigue, improve your mood, reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels, slow aging of the retina and reduce glare.

4) Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but the natural constituents (naturally occurring chemicals) of the essential oil are drawn into the lungs and can also supply physical benefit. Aromatherapy can help with a physical condition, can help with symptoms, can affect your mood, or help alleviate or temporarily eliminate stress or other psychological factors. Scenting your office with Lavender essential oil is said to reduce computer errors at least 25%. The following is a good blend to use in the office (must have an aromatherapy diffuser): 2 drops of lemon, orange or bergamot; 2 drops of grapefruit; 1 drop ylang ylang, rose or neroli. Multiply your blend by 4 to obtain a total of 20 drops of your chosen blend. Add your oils to a dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rolling the bottle in between your hands. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer’s instructions. There are also many “recipes” on the Internet to use during the cold and flu season when “office-air” can be extremely contagious.

5) Air Quality: The EPA informs us that 6 out of 10 buildings are "sick" and that indoor air quality is the United States' number one environmental health problem. A recent study by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture found that ionizing a room led to 52% less dust in the air, and 95% less bacteria in the air (since many of the pollutants found in the air reside on floating dust particles). The U.S.D.A. also performed another study to test the effectiveness of negative ionization at removing airborne Salmonella Enteritidis. The negative ions drastically reduced the airborne salmonella particles, prompting the following statement from the USDA. I recommend a negative ion air purifier for the office setting. These units are small enough to fit on a credenza or desk and are very modestly priced.

6) EMF Protection: Detrimental energies from electromagnetic fields emitted from high tension wires, industrial radar, microwave beams, electric current, computers, cell phones, televisions, fluorescent lights and other electrical appliances have been found to be dangerous to mental and physical health. When an individual sleeps or works for extensive periods within electromagnetic frequency zones, these energies create a constant source of stress (altering body polarity) which can lead to fatigue, frustration, tension and illness. Signs of exposure may include drowsiness, chronic aches and pains, sleep disorders, irritability, low energy and general malaise and may lead to more serious health situations such as cancer. These highly disruptive energy fields actually numb or dull our sense perceptions and adversely impacts brain wave activity. Studies have also shown electromagnetic fields (EMF) to induce mild depression in many subjects with the disruption of melatonin, dopamine, and serotonin levels. There are many devices that can be used in the office or put on the computer that will give EMF protection. I recommend the Safe Space II. It is designed to neutralize harmful electromagnetic fields, geopathic disturbances, as well as other detrimental vibrational energies in environments. It is a framed holographic grid (encased behind glass) 2” x 2” and can be attached to any surface…especially the computer monitor. The Safe Space II device clears a spherical area with a 9’ radius. You can read more about it at www.ghchealth.com.

7) Colors: Color therapy has its roots in ancient Egypt. Scientific studies recognize that colors bring about emotional reactions to individuals. Our reactions and attitudes to colors differ from person to person. That color affects us all is an undoubted fact. Its significance has been investigated and the results utilized in merchandizing, selling, home decorating, the workplace environment, industry, plant growth, nutrition, physics, physiology, psychology, ecclesiasticism and art. In fact, color is so much a part of our lives that we tend to take it for granted. Colors that are useful in the office are: orange – stimulates creativity; yellow – intensifies the intellect and heightens motivation; red – energizes; blue – calming, fights physical and mental tension; green – fights irritability and has a healing effect on the body. For the office, use colors that you are drawn to as these are the colors that will benefit your health.

8) Music: Just about all offices have some type of music playing in the background. Music can affect emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills. Music in the workplace, either from piped-in music or from a radio, is sometimes used to mask sounds. Music can provide mental stimulation while performing monotonous tasks, which can help to reduce stress levels in the office. Some people, however, find music in the office intensely annoying, especially if it is too loud or inappropriate. I have found that soft, up-lifting music is very essential to the office “atmosphere”. There is literally a mirage of good background music available on CD’s. Search out the Internet on what is right for your office.

9) Breaks: Even the most focused person needs a break at least twice a day. Change of scenery also helps with emotions. One of the best ways to eliminate stress and recharge the body is to go outside for a ten-minute walk. Focus on your surroundings and take deep breaths. This will give you a renewal of energy and will also aid in Vitamin D production. Walk by yourself and focus on clearing your mind. Walking will also get the blood and the lymphatic system flowing.

10) Organization: It is an excellent idea to look into Feng Shui for the office. Feng Shui is basically an environmental science and gives advice on how to create environments in which we feel comfortable and supported. For example, water energy plays a significant role in Feng Shui. Having a small fountain in your office can give a sense of calmness and peacefulness. Keep your office clean and organized. There is no excuse for clutter. Make sure that your desk is clean and that everything is put away before you leave each day. A well-organized, uncluttered desk leads to clear thinking and reduces stress. Make a habit of putting items back in their original place after you are finished using them.

Putting in the extra time, effort and money in getting your office environment “healthy” will pay-off with a multitude of health benefits. Of course, it is assumed that when you are out of the office, you are also taking care of yourself by eating a healthy diet, exercising the body and mind, taking good supplementation and getting adequate rest. All of this goes hand-in-hand in getting and keeping the body healthy. Remember to address your attitude as you travel the path to good health, as negative attitudes are self-destructive. Good health requires desire, determination and discipline in every aspect of your life.

About The Author

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CCN, HHP is a Doctor of Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in the Houston, TX area and Vice President of Global Healing Center, Inc. A teacher and educator, she counsels Global Healing Center clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy. As a cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and products. Dr. Lanphier is Assistant Editor and contributor to the worldwide newsletter Alternative Health & Healing.

Visit us on the web at: http://www.ghchealth.com

Perlis, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu Advance To Semi-finals (BERNAMA)

2009-10-25T13:59:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Perlis, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu advanced to the Malaysia Cup semi-finals after beating their respective opponents in their second leg quarter-final matches Saturday night.

In KANGAR, Perlis beat Johor FC on a 4-1 aggregate at the Stadium Utama tonight.

In the match tonight, Perlis beat the visitors 2-0, with the goals coming from Amar Rohidan with a header in the eighth minute and Nizaruddin Yusof provided the second goal in the 48th minute.

The match was marred by a fight in the field between two Johor players and a Perlis player in the 59th minute.

Mohd Saiful Sabtu and Sivakumar Munusamy of Johor and Perlis's Azi Shahril Azmi were sent off the pitch by referee R.Krishnan.

In ALOR SETAR, visitors Negeri Sembilan trounced Kuala Muda 3-0 at the Stadium Darul Aman to qualify for the semi-final.

The goals were contributed by Mohd Shukor Adan (12th minute), Mohd Zakuan Adha (28th minute penalty) and Shahurain Abu Samah (36th minute).

At the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium in Kota Baharu, Kelantan thrashed KL Plus 3-0 in front of their 20,000 die-hard supporters.

The 'Red Warriors' three goals were scored by Indra Putra Mahyuddin (13th) and two goals by Mohd Norfarhan Mohamad (75th and 78th).

With the home win, Kelantan advanced to the semi final with a 4-1 aggregate after a 1-1 draw in their first-leg match.

Meanwhile, Terengganu edged Selangor 5-4 in a penalty shootout after they were tied on a 2-2 aggregate in their second leg quarter-final match.

Terengganu's Abdul Manaf Mamat opened scoring in the 12th minute but in the 62nd minute, Selangor drew level through defender D.Surendran.

The 1-1 draw (2-2 aggregate) remained till the end of regular time and the 30-minute extra time which forced the match into a penalty shootout.

Terengganu won the penalty shootout 5-4.

-- BERNAMA

Suicide bomber kills eight in Pakistan

2009-10-24T10:24:00.001+08:00

* Target was key airforce maintainance site
* Military denies facility linked to nuclear programme
* Stock market still jittery on security worries
* Fears mount for more urban attacks

ISLAMABAD (Oct 23, 2009): A Taliban suicide bomber killed eight people outside a key Pakistani airforce facility on Friday, with officials quick to deny suggestions the target was linked to the country's nuclear program.

The bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body at a checkpoint outside the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, some 75 kms (45 miles) northwest of the capital, Islamabad.

There were also police and hospital reports of a blast in the northwest city of Peshawar that wounded seven people, but further details were not immediately available.

The attacks come as the army continues a major offensive against Pakistani Taliban militant strongholds in South Waziristan, near the Afgfhan border.

The offensive has raised fears the insurgents will step up a suicide bombing campaign on urban targets. Over 150 people have been killed in a series of brazen attacks in the past few weeks.

"Eight people were killed and 13 were wounded, three of them seriously," said Shaukat Sultan, head of the main government hospital in Kamra, scene of Friday's airbase attack.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the country's nuclear infrastructure was safe and faced no threat from Taliban militants, and an airforce official was quick to dispel suggestions on Friday that the Kamra facility was linked to the weapons program.

"It's nonsense. It's rubbish," the airforce official told Reuters.

Friday's attack came a day after an army brigadier and his driver were killed in a drive-by shooting in Islamabad, while at least six people, including two suicide bombers, died in twin attacks at an Islamic University in the capital on Tuesday.

MORE ATTACKS

Analysts have warned of the possibility of more attacks as the militants come under pressure in Soputh Waziristan, with the Taliban hoping bloodshed and disruption will cause the government and ordinary people to lose their appetite for the offensive.

The offensive is a test of the government's determination to tackle Islamic fundamentalists, and the campaign is being closely followed by the U.S. and other powers embroiled in Afghanistan.

It is also affecting the financial markets, with the benchmark KSE index falling around six percent this week.

"There is still concern regarding the security situation," said Asif Qureshi, director at brokers Invisor Securities, who said sentiment would remain tentative until a successful offensive seemed more clear cut.

At lunch (0700 GMT), the index was up 0.28 percent on the day to 9,179.96 points.

Remote and rugged South Waziristan, with its rocky mountains and patchy forests cut through by dry creeks and ravines, is a global hub for militants who flit between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

About 28,000 soldiers are battling an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban, including about 1,000 tough Uzbek fighters and some Arab al Qaeda members.

The army said 24 militants and two soldiers were killed in the fighting on Thursday.

Foreign journalists are not allowed anywhere near the battle zone and it is dangerous even for Pakistani reporters to visit. Independent confirmation of casualty figures has not been possible.

More than 100,000 civilians have fled the area, with about 32,000 leaving since Oct. 13, the United Nations said.

The army has launched brief offensives in South Waziristan before, the first in 2004 when it suffered heavy casualties before striking a peace pact. -- Reuters

--- The Sun Daily

Tomato protection

2009-10-24T10:02:00.002+08:00

Scientists have found that the dehydrated form of this fruit may help quash prostate cancer tumours
Amy Norton

A compound found in dehydrated tomatoes may help quash prostate cancer tumours, new animal research suggests.

Past studies have come to conflicting conclusions as to whether tomatoes or lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, might offer prostate cancer protection, with one recent study finding no correlation between men’s blood levels of lycopene and their risk of prostate cancer.

However, the new findings, reported in the journal Cancer Research, suggest that the processing of the tomato may be a key factor.

Researchers found that a form of carbohydrate called FruHis, found in dehydrated tomatoes, appeared to protect rats from developing prostate tumours. The greatest protection came from dehydrated tomatoes that had been rehydrated into tomato paste and supplemented with additional FruHis.

The findings could aid in developing new, less toxic cancer therapies, said lead researcher Dr Valeri V. Mossine, of the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Mossine and his colleagues divided rats into four groups: one group was fed a diet of normal chow, while the other three groups were given chow supplemented with tomato powder, tomato paste, or tomato paste with added FruHis. All of the animals were treated with chemicals designed to induce prostate tumours.

Rats on the high-FruHis diet lived longer than the other three groups. What’s more, the researchers found prostate tumours in only 18% of these animals after death, compared with 63% of rats given normal chow, and 43% and 39% of animals given tomato powder and standard tomato paste, respectively.

Looking at FruHis activity in the lab dish, the researchers found that it might work in two ways.

First, the compound seemed to act like an antioxidant, protecting cells’ DNA from oxidative damage that can lead to cancer. Then, when combined with lycopene, FruHis was able to kill off prostate cancer cells.

So in theory, Mossine explained, FruHis may inhibit the initial development of prostate tumours and, in concert with lycopene, hinder the growth and spread of such tumours.

It’s too soon, however, for men to start eating tomato paste in the hopes of thwarting prostate cancer. "The most important next step would be conducting trials on humans," Mossine said.

Further lab work, he added, could also shed light on whether there are other compounds in dried vegetables or fruits that "work along" with FruHis.

"In my opinion, this study will make the cancer research community aware of a novel type of potential antioxidant and chemopreventive agent that may arise as a result of food processing," Mossine said.

"Hopefully, it will help to attract more attention and support to the prostate cancer prevention research area." – Reuters

--- The Sun Daily

War against dengue

2009-10-24T09:15:00.002+08:00

Anansa Jacob

The threat of dengue has been with us for many years, yet despite this, an average of 400 people get infected with dengue fever every week, according to statistics from the Disease Control Division of the Department of Public Health.

Recently, however, there has been a sudden upsurge in new dengue cases, leading to a renewed awareness of the problem. While the number of cases has since dropped, the threat is ever-present and Malaysians should not be complacent and assume that the outbreak will not occur again.

The main symptom of dengue fever is a sudden and continuous high fever, which is a certain indicator of the disease.

Other symptoms include headache, red rashes on the skin, as well as acute pain in the bones, muscles, joints and eyeballs. Patients will also have no appetite and suffer from vomiting and stomach pain.

Severe cases might cause them to bleed internally as well as from the nose and mouth.

According to Disease Control Division assistant director Dr Mohamad Ikhsan Selamat, many victims often delay going to the doctor when they fall sick, mistaking the symptoms as a sign of ordinary fever.

"While not all the symptoms may present themselves at once, the common sign is the sudden high fever," said Ikhsan. "This fever will not break, even with medication."

Most of the people who died from dengue fever either took traditional medication or visited many different doctors, getting new medication when the previous prescription failed to bring down the fever. This prevented the new doctor from diagnosing dengue.

Ikhsan also said that many dengue deaths occurred four to five days after infection. "What happens is that around that time, the fever will actually go down, so people assume they are getting better and stop taking whatever fever medication they are prescribed.

"Actually, this is a sign of danger, because when the fever goes down, that means the blood vessels have started leaking and internal bleeding has started. By the time the victims realise what is happening, it is often too late."

For children, the danger is especially apparent. "When a child is feverish and complains of a stomach ache, that is a sign of internal bleeding."

Because there is no medicine or vaccine for dengue fever, the best course of action for people who are infected is to seek out proper medical treatment as soon as possible.

No Aedes, no dengue!

The most recent statistics indicate that the number of reported dengue cases has dropped to 510 as of March 19, down 153 cases from the previous week.

Despite this positive development, the public must not be complacent and cease current preventive measures to stop the spread of dengue fever, says Dr Mohamad Ikhsan Selamat (pix), assistant director of the Disease Control Division (DCD).

"Controlling the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue fever is not solely the responsibility of the local health authorities. It falls on everyone to work together and prevent further infections and deaths."

He added that the Ministry of Health needed the cooperation of everyone if they were to continue to try and control the rising number of cases.

"As for the current situation," he said, "we have to thank everyone for all that they have done so far in curbing the spread of the disease. We also want to thank the media for continuously promoting awareness of the disease and also the preventive measures."

DCD director Dr Ramlee Rahmat had previously reminded the public to keep their surrounding environment clean, to dispose of all containers containing clear stagnant water that could be used as a breeding ground for mosquitoes and to also give their cooperation to the authorities when they come to check for the Aedes mosquito larvae.

Ikhsan also said: "If the public notices or suspects a breeding ground for the Aedes mosquito larvae, they can call the ministry at 03-8883 6252 from 8am to 4.30pm to report it."

So, remember this: no Aedes, no dengue.

--- The Sun Daily

Symptoms Of Swine Flu

2009-10-24T08:56:00.001+08:00

Tips for stronger teeth

2009-10-24T08:51:00.001+08:00

THE quality of your teeth is often used as a measurement of your general health. Keeping your teeth strong and healthy not only gives you a pearly white smile, it protects your mouth and other parts of your body.

Cavities and infections in the mouth can cause a range of other ailments such as ear infections and mouth pain.

Here are some steps to follow for strong, healthy teeth:

» Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush at least twice a day (after you wake up and before you go to bed).

» Floss at least once every day to ensure that food doesn’t deteriorate between your teeth and end up creating cavities that can weaken your teeth. Flossing also helps circulate the blood into your gums, which support your teeth.

» Rinse with a mouthwash that contains fluoride at least once a day. Fluoride strengthens your enamel and prevents soft spots, which have the potential to turn into cavities.

» Consume foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D, which promote bone health.

» Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables and protein.

--- The Sun Daily

Malaysia Hold Australia To 3-3 Draw (BERNAMA)

2009-10-24T08:49:00.000+08:00

KUANTAN, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia held Australia to a 3-3 draw, thus denying the visitors their third consecutive win, in a friendly at the Youth Hockey Stadium here on Thursday.

Australia drew their first blood and opened scoring in the 13th minute through skipper Liam De Young.

Hardly had the home team picked up the pieces, the visitors went two up two minutes later from a penalty corner which was converted by C. Ciriello.

A field goal by Fergus Ravanagh in the 31st minute put Malaysia off the rhythm until the breather.

Malaysia came back into the game when T Ahmad Tajuddin found the net in the 38th minute from a field goal.

Spurred on by the goal, Malaysia reduced the goal deficit when Muhammad Razie Abd Rahim scored from a field goal in the 53rd minute before Jivan Mohan drew level in the 68th minute from a penalty corner.

National chief coach Tai Beng Hai said Malaysian players lived up to the expectation after failing to find their form in the last two matches.

However, there is still room for improvement, he told reporters after the match.

-- BERNAMA

ROONEY DOUBTFUL FOR ANFIELD CLASH

2009-10-23T17:49:00.000+08:00

Posted 23/10/09 10:07

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Man. Utd 6/4, Liverpool 15/8, Draw 9/4

Wayne Rooney remains a doubt for Manchester United's Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

The United striker has been out with a calf injury since England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson is hopeful the former Everton star will be fit to feature on Merseyside but admits it is far from certain.

Veteran Ryan Giggs is poised to return after suffering a knock in last week's defeat of Bolton and Patrice Evra has overcome a heel problem.

Darren Fletcher (groin) is another doubt while Park Ji-Sung (knee) is set for a couple of weeks on the sidelines.

The news could present Michael Owen with the chance to start against his former club while Ferguson may opt to deploy Dimitar Berbatov as a lone striker should Rooney miss out.

link: http://www.football365.co.uk/story/0,17033,8668_5645872,00.html

Najib Tables 2010 Budget of RM191.5 Billion (Bernama ONLINE)

2009-10-23T17:44:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tables 2010 Budget of RM191.5 billion, themed "1Malaysia, Together We Prosper" in Parliament for the foundation of a new economic model and precursor to the 10th Malaysia Plan.

-- BERNAMA

REPORT: Health Tourism Expected To Generate RM330 Million Revenue This Year (BERNAMA Online)

2009-10-23T17:30:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- Health tourism expected to generate RM330 million revenue following a surge in the number of foreign patients to 430,000 this year, according to the 2009/2010 Economic Report released Friday.

It said healthcare travellers surged almost 10-fold from 39,114 in 1998 to 374,063 last year, and had generated a remarkable increase in revenue from RM14.1 million to RM299.1 million during the same period.

For the 2006-2010 period, the industry is estimated to generate total foreign exchange of about RM2 billion, it said, adding that that the bulk of healthcare travellers were from Indonesia, Japan, Europe and India.

The healthcare medical services offered included screening services, diagnostics, cosmetic surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurosurgery and gynaecology.

In addition, the wellness aspects of healthcare services offered included homeopathy, spa, reflexology and traditional treatment.

Under the second stimulus package, RM200 million was allocated to upgrade infrastructure at tourist spots, diversify tourism products, improve the homestay programme as well as host more international conferences and exhibitions.

Besides the Malaysia My Second Home programme, emphasis was also placed on healthcare travel, education tourism as well as promoting Malaysia as a shopping and Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.

In the moves making Malaysia as a centre of excellence for education, various steps have been taken, including establishing Malaysia as a higher education mobility hub for international students, setting up Malaysian Higher Education Centres in selected cities worldwide and forging pioneering collaboration channels in international public and private institutions of higher learning.

In addition, high impact projects will also be developed to cater specifically for education, for instance, the Iskandar Malaysia's EduCity in Nusajaya that will be developed to offer tailor-made programmes for international students.

-- BERNAMA

TH”s medical team equipped to handle Influenza H1N1

2009-10-23T17:27:00.002+08:00

MEDINA Oct.19 — The Pilgrims Fund”s (Tabung Haji (TH)) medical team in the Holy Land is fully equipped to handle Influenza H1N1, said its Health Operations director, Dr. Wan Mansor Wan Hamzah.

“We are ready in terms of equipment and personnel should any of our pilgrims be infected by the disease from pilgrims of other countries,” he told the Malaysian media team covering the Haj pilgrimage this year, here today. - Bernama

--- UTUSAN MALAYSIA

Kelantan to give incentives to premises not selling cigarettes

2009-10-23T17:25:00.001+08:00

KOTA BHARU Oct.21 — The Kelantan Government is willing to consider giving incentives to any business premises which does not offer cigarettes for sale.

State Women, Family and Health Development Comittee chairman, Wan Ubaidah Wan Omar said the incentives were in line with the state government”s aspiration to ensure the people did not inculcate the smoking habit.

She was replying to Dr. Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad (PAS-Gaal) at the State Assembly sitting here today. - Bernama

--- UTUSAN MALAYSIA

Jijik kuku berkulat (Kosmo Online)

2009-10-21T12:45:00.000+08:00

Jangkitannya boleh tersebar melalui medium air misalnya di kolam renang.

KULAT kuku yang lazimnya bermula di kuku kaki boleh berjangkit ke kuku tangan.

PARA atlet yang mengalami kurap kaki (tinea pedis) cenderung untuk mendapat jangkitan yang lebih buruk iaitu kulat pada kuku.

SESEORANG selalunya tidak sedar jika masalah kulat atau fungus mula menjangkiti satu atau lebih kukunya. Daripada titik kecil berwarna kekuningan di hujung kuku tangan atau kaki, ia boleh memburuk hingga menyebabkan warna kuku berubah menjadi gelap, mengeras, hilang lapisan berkilat dan teksturnya menggerutu.

Keadaan itu memalukan si empunya diri kerana rupa kuku yang mengundang perasaan geli, walaupun hanya dengan melihatnya. Sebelum ia semakin merebak dan membuatkan seseorang berasa tidak selesa, kawalan dan rawatannya perlu disegerakan.

Peratusan jangkitan kulat kuku atau onikomikosis lebih tinggi di negara yang beriklim panas dan lembap seperti Malaysia.

Jika kaki sering bersarung kasut dalam iklim begitu, perpeluhan akan berlaku dan ia mengundang bukan sahaja pembiakan bakteria, malah pembentukan kulat.

Lebih membimbangkan, jangkitan kulat ini bukan sahaja boleh berlaku dari kuku kaki ke kuku tangan seseorang, bahkan boleh disebar pula oleh agen air. Maka, tempat-tempat seperti kolam renang awam dan bilik air juga lokasi ideal untuk kulat ini menjangkiti orang lain.

Jangkitan kulat ini boleh menyebabkan seseorang berasa gatal dan perit selain mampu meninggalkan kerosakan kekal kepada kuku. Ia juga membuka risiko jangkitan yang lebih teruk dan ini berbahaya untuk penghidap diabetes atau mereka yang lemah sistem imunisasi seperti penghidap leukemia, AIDS atau yang sedang menjalani pemindahan organ.

"Apabila kulat mula 'menghuni' kuku, ia sukar dilenyapkan dengan cepat. Namun, ia boleh dibasmi jika seseorang berdisiplin dalam menjalankan rutin rawatannya.

"Ia tidak hilang dengan sendiri, maka seseorang yang mengalaminya tidak boleh memandang ringan masalah ini. Penggunaan minyak sapu adalah pilihan paling mudah," kata pakar bedah tangan di Marin General Hospital California, Amerika Syarikat (AS), Dr. David Nelson.

Ubat sapu

Menurut Nelson dalam portal kesihatannya, pesakit di AS yang dijangkiti kulat kuku lazimnya diberikan pil griseofulvin untuk tempoh antara enam bulan sehingga setahun.

"Tetapi, ia meninggalkan kesan sampingan seperti sakit kepala, loya, gangguan fungsi darah dan kerosakan hati. Sebab itulah ramai doktor menyarankan ubat sapu termasuk minyak homeopati.

Bagaimanapun, membuang terus kuku yang dijangkiti itu tidak akan membebaskan seseorang daripada onikomikosis.

"Apabila lapisan kuku baru mula terbentuk, jangkitan akan bermula semula," kata Nelson.

Jika tidak berkesempatan bertemu doktor, terdapat beberapa jenis dan jenama ubat sapuan yang boleh didapatkan di kaunter farmasi.

Pesakit diingatkan untuk membaca keterangan pada label produk terlebih dahulu untuk memahami lebih lanjut cara, proses, dan kesan penggunaan ubat-ubatan tersebut.

Sebelum menyapu ubat, pesakit perlu selalu membersihkan kuku tangan dan kaki, baik yang dijangkiti mahupun yang tidak dijangkiti.

Ubat perlu disapu di bahagian hujung dan di bawah lapisan kuku serta di unjuran pangkal kulit dengan sekata. Ia penting kerana bahagian kulit yang terjejas dengan jangkitan kulat di sekeliling kuku (paronisia) boleh dijangka kerana bakteria dan kulat merebak apabila fungsi ketahanan tubuh terjejas.

"Apabila menyapu krim pembasmi kulat itu, bahagian kutikel tidak perlu ditolak atau dikorek. Manakala bagi wanita, pemakaian kuku palsu aalah lebih baik dielakkan. Pembersihan kuku dengan pembersih pengilat kuku juga tidak digalakkan bagi menghindar masalah yang berkaitan," terang Nelson.

Penyelidikan menghalang wabak virus nipah

2009-10-15T20:25:00.002+08:00

Oleh KHAIRUNNISA SULAIMAN

KAJIAN yang dijalankan oleh Dr. Chan Li-Yen menggunakan analisis bioinformatik dapat mengesan sehingga tujuh jenis protein yang terlibat dalam replikasi virus.

WABAK virus Nipah mula dikesan pada 1999 selepas ia menyebabkan penyakit pernafasan dan neurologi di ladang ternakan babi di Negeri Sembilan, Semenanjung Malaysia.

Wabak berkenaan telah menyebabkan 105 kematian manusia dan pelupusan lebih sejuta ekor ternakan babi.

Bukan saja di negara ini, malah wabak berkenaan merebak ke Singapura dengan 11 kes termasuk satu kematian berlaku di kalangan pekerja sembelihan yang terdedah kepada babi yang diimport dari ladang di Malaysia.

Simptom jangkitan dari wabak virus Nipah di negara ini adalah ensefalitis atau radang otak pada manusia dan pernafasan bagi babi.

Wabak berikutnya telah menyebabkan penyakit pernafasan pada manusia, meningkatkan kemungkinan jangkitan dari manusia ke manusia dan menunjukkan kewujudan jenis virus yang lebih merbahaya.

Berasaskan data seroprevalence dan pengasingan virus, simpanan utama virus Nipah telah dikenal pasti sebagai kelawar buah atau Pteropid fruit bats termasuk Pteropus vampyrus (Keluang) dan Pteropus hypomelanus (Keluang Kecil) yang terdapat di negara ini.

Virus Nipah bukan saja dikesan di negara ini tetapi wabak berkenaan dikesan di Bangladesh dengan kadar kematian mencecah 80 peratus.

Kadar berkenaan hampir menyamai dengan wabak Ebola, sementara Sindrom Pernafasan Akut Teruk (SARS) hanya mencatatkan kadar kematian sekitar sembilan peratus.

Bagaimanapun, tidak dapat dipastikan punca kematian yang lebih tinggi sama ada disebabkan jenis virus di Bangladesh lebih berbahaya berbanding jenis di sini atau disebabkan faktor perkhidmatan kesihatan dan sanitasi yang kurang baik.

Bagi menghalang wabak Nipah, negara kini mengambil langkah drastik dengan menyaring contoh darah babi bagi mengesan virus Nipah.

Penyebaran virus Nipah dari kelawar kepada babi dipercayai berlaku akibat peningkatan pertindanan antara kawasan habitat kelawar dengan kawasan pemeliharaan babi di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Kajian mendapati di ladang tempat bermulanya wabak terdapat kebun buah yang berada berdekatan dengan ladang babi di mana sisa air kencing, najis dan buah-buahan yang digigit keluang dimakan pula oleh babi.

Kajian retrospespektif menunjukkan bahawa limpahan virus kepada babi mungkin telah berlaku di Malaysia semenjak 1996 tanpa dikesan.

Pada 1998, penyebaran virus banyak dibantu oleh pemindahan babi yang dijangkiti ke ladang lain dan memulakan wabak yang baru.

Justeru sekumpulan penyelidik dari Universiti Malaya (UM) telah menjalankan kajian mengenai wabak yang disebabkan oleh virus Nipah bermula tahun 2000.

Kajian yang dijalankan adalah mengenai tindakbalas sel neural atau saraf otak pada manusia.

Salah seorang penyelidik yang juga pensyarah di Jabatan Perubatan Mikrobiologi, Fakulti Perubatan UM, Dr. Chan Li-Yen berkata, kajian yang dijalankan menjurus kepada ekspresi protein.

"Kajian dijalankan banyak mengenai protein yang diekspresikan pada sel saraf pada manusia," katanya semasa ditemui di pejabatnya di Petaling Jaya, Selangor baru-baru ini.

Beliau merupakan pemenang Anugerah Saintis Muda Merck 2008.

Dr. Chan berkata, hasil penyelidikan yang dijalankan mendapati virus Nipah boleh dihalang dengan dua cara.

"Kaedah pertama adalah dengan menghalang proses replikasi dan kedua dengan memusnahkan sel yang dijangkiti," katanya.

Beliau menjelaskan kajian terdahulu hanya mensasarkan untuk membunuh virus yang menjangkiti perumah atau hos.

"Bagaimanapun hasil penyelidikan yang dijalankan mendapati terdapat protein di dalam perumah yang diperlukan dalam proses replikasi virus.

"Buat masa ini kami sedang mensasarkan protein hos yang dapat membantu dalam proses replikasi virus.

"Jika proses replikasi virus Nipah dapat dihalang, ini dapat membantutkan bukan saja perkembangan tetapi juga jangkitan virus pada mangsa," katanya.

Hasil kajian in-vitro di dalam makmal mendapati perkembangan virus Nipah dapat dihalang dengan menyekat perkembangan protein berkenaan.

Kajian menggunakan analisis bioinformatik pula dapat mengesan sehingga tujuh jenis protein yang terlibat dalam replikasi virus.

Protein-protein berkenaan akan dikaji peranan dalam perkembangan virus Nipah dalam membantu menghalang virus.

"Oleh itu kajian yang dijalankan akan diteruskan bagi mencari bahan yang boleh menghalang atau membantutkan replikasi virus daripada berlaku," katanya.

Dr. Chan berkata, walaupun pihaknya telah berjaya menemui protein yang dapat menghalang perkembangan virus Nipah, masih banyak yang perlu dikaji.

"Pihak kami juga akan terus menjalankan kajian mengenai virus Nipah memandangkan ia masih baru di rantau ini dan kemungkinan virus ini menjadi wabak jika tidak ditangani dengan betul.

"Kami berharap virus Nipah akan dapat dikawal dari peringkat awal dan hasil kajian dapat digunakan dan diiktiraf di peringkat global," katanya.

--- UTUSAN MAALYSIA

Swine Flu - A9 H1N1 - Why it is Mild - Youtube

2009-10-02T20:59:00.001+08:00

Main Court At National Squash Center Named After Nicol ( BERNAMA)

2009-10-02T19:39:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The main court at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil will be named the Datuk Nicol David Court, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said this was the government's recognition for the excellent performance by the national squash queen in winning the World Open Championship for the fourth time in Amsterdam, last week.

He said the Cabinet yesterday accepted the ministry's proposal that the main court at the National Squash Centre be named after the national athlete who had brought glory to the country at the international level.

"The ministry believes that the move will provide inspiration and encouragement to other national athletes to continue to bring glory to Malaysia in the international arena," he said in a statement, here on Thursday.

-- BERNAMA

Desperate Hunt For Survivors From Indonesia Quake (Copy from BERNAMA)

2009-10-02T16:21:00.000+08:00

By Sunanda Creagh

PADANG, Indonesia, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Rescue teams resumed a desperate search Friday for scores of people feared trapped under the debris of buildings shattered in an earthquake in the Indonesian port of Padang.

Aid to thousands of displaced survivors started trickling in.

Rescue operations in and around the West Sumatran capital of 900,000 have been hampered by power blackouts and a lack of heavy equipment to shift fallen masonry.

The 7.6 magnitude quake struck Wednesday, toppling thousands of buildings. Telephone links remain uncertain, making it hard to determine the extent of destruction and loss of life.

A social ministry official put the number of confirmed deaths at 529, although officials expect this to go far higher, possibly into the thousands. The national disaster management centre said 2,181 people had been injured and 2,650 buildings damaged.

Australia, South Korea and Japan were among nations offering help.

Workers rigged up floodlights overnight and brought in a giant excavator to try to make their way to students trapped in a three-storey school that had collapsed. Sixty schoolchildren had been attending extra-curricular lessons when the quake struck, the Jakarta Post reported.

FUEL, FOOD, WATER IN SHORT SUPPLY

Padang has at times descended into chaos, with fuel in short supply, some shops running out of food and many residents scrambling to find clean water. Many roads in the region have been severed by landslides.

Conditions in Pariaman, nearer the quake's epicentre, may be even worse with reports of buildings flattened. Conditions in more remote areas were unknown.

A two-storey clinic at Padang's main hospital collapsed, but was empty after closing a few hours before the quake.

Patients from adjacent wards were evacuated to nearby tents, while a makeshift open air morgue was set up, with lines of corpses placed in yellow body bags.

Operations were being performed in nearby white tents.

"We have done hundreds of operations since the earthquake," Dr Nofli Ichlas said Thursday. "Some broken bones, some with limbs completely cut off. Fractured skulls, abdominal trauma too - when something has stabbed into the patients body." President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono flew to the stricken region after arriving back from the G20 meeting Thursday and stayed overnight to help oversee the rescue.

A 6.6 magnitude quake hit another part of Sumatra island on Thursday, causing fresh panic but no reported deaths. The second quake's epicentre was about 225 km (140 miles) southeast of Padang, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Elshinta radio reported that 12 people were hurt in the town of Jambi and 60 houses damaged.

© REUTERS 2009

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Verdasco, Gonzalez, Monflis, Berdych Cruise Into Quarter-finals (Copy From BERNAMA)

2009-10-02T15:21:00.001+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Second-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco and three other seeded tennis players Thursday marched into the quarter-finals of the inaugural Malaysian Open at Putra Stadium.

Verdasco, a left-handed player, in his second-round match, edged out Karol Beck of Slovakia 6-4, 6-0, to set a date with Frenchman Richard Gasquet, in the last eight, Friday.

Unseeded Gasquet dismissed wildcard Swede Joachim Johansson 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(1), in another match.

Fourth-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile beat Rohan Bopanna of India 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, to meet unseeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny who is ranked 52nd.

Fifth-seeded and world No. 13, Frenchman Gael Monflis again defied fatigue, jet lag and time change, to defeat Martin Vassallo Arguello of Argentina in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

Monflis's quarter-final match will be against first-seeded and world No. 8, Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

"It will be a tough match. He (Davydenko) likes to dictate a match, playing close from the baseline. Hence, I need to change the rhythm as much as I can," said Monflis.

Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych was forced to work extra hard for his place in the quarter-finals by beating German Simon Greul 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

"I think I played better today than in the first round (beating Russian Igor Kunistsyn). I hope I can up my game further in the quarter-final against third-seeded Swede Robin Soderling. It is important to keep the consistency," said Berdych who is world ranked 16th.

On facing world No. 11 Soderling in a quarter-final match, Berdych said: "I will try to play my best tennis; to serve well. I will look for chances to break his serve. He is a very good player, especially indoors, so I will have to play my best."

Two other seeded players shown an early exit in the first round were seventh-seeded David Ferrer of Spain who is also world No. 19, and eighth-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt who is a former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion.

-- BERNAMA

1Malaysia F1 Team Need Not Register With SCO

2009-10-02T15:18:00.002+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- The 1Malaysia F1 Team (1MF1T), slated to join the Formula One (F1) race next year, need not register with the Sports Commissioner's Office (SCO).

Sports Commissioner Datuk Nik Mahmud Nik Yusof said this was because 1MF1T was an F1 racing team and not a sports body or organiser of motoring sports in the country.

"As such, it need not register with SCO. However, I am not sure of its status. We will study the status of 1Malaysia F1 Team and decide whether to classify it as a team or an F1 sports body," he told Bernama here Thursday.

Nik Mahmud said that if 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd, the company behind 1MF1T was sports body responsible for organising F1 motoring programmes, then it should register with SCO.

"However, if it is classified as a team, then it must be supported by the Motoring Association of Malaysia (MAM) so that it gets a racing licence at Sepang International Circuit (SIC)," he said.

When contacted, MAM said the racing licence in Malaysia had been issued by the Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM) which had been given the right by FIA, motorsports world governing body.

Its chief executive Mia Sharizman Ismail said 1Malaysia F1 Team Sdn Bhd was established as a company for racing and only had to register with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM).

She said MAM only helped in development programmes in terms of manpower or organising races at low level.

"The F1 team is not only about its hundreds of staff but is also involved in organising local races, developing drivers and technical aspects of the motoring industry."

Mia Sharizman said MAM's role was to find and polish drivers with the potential of making it as F1 drivers via go-kart and single seater races.

-- BERNAMA

Make Ops Sikap no mere rhetoric

2009-10-02T15:05:00.001+08:00

ARKIB : 01/10/2009

By SUFFIAN ABU BAKAR

“This SEPTEMBER, the whole Malaysians will unite to reduce road accidents.” That was an advertisement line by a radio station aired since last August, when Muslims were ushering the holy month of Ramadan.

Infact, seven days before Muslims celebrated idilfitri, Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) launched its 20th series annual road safety campaign “Ops Sikap 20” with a commitment to reduce deaths by five percent compared with the same safety campaign launched during the same season last year.

But unfortunately a total of 261 lives perished from various road accidents during the campaign period.

It seemed that September as the month for motorists to change their attitude while driving, continued to leave a black mark on our road safety record. Some even blame the police “for failure to bring down the death rate.”

Suggestions are aplenty. There are those who want the formula to reduce road accidents be reviewed. There are cacophony of voices and feelings at the road accident figures. Some were upset as to suggest that “road users will still flout the laws, even with death as a penalty.”

Such are the reactions from the current Ops Sikap 20. The issue will die down and will come up again in the next road safety operations.

Ops Sikap was launched since 2000 to replace the same campaign but on a different name Ops Pacak and Ops Statik, since 1996.

But the flower of road safety campaigns by any other names still smell as bad. And the last September campaign is no different with more people were carried to the graves due to road accidents. They include seven deaths in Gurun, Kedah and Sabak Benam, Selangor, two days before Aidilfitri.

For this writer, it’s the attitude of the motorists that should be changed, not the name of the road safety campaign. For as long as there are ill-mannered road users, there will continue to be fatalities on the road.

Ask our friends or relatives, they will have a lot of stories to tell about the characters and attitude of our motorists.

The question is, what are the best action be meted out against them?

The suggestion to place more police personnel on the road to book offenders doesn’t sound effective enough. Probably there are other approaches. One of them is that all road users be allowed to make police report through short messaging system (SMS) should they come across the traffic law-breakers.

For the police, they must be prepared to identify the plate numbers of the reported cars so that they can wait for them midway to issue them the summonses.

No person wants to see members or their family be victims of road accidents.

As such, something must be done to stop the road tragedy – that is through attitudinal change.

We shouldn’t turn this Ops Sikap statistic just into another rhetoric.

--- UTUSAN MALAYSIA

N.Sembilan to attract transit passengers

2009-09-30T22:29:00.001+08:00

ARKIB : 28/09/2009

PORT DICKSON Sept.27 — The Negeri Sembilan state government will cooperate with the Tourism Ministry to attract more than six million transit passengers from the KL International Airport (KLIA) to the state.

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the figure was massive and should be exploited by the local tourism sector.

“I consider the current figure to be massive because some passengers had to wait between 12 and 24 hours. However, it needs the coordination of the various departments to be successful,” he told reporters after attending the launch of the Malaysia Holidays Fair by Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, here today. - Bernama

Q&A: What is swine flu?

2009-09-29T10:18:00.001+08:00

Several countries, including Mexico and the United States, have reported outbreaks of swine flu, sparking fears of what some disease experts say could become a pandemic.

Here are some facts about swine flu:

What is swine flu?

The World Health organisation says swine influenza, or "swine flu" is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease typically found in pigs. It spreads through tiny particles in the air or by direct contact.

The virus tends to infect large numbers of a given pig population, killing between one and four per cent of those affected, the WHO says. Not every animal infected displays symptoms.

How do humans contract the virus?

Swine flu normally only infects pigs, but the virus can cross the species barrier and infect humans, the WHO says.

People can catch the virus through contact with infected pigs, though there have been limited instances of human-to-human transmission.

What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

Symptoms are similar to those of human strains of the seasonal influenza virus, including fever, cough sore throat and body aches.

But the symptoms can also include severe pneumonia that can result in death, the WHO says.

Where do outbreaks occur?

Swine flu is considered endemic in the United States, though outbreaks in pigs have also been reported elsewhere in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and in parts of eastern Asia.

How high is the risk of a pandemic?

If the virus establishes efficient human-to-human transmission, it can cause a pandemic, the WHO says.

Health officials say the swine flu might develop into a form easily spread among humans by combining with a human flu virus or mutate on its own into a transmissible form.

But Dr Laurence Gerlis, an expert on infectious diseases, told Al Jazeera it is too early to call the outbreak a pandemic.

"If you have got an epidemic that affects several countries in the world then it becomes a pandemic.

"But at the moment it is a problem in Mexico and people who have travelled to Mexico have carried it elsewhere. We have to assess it on an hour-by-hour basis."

Is it safe to eat pork products?

Properly handled and prepared pork products are safe to eat, according to the WHO. The swine flu virus is killed when cooked at temperatures of 160 F/70 C or higher.

Does a vaccine exist?

There are no vaccines to protect humans from the current swine flu virus.

The flu virus evolves quickly, meaning that vaccines are soon obsolete.

Health officials say there is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine prepared for seasonal flu will protect against swine flu.

Are there any other treatments?

The swine flu virus detected in Mexico and the United States appears to respond to treatment with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).

What can be done to stop the spread of the disease?

Most of the cases have been detected by chance through seasonal influenza surveillance.

But Dr Gerlis told Al Jazeera that "anyone travelling out of Mexico could be potentially carrying the virus and would have no symptoms at all."

Health officials say maintaining good hygiene, including regular hand-washing and staying a safe distance from those infected, may help in preventing the spread of the virus.

Sumber dari : http://english. aljazeera. net/news/ americas/ 2009/04/20094261 65851276111. html

No new H1N1 deaths

2009-09-28T16:41:00.002+08:00

No new H1N1 deaths

KUALA LUMPUR Sept.27 — No new deaths from influenza A(H1N1) were recorded for the past one week and the total so far remains at 77, said Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd. Ismail Merican.

He said, 45 new cases with influenza like illness (ILI) were warded in 92 hospitals nationwide while 140 were discharged, leaving the total at 761.

Laboratory tests confirmed that 14 per cent or 103 of the patients were infected with H1N1, he said in a statement today.

He said 18 per cent or 19 of the them were in the intensive care units (ICU) including two new cases while two patients were discharged today.

Dr. Mohd. Ismail said, the patients in the ICUs had risk factors — eight were children under five, obesity (four), chronic diseases (three) and chronic respiratory diseases (two).

The latest information on H1N1 infection can be obtained by calling the hotline 03-8881 0200 or 03-8881 0300 from 8am to 5pm, e-mail at cprc—h1n1@moh.gov.my and on the ministry’s website at http://www.moh.gov.my. - Bernama

--- UTUSAN MALAYSIA

Lowest recorded dengue cases (Copy From Utusan Online)

2009-09-28T16:18:00.002+08:00

ARKIB : 03/09/2009

KUALA LUMPUR Sept. 2 — The seven-day period beginning Aug. 23, saw the lowest ever dengue fever cases recorded in the country since October 2006.

During the period, 477 cases were reported, said Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr. Mohd. Ismail Merican.

He said that this constituted a drop of 36 cases or seven per cent, as compared to 513 cases reported, the week before.

He said four states showed a sharp rise in cases, as compared to the week before.

They were Negeri Sembilan (up by seven cases), Sarawak (two), Johor (one) and Selangor (five).

Dr Mohd Ismail said the accumulated number of dengue cases this year was 29,700, as compared to 29,942 last year.

“Dengue fever-related deaths, so far this year, stands at 68. Last year, 71 deaths were reported,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mohd. Ismail said there was an increase in Chikungunya cases, with 33 new cases reported in the country. - Bernama

Selamat berkunjung ke Blog Forum Paramedik

2008-09-12T21:07:00.000+08:00

Assalamualaikum dan salam hormat..

terima kasih kepada pengunjung-pengunjung blog ini diatas sokongan anda, terima kasih juga kepada forumer Forum Paramedik yang beralamat di http://paramedik.bbfr.net kerana terus menyokong forum berkenaan. Tanpa anda siapalah kami.

Blog ini dibuka bertujuan untuk memberikan maklumat-maklumat yang berguna dan memberi mafaat kepada kita semua, tidak dinafikan kebanyak maklumat-maklumat tersebut juga banyak datangnya daripada sumber² lain yang 'dicopy' kemudian 'dipaste' ke sini, namun ianya adalah untuk menyenangkan kita semua.

Saya juga berharap agar pengunjung² semua dapat memberi maklum balas, cadangan dan pendapat agar blog ini dan juga Forum Paramedik dapat diperbaiki dari masa ke semasa. Maklum balas dari anda amatlah dihargai.

Akhir kata semoga anda dapat terus memberikan sokongan anda kepada blog ini agar ianya terus bertahan lama dan juga berkembang.

Selamat berpuasa dari saya dan juga moderator² Forum Paramedik semua.

terima kasih

Mastermind
Forum Paramedik
http://paramedik.bbfr.net

2008-03-04T19:42:00.000+08:00

Pelbagai kanser tulang

PEMBEDAHAN bagi membuang bahagian yang diserang kanser merupakan antara cara rawatan untuk kanser tulang.

Oleh:DR. MOHD MAHAMUD MUSMAN Pakar Ortopedik & Traumatologi, - UTUSAN ONLINE

Pusat Perubatan Darul Ehsan (DEMC), Shah Alam
KANSER (barah) tulang utama (primary) boleh berlaku di mana-mana bahagian tulang, tulang rawan dan dari bahagian tisu fiber. Kanser tulang jenis kedua (secondary) pula adalah sebahagian besar kanser tulang yang berasal daripada bahagian lain badan selain tulang akibat penyebaran sel kanser (metastatik).

Kanser tulang metastasik boleh berasal daripada bahagian badan lain, kebanyakannya berasal daripada prostat, payudara, paru-paru, buah pinggang, usus besar dan kelenjar tiroid. Selalunya punca kanser tulang terjadi adalah tidak diketahui. Kadangkala, kanser tulang juga mungkin berkaitan dengan radiasi berion (ionizing radiation).

Antara faktor-faktor lain yang boleh menggalakkan kejadian kanser tulang adalah:

* Penyakit Paget

* Fibrous dysplasia

* Retinoblastoma (genetik)

* Sindrom tertentu seperti penyakit Gardner dan penyakit Ollier

Kanser tulang primary

Kira-kira 40 peratus kanser tulang jenis ini adalah berbahaya (malignan) sementara 60 peratus lagi tidak berbahaya (benign). Contoh kanser tulang primary yang benign adalah seperti osteochondroma, sel tumor gergasi, chondroma dan osteoid osteoma. Contoh kanser tulang yang berasal dari tisu fiber pula adalah sista (cyst) tulang ringkas, sista tulang aneurysmal dan fibrous dysplasia.

Kanser tulang primary yang malignan pula terdiri daripada osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing‘s tumour dan malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Kanser tulang primary selalunya berlaku pada pesakit yang muda, terutamanya antara umur 10 hingga 25 tahun dengan lebih kurang 80 peratus berlaku di bahagian sendi lutut.

Kanser tulang primary malignan jarang berlaku dan hanya merangkumi kurang satu peratus daripada semua kematian yang melibatkan kanser yang malignan. Punca terjadinya kanser tulang malignan tidak diketahui tetapi kanser tulang benign kadangkala boleh menjadi malignan.

Primary, benign

Osteochondroma

Kanser tulang jenis ini berasal dari bahagian tulang rawan dan boleh tumbuh hanya satu atau banyak secara serentak (juga dikenali sebagai penyakit Ollier atau exostoses). Selalunya benign, kanser tulang ini boleh berlaku pada sebarang usia, kebanyakannya pada usia muda. Ia boleh tumbuh kecil dan kemudian saiznya semakin besar, selalunya berada pada sisi sendi dan tidak sakit. Sekiranya saiznya semakin besar, kesakitannya juga mungkin bertambah dan bilangannya menjadi banyak serta kemungkinan besar akan menjadi malignan. Gambar X-ray akan menunjukkan ‘stippled calcification’ pada bahagian yang terlibat.

Osteoid osteoma

Kanser tulang jenis ini merangkumi 10 peratus bilangan kanser tulang yang benign. Kanser ini selalunya berlaku antara umur 10 hingga 20 tahun, dan jarang berlaku pada mereka berumut lebih 30 tahun. Kanser jenis ini juga lebih kerap berlaku pada lelaki dengan nisbah 3:1 berbanding golongan wanita. Selalunya 28 peratus ketumbuhan kerap berlaku pada tulang paha (femur), tibia (25 peratus), tulang belakang (10 peratus) dan humerus (tulang lengan atas).

Pesakit akan mengalami kesakitan dan bengkak pada tulang yang terlibat, selalunya semakin teruk pada sebelah malam tetapi rasa sakit boleh menjadi reda dengan mengambil ubat tahan sakit. Radiograf pada tulang yang terlibat selalunya menunjukkan ‘radiolucent lesion’ yang berbentuk bulat (nidus), berukuran satu sentimeter dan dikelilingi kawasan dikenali ‘dense sclerosis’.

Sista tulang ringkas

Sista jenis ini kerap terjadi pada bahagian metaphysis tulang humerus atau tulang paha tetapi sebab ia terjadi masih tidak diketahui.

Imbasan X-ray akan menunjukkan kawasan radiolucent di bahagian yang berlakunya tumor dan pesakit selalunya hadir dengan rasa sakit pada tulang yang terlibat atau sakit yang teruk akibat tulang tersebut patah.

Sista tulang aneurysmal

Sista jenis ini boleh berlaku pada mana-mana tulang, selalunya berlaku pada bahagian metaphysis tulang panjang dan tulang belakang. Gambar X-ray akan menunjukkan kawasan ‘eccentric’, ‘expansile’ atau ‘lytic’ ‘lesion’ yang menyebabkan tulang bengkak dan bahagian korteks menjadi tipis. Bahagian sistanya pula dibahagikan kepada beberapa ruangan yang mengandungi darah.

Fibrous dysplasia

Kanser tulang jenis ini boleh melibatkan satu atau beberapa tulang. Bahagian tulang yang terlibat biasanya digantikan dengan fibrous stroma yang mengandungi tulang yang metaplastik. Gambar X-ray selalunya menunjukkan gambaran seperti bebola dan jalur.

Sel tumor gergasi

Kanser tulang jenis ini selalunya benign, merangkumi lima peratus daripada semua jenis kanser tulang. Ia kerap berlaku pada golongan berumur 30-an, pada bahagian hujung tulang femur, pangkal tulang tibia, pangkal tulang humerus dan hujung tulang radius. Pesakit akan mengalami rasa sakit dan bengkak pada bahagian yang terlibat atau pesakit mudah mengalami patah tulang. Kanser ini juga mampu berubah menjadi kanser tulang yang malignan. Radiograf selalunya menunjukkan ‘lytic lesion’ yang semakin merebak pada bahagian terlibat.

Primary, malignan

Osteosarcoma

Kanser tulang jenis ini kerap berlaku, meliputi 20 peratus daripada semua kanser tulang. Ia boleh berlaku pada semua peringkat umur selalunya antara umur 10 hingga 25 tahun dan lebih kerap berlaku kepada lelaki. Kanser ini sering ditemui di bahagian sendi lutut (40 peratus), bahagian pangkal tulang humerus (lapan peratus) dan pangkal tulang femur (tujuh peratus). Pesakit akan mengalami rasa sakit dan bengkak pada bahagian tulang yang terlibat dan rasa sakit serta bengkak ini boleh berlaku dan berubah dengan cepat. Sekiranya ia berlaku dekat dengan sendi, maka pergerakan pesakit juga akan terganggu.

Gambar X-ray akan menunjukkan ‘sclerotic intramedullary lesion’ pada bahagian terbabit yang membengkak dan kebanyakannya memusnahkan struktur tulang.

Chondrosarcoma

Kanser tulang jenis ini merupakan jenis malignan yang kedua paling banyak berlaku selepas osteosarcoma dan ianya boleh menjadi agresif. Kanser ini boleh berlaku pada semua peringkat umur, selalunya antara 30 hingga 55 tahun. Bahagian yang paling kerap terjadinya kanser ini adalah tulang pelvis (30 peratus), bahagian pangkal femur (15 peratus), tulang rusuk (11 peratus), bahagian sendi bahu dan juga sendi lutut. Pesakit akan mengalami kesakitan dan bengkak di bahagian yang terlibat sementara gambar X-ray akan menunjukkan kawasan yang berlobus (lobulated) dan yang berbeza ketumpatannya. Ia boleh menyebabkan tulang membengkak dan memusnahkan struktur tulang.

Ewing‘s sarcoma

Kanser tulang jenis ini jarang berlaku dan hanya merangkumi lima peratus kanser tulang yang malignan. Ia paling kerap berlaku pada kanak-kanak biasanya antara umur lima hingga 20 tahun, selalunya pada tulang pelvis, tulang kaki, sendi bahu dan tulang rusuk. Pesakit akan mengalami kesakitan, bengkak dan juga demam sementara gambar X-ray akan menunjukkan kawasan dikenali ‘moth-eaten lesion’.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma

Kanser jenis juga jarang berlaku dan lebih cenderung menyerang golongan dewasa berbanding kanak-kanak. Ia biasanya terjadi pada tulang femur, tibia dan humerus.

Diagnosis

1) Radiografi

-X-ray adalah paling utama, digunakan untuk menentukan bahagian tulang yang terlibat, sama ada satu tulang sahaja atau banyak. Ciri-ciri yang terdapat pada X-ray boleh menentukan jenis kanser tulang (primary atau metastatik, benign atau malignan) pada bahagian yang terlibat.

2) Imbasan tulang

-Untuk menentukan keadaan (extension) kanser tulang tersebut, sama ada satu atau banyak, atau berada di bahagian tulang yang lain.

3) Imbasan CAT (computerized axial tomography) atau MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

* Imbasan CAT untuk menentukan sama ada bahagian kanser tulang melibatkan bahagian ‘cortical’ tulang, menentukan sejauh mana kanser tersebut berlaku dan menentukan sama ada tulang yang terlibat patah atau tidak.

* MRI boleh menentukan kawasan tisu yang terlibat sama ada melibatkan kawasan ‘intra-medullary’ dan juga kawasan yang mengalami pembengkakan.

4) Biopsi

* Biopsi boleh dilakukan, biasanya untuk kanser tulang yang malignant. Biopsi dilakukan bagi mendapatkan sebahagian tisu dari bahagian tulang yang terlibat dan diperlukan untuk doktor membuat diagnosis yang tepat supaya rawatan sewajarnya dapat diberikan.

Setelah imbasan CAT atau MRI dan juga biopsi bahagian tulang terlibat dijalankan, pengelasan kanser tulang dapat dilakukan dan rawatan bersesuaian dapat diberikan.

Rawatan

1. Pembedahan meruapakan cara rawatan paling berkesan untuk sebahagian kanser tulang primary yang benign. Sista tulang pula memerlukan rawatan ‘curretage’ dan graf tulang (bone grafting).

Bagi kanser tulang yang berasal dari tulang rawan seperti osteochondroma, ketumbuhan berkenaan perlu dibuang melalui pembedahan dengan tujuan untuk mengelakkan tulang patah, mengurangkan kesakitan dan mengelakkan dari menjadi malignant kelak.

Kanser tulang jenis osteoid osteoma juga memerlukan rawatan secara pembedahan untuk membuang bahagian ‘nidus’ untuk mengurangkan bahagian yang mengalami kesakitan.

Kanser sel tumor gergasi (giant cell tumour) pula memerlukan rawatan yang lebih agresif. Rawatan pembedahan seperti ‘curettage and bone grafting’ biasa dilakukan, tetapi terdapat 60 peratus kemungkinan ia boleh berulang. Kaedah radical curettage boleh mengurangkan peratusan kanser ini berulang sehingga serendah 15 - 20 peratus sahaja. Selain itu, pemotongan bahagian yang terjejas (amputasi) atau pemotongan dan pembentukan semula tulang juga boleh dilakukan.

2. Rawatan untuk kanser tulang primary yang malignant adalah lebih rumit serta sukar dan memerlukan penyiasatan rapi dan biopsi dilakukan. ‘Surgical staging’ diperlukan bagi menentukan cara rawatan yang terbaik.

* Pembedahan (amputasi atau ‘limb salvage’) adalah bergantung kepada pengelasan (surgical staging) bahagian kanser tulang yang terlibat.

* Pembentukan semula bagi menggantikan bahagian tulang yang dibuang (diaphyseal defect) boleh dibuat dengan graf tulang (autograft atau allograft). Bahagian tiruan (custom-made prosthesis) boleh juga digunakan untuk menggantikan bahagian kanser tulang yang telah dibuang.

* rawatan lain seperti radioterapi dan kemoterapi sering dilakukan untuk sebahagian besar kanser tulang yang malignan. Kemoterapi juga menjadi rawatan sampingan moden utama untuk osteosarcoma.

2008-02-27T20:14:00.000+08:00

Darah tinggi: Pembunuh Senyap

- utusan online

Bersama:DATUK DR. NOR IZHAM AZIZ (Pakar Perunding Perubatan dan Kardiologi Hospital Pakar Putra Melaka)
TEKANAN darah tinggi (hipertensi) kadang-kala digelar “pembunuh senyap” kerana tidak menunjukkan apa-apa simptom pada peringkat awal tetapi menyebabkan bilangan kematian yang tinggi di kalangan penduduk negara ini dan juga di seluruh dunia.

Mengikut kajian yang dijalankan di Malaysia pada 2007, lebih 30 peratus daripada penduduk negara ini menghidap tekanan darah tinggi dan sebilangan besar penghidap terdiri daripada kaum Melayu, tidak kira di bandar atau desa.

Ini dengan secara tidak langsung menunjukkan cara hidup di bandar dan di desa tidak banyak perbezaan di samping faktor genetik juga berkemungkinan memainkan peranan yang besar.

Penyakit ini melibatkan lebih kurang lima hingga enam juta rakyat Malaysia dan bilangan kes makin meningkat disebabkan gaya hidup moden zaman kini.

Darah tinggi adalah penyebab utama penyakit serangan jantung (heart attack) lemah jantung (heart failure), kegagalan buah pinggang dan buta.

Mujurlah penyakit ini senang dikesan dan boleh dikawal dengan menukar gaya hidup dan pengubatan.

* Fisiologi

Darah biasanya mengalir dalam dua fasa iaitu:

* Sistolik; apabila jantung berdenyut, darah mengalir keluar dari jantung dan tekanan darah akan naik.

* Diastolik; apabila jantung berehat seketika serta diisi dengan darah untuk denyutan selanjutnya, menyebabkan tekanan darah turun seketika.

Ini bermakna tekanan darah akan turun dan naik mengikut denyutan jantung.

Ini menyebabkan tekanan darah mengandungi dua nilai iaitu sistolik yang tinggi dan diastolik yang rendah, contohnya 120/80 milimeter (mm) merkuri (Hg).

Tekanan darah juga berubah dari masa ke semasa sepanjang hari disebabkan emosi dan keadaan tubuh badan kita. Sebagai contoh, tekanan naik semasa bersukan dan tekanan turun sewaktu tidur.

Tiga jenis hormon dari kelenjar adrenal iaitu adrenaline, noradrenaline dan aldosterone turut mempengaruhi tekanan darah. Rangkaian urat saraf dan hormon tadi mempengaruhi tekanan darah di dalam tubuh kita.

Biasanya sistem yang kompleks ini mengawal tekanan darah dan gangguan di dalam sistem ini menyebabkan darah tinggi.

Kira-kira 90 peratus pesakit darah tinggi tidak ada penyebab yang khusus dan ini digelar Essential atau Primanory Hypertension.

Beberapa faktor dapat dikenali mempunyai kaitan dengan Primanory Hypertension seperti tabiat pemakanan, aktiviti fizikal dan juga keadaan persekitaran.

Fakta lain seperti kandungan garam dan lemak yang tinggi di dalam diet, obesiti dan kegemukan, kurang senaman serta kurang memakan sayur dan buah-buahan yang mengandungi nilai potassium yang tinggi. Selain itu, faktor genetik juga dilihat memainkan peranan penting.

Darah tinggi juga boleh disebabkan oleh penyakit-penyakit lain dan ini dinamakan “secondary hypertension” yang membabitkan lima peratus dari jumlah kes.

Penyakit-penyakit tersebut ialah kegagalan fungsi buah pinggang (kidney failure), penyempitan pembuluh darah ke buah pinggang, tumor di kelenjar adrenal dan penyempitan pembuluh darah besar aorta.

Penyempitan pembuluh darah ini kadang kala dapat dirawat dengan pembedahan dan boleh menyembuhkan tekanan darah tinggi.

Selain itu, sesetengah jenis ubat juga boleh menyebabkan darah tinggi seperti steroid, cyclosporine, anti-depressant (kemurungan) dan ubat untuk sakit sendi dan tulang jenis NSAID (ubat antikeradangan bukan jenis steroid).

* Simptom atau petanda darah tinggi

Darah tinggi pada peringkat awal tidak memberi sebarang petanda dan kadangkala tidak dapat dikesan hingga bertahun lamanya.

Kadangkala, pesakit akan mengalami sakit kepala tetapi biasanya darah tinggi dikesan semasa pemeriksaan rutin.

Selalu juga tanda pertama darah tinggi ialah apabila pesakit menghidap komplikasi seperti strok, serangan jantung, lemah jantung atau masalah buah pinggang.

Kadang kala pesakit datang ke hospital dalam keadaan krisis dan tekanan darah melebihi 200/120 mm Hg.

Tekanan darah yang tinggi sebegini boleh menyebabkan sakit dada, sesak nafas, sakit kepala, gangguan penglihatan, muntah-

muntah dan juga sawan.

* Klasifikasi darah tinggi

Darah tinggi boleh diklasifikasikan mengikut tahap tekanan darah (mm Hg) seperti berikut:

KATEGORI Sistolik Diastolik

Optimum - <120<80

Normal - 120-129 80-84

Normal Tinggi - 130-139 - 85-89

Hipertensi Gred 1 (Ringan) - 140-159 - 90-99

Hipertensi Gred 2 (Sederhana) - 160-179 - 100-109

Hipertensi Gred 3 (Teruk) - >/180 - >/110

Hipertensi Sistolik Terpencil - >/140 - <90

Darah tinggi boleh dibezakan di antara sistolik dan diastolik. Biasanya hipertensi sistolik dihadapi oleh pesakit yang berumur 60 tahun ke atas di mana tekanan sistolik melebihi 140 mm Hg dan tekanan diastolik kurang daripada 90 mm Hg.

Sebaliknya pula, pesakit yang lebih muda mengalami tekanan sistolik melebihi 140 mm Hg dan tekanan diastolik juga melebihi 90 mm Hg.

Di kalangan pesakit yang datang ke klinik atau hospital dan dikatakan mengidap darah tinggi, lebih kurang 20 peratus daripada mereka mempunyai tekanan darah yang normal apabila diperiksa sendiri di rumah.

Golongan ini dinamakan ‘white coat hypertension’ (hipertensi kot putih). Biasanya doktor akan menggunakan alat pemantauan automatik yang boleh digunakan di rumah selama 24 jam untuk mengesan golongan ini (24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring).

Di kalangan pesakit darah tinggi, ada juga yang tekanan darahnya tidak menurun sewaktu tidur dan kumpulan ini digelarkan ‘non dippers’.

Golongan ini didapati menghadapi kadar komplikasi yang lebih tinggi. Ada kajian yang mengatakan bahawa ‘non dippers’ ini disebabkan terlalu banyak kandungan garam (sodium) di dalam darah dan rawatan untuk mengurangkan garam boleh menukar non dippers kepada “nocturnal dippers.”

* Komplikasi dari tekanan darah tinggi

Tekanan darah yang berlebihan boleh merosakkan pembuluh darah besar dan juga yang kecil.

Contoh kerosakan pembuluh darah yang besar adalah seperti strok dan serangan jantung dan contoh kerosakan pembuluh darah yang kecil ialah kegagalan buah pinggang dan gangguan penglihatan disebabkan kerosakan mata.

Satu lagi komplikasi ialah ‘atrial fibrillation’ atau degupan jantung yang tidak stabil. Ini menyebabkan pesakit merasa berdebar-debar dan kadang-kala pening dan sesak nafas.

Darah tinggi juga menyebabkan jantung membengkak dan boleh berlarutan hingga ke peringkat lemah jantung.

Satu lagi komplikasi ialah bengkak di saluran aorta (aneurisme). Aneurisme ini kadangkala terkoyak atau bocor dan berlaku pendarahan yang banyak. Komplikasi ini kerap menyebabkan pesakit maut.

* Pencegahan

Pencegahan darah tinggi adalah amat penting disebabkan kerosakan organ boleh bermula apabila tekanan darah melebihi 120/80 mm Hg dan sebelum dapat dikesan oleh doktor.

Pencegahan juga boleh mengelakkan daripada keperluan menggunakan ubat kelak dan merupakan cara yang terbaik untuk mengelak komplikasi.

Cara pencegahan adalah dengan mengubah cara hidup seperti mengurangkan berat badan, kerap bersenam, cara pemakanan yang sihat seperti memakan banyak sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan serta mengurangkan kandungan garam dan lemak dalam masakan.

Kajian menunjukkan bahawa pemakanan yang seimbang dengan kandungan nutrien penting terutamanya potasium melebihi 4,000 miligram (mg) sehari boleh merendahkan tekanan darah.

Selain itu, memakan sebanyak lima cawan sayur dan buah-buahan, tiga cawan bahan tenusu rendah lemak dan mengurangkan kegunaan garam sebanyak 1,500 mg sehari boleh merendahkan tekanan darah.

* Sindrom metabolik

Berat badan yang tinggi memainkan peranan yang penting dalam apa yang dinamakan sindrom metabolik.

Sindrom ini boleh dikenali dengan adanya obesiti dengan Indeks Jisim Badan (IJB) atau BMI (Basal Metabolic Rate) yang melebihi 25 serta perut buncit selain ukuran pinggang yang melebihi 40 inci untuk lelaki, melebihi 35 inci untuk perempuan, diabetes, darah tinggi, HDL kolesterol (kolesterol baik) yang rendah dan triglyceride yang tinggi.

Kesemua penyakit ini boleh dielak jika kita menjaga berat dan ukuran pinggang yang sesuai. Biasanya jika berat badan dapat dikurangkan sebanyak 10 peratus, tahap tekanan darah juga dapat diturunkan.

* Diagnosis

Darah tinggi biasanya dikesan semasa pemeriksaan rutin atau semasa berjumpa doktor untuk masalah kesihatan yang lain.

Selalunya doktor akan memeriksa tekanan darah dua atau tiga kali dalam masa yang berasingan untuk memastikan tekanan darah tinggi.

Pesakit dinasihatkan jangan meminum kopi atau teh, jangan hisap rokok selama setengah jam dan berehat selama lima minit sebelum memeriksa tekanan darah.

Alat-alat pemeriksaan darah tinggi jenis elektronik juga boleh digunakan di rumah untuk mengesan golongan “white coat hypertension” dan untuk memantau tekanan darah setiap hari.

Doktor juga boleh menggunakan alat untuk merakamkan tekanan selama 24 jam (24 hours BP monitoring) kerana cara ini lebih tepat dan dapat mengesan golongan ‘non dippers’ yang menghadapi darah tinggi sewaktu tidur.

* Rawatan

Rawatan darah tinggi mementingkan kawalan tekanan yang tidak melebihi 140/90 mm Hg bagi mereka yang tidak mempunyai penyakit sampingan atau 130/80 bagi mereka yang menghidap diabetes, lemah jantung dan kerosakan buah pinggang.

Penting juga bagi doktor untuk mengesan mereka yang menghidap ‘secondary hypertension’ supaya punca utama darah tinggi dapat dirawat.

Biasanya rawatan darah tinggi dimulakan dengan memperbaiki cara hidup dengan pemakanan yang seimbang, mengamalkan cara hidup yang aktif, melakukan aktiviti fizikal dan senaman jika tekanan darah masih di peringkat satu.

Bagi pesakit dengan tekanan darah didapati terlalu tinggi (peringkat kedua), pesakit harus menggunakan ubat untuk mengawal tekanan darah.

Di kalangan pesakit yang menghidap diabetes, lemah jantung, strok atau kerosakan buah pinggang, ubat biasanya digunakan pada peringkat satu dan tekanan darah perlu dikurangkan hingga ke 130/80 mm Hg.

* Ubat-ubatan

Terdapat pelbagai jenis ubat yang digunakan untuk mengawal tekanan darah. Biasanya doktor memilih ubat mengikut keadaan dan faktor-faktor kesihatan lain yang terdapat pada pesakit.

Contohnya di kalangan pesakit yang berumur 65 tahun ke atas dan menghidap hipertensi sistolik, ubat yang paling berkesan adalah dari kumpulan diuretic dan di kalangan pesakit diabetes pilihan pertama adalah angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors atau angiotensin receptor blocker.

Jika pesakit menghidap angina atau serangan jantung, beta-blocker adalah pilihan pertama. Di kalangan pesakit dalam peringkat pertama dan tiada tanda-tanda kerosakan organ, perubahan cara hidup boleh dicuba terlebih dahulu selama enam bulan hingga setahun. Jika tekanan darah masih melebihi 140/90 mm Hg, biasanya satu jenis ubat digunakan.

Bagaimanapun di kalangan pesakit yang dalam peringkat kedua, kadangkala doktor memulakan dengan dua jenis ubat dengan serentak.

Terdapat ubat moden di mana dua jenis ubat disatukan di dalam satu pil dan ini menyenangkan pesakit dan menggalakkan mereka kekal memakan ubat setiap hari. Di dalam pemilihan ubat, kos juga menjadi faktor yang perlu dipertimbangkan.

* Rawatan jangka panjang

Pesakit yang menghidap tekanan darah tinggi biasanya menjalani rawatan seumur hidup dan selalunya berjumpa doktor antara satu hingga tiga bulan sekali.

Di kalangan pesakit yang tekanannya tidak terkawal atau menghidapi masalah perubatan seperti sakit jantung, strok atau kerosakan buah pinggang haruslah berjumpa doktor setiap bulan.

Ada setengah pesakit di mana tekanannya susah dikawal dan memerlukan tiga atau empat jenis ubat.

Kajian menunjukkan bahawa 50 peratus daripada pesakit memerlukan satu jenis ubat dan 30 peratus lagi memerlukan dua jenis ubat sementara bakinya pula memerlukan tiga atau empat jenis ubat untuk mengawal tekanan darah mereka.

Kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa 30 peratus daripada pesakit mempunyai tekanan darah tidak terkawal.

Faktor pertama tekanan tidak terkawal adalah disebabkan ubat yang tidak mencukupi disebabkan pesakit tidak memakan ubat yang diberikan.

Ada kajian yang menunjukkan 50 peratus daripada pesakit berhenti makan ubat dan tidak berjumpa doktor dalam jangka masa setahun selepas bermulanya rawatan.

Hakikat ini boleh difahami kerana penyakit darah tinggi selalunya tidak mendatangkan apa-apa gangguan dan ubat yang dimakan kadangkala menyebabkan kesan sampingan yang mengganggu kehidupan harian pesakit. Tetapi, adalah sangat penting ubat dan rawatan diteruskan memandangkan penyakit-penyakit yang serius yang boleh terjadi akibat tekanan darah tinggi yang tidak dikawal.

* Jenis-jenis ubat darah tinggi

* Diuretik

Diuretik mengurangkan kandungan garam dan air di dalam badan dengan mengeluarkan bahan ini di dalam air kencing. Dengan ini tekanan darah dapat dikurangkan.

* Beta-blocker

Beta-blocker menyekat perjalanan hormon adrenaline dan noradrenaline. Ini mengurangkan kekuatan dan kelajuan denyutan jantung dan mengurangkan tekanan darah.

* Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors atau Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)

ACE inhibitor dan ARB menyekat enzim yang mengeluarkan angiotensin II, satu bahan yang menyebabkan saluran darah mengecut. Ubat ini mengembangkan saluran darah dan menurunkan tekanan.

* Calcium channel blocker

Calcium channel blocker menyekat perjalanan kalsium ke sel di saluran darah. Ini menyebabkan saluran mengembang dan menurunkan tekanan darah.

* Alpha-blocker

Alpha-blocker menyekat isyarat saraf yang menyebabkan cengkaman saluran darah.

2008-02-27T20:12:00.000+08:00

Ancaman berbeza, sama bahayanya

Oleh: NURUL ANUAR KARI - utusan online

BILANGAN tinggi pesakit kanser pangkal rahim (kiri) dan kanser ovari (kanan) yang berjumpa doktor pada peringkat akhir penyakit berkenaan amat membimbangkan berbanding kanser payudara yang lebih mudah dikesan pada peringkat awal.

KANSER, tumor, ketumbuhan atau sista (cyst). Perkataan-perkataan ini sahaja sudah cukup untuk menakutkan sesiapa sahaja yang berjumpa doktor akibat masalah kesihatan yang pada awalnya disangka hanya perkara kecil.

Ketumbuhan kanser boleh menjadi bahaya (malignan) atau tidak (benign) tetapi kedua- duanya tetap mampu mengganggu dan mengancam fungsi badan. Ketumbuhan yang tidak bahaya kebiasaannya tidak merebak ke bahagian lain badan sementara ketumbuhan malignan pula akan merebak, menakluk dan merosakkan organ atau bahagian lain badan pesakit.

Perbezaannya hanya pada bahaya yang dibawa kanser pada organ tertentu dan kekerapan kanser berkenaan berlaku di dalam kelompok masyarakat.

*Pembunuh utama

Pakar Sakit Puan & Perbidanan, Pusat Perubatan Kelana Jaya (KJMC), Dr. S. Silvam menyatakan beberapa kanser khusus pada wanita membawa ancaman tersembunyi.

“Semua jenis kanser berbahaya namun beberapa kanser yang banyak menyerang wanita membawa bentuk ancaman berbeza.

“Kanser payudara, pangkal rahim (serviks) dan ovari mempunyai tahap kekerapan berbeza di samping punca, cara pengesanan dan pencegahan tersendiri,” katanya.

Kanser payudara merupakan jenis yang paling banyak menyerang dan membunuh wanita di seluruh dunia, selain mampu menyerang golongan lelaki juga.

Menurut Dr. Silvam, jika seseorang wanita hidup sehingga umur 80 tahun, terdapat kebarangkalian satu dalam dua belas (1:12) untuk wanita berkenaan menghidap hidap barah payudara.

“Barah jenis ini bagaimanapun mudah dikesan mata kasar atau melalui sentuhan, memudahkan ketumbuhan pada payudara dikesan pada peringkat awal.

“Pesakit boleh melakukan pemeriksaan payudara sendiri (BSE) atau ujian mamogram setiap tahun untuk memastikan tidak menghidap kanser ini,” ujarnya.

Jelas beliau, kanser payudara melibatkan kaitan warisan genetik dan sejarah keluarga dapat menentukan kebarangkalian dan risiko seorang wanita menghidapnya.

Faktor selain peningkatan umur dan sejarah keluarga yang dikaitkan dengan peningkatan risiko kanser payudara adalah pembawa gen abnormal BCRA1 dan BCRA2.

Kedua-dua gen ini tergolong dalam kelas gen dikenali sebagai ‘gen menyekat tumor’ yang terlibat dalam proses membaik pulih kerosakan genetik kromosom. Kerosakan salah satu atau kedua-dua gen ini dikenal pasti berkait dengan permulaan kanser payudara dan juga kembalinya kanser selepas pesakit menerima rawatan.

*Pangkal rahim dan HPV

Kanser pangkal rahim (serviks) pula merupakan kanser khusus yang kedua paling banyak menyerang wanita.

Dr. Silvam menjelaskan, kanser jenis ini kadangkala sukar dikenalpasti tetapi dapat dikesan jika ujian saringan berkala dijalankan ke atas pesakit.

“Di United Kingdom, program saringan yang bagus, teratur dan cukup pembiayaan berjaya mengurangkan bilangan kes kanser pangkal rahim dari 15 kes untuk setiap 100,000 wanita kepada hanya lapan kes untuk setiap 100,000 wanita.

“Kebanyakan negara-negara membangun tidak mempunyai program saringan untuk kanser jenis ini,” katanya.

Menurut beliau, hanya pesakit yang telah mendapat pendedahan kepada bahaya kanser ini akan berjumpa doktor dengan sendiri untuk pemeriksaan berkala.

Tambahnya, satu program yang teratur seperti yang diadakan untuk kanser payudara dapat membantu pihak hospital memantau golongan yang berisiko tinggi dengan lebih berkesan.

Dr. Silvam menyatakan program sebegini belum terdapat di Malaysia tetapi diperlukan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran orang ramai terhadap ancaman kanser pangkal rahim.

“Pemeriksaan untuk kanser pangkal rahim dijalankan dengan ujian pap smear yang disediakan hampir kesemua klinik dan hospital di negara ini.

“Ujian ini murah dan berkesan, sesuai untuk golongan wanita yang berisiko tinggi, iaitu mereka yang pernah melakukan hubungan seks,” jelasnya.

Menurut beliau, wanita yang pernah atau aktif secara seksual menghadapi risiko 99.9 peratus menghadapi kanser pangkal rahim.

Tambahnya, mereka yang langsung tidak pernah melakukan hubungan seks pula mempunyai risiko hampir 0 peratus menghidap kanser berkenaan.

Kaitan ini dibuat berikutan lebih 99 peratus kanser pangkal rahim di seluruh dunia didapati mempunyai Virus Papiloma Manusia (HPV).

Persatuan Kanser Amerika telah menyenaraikan beberapa faktor risiko kanser pangkal rahim dan jangkitan HPV diletakkan sebagai risiko utama. Selain itu, merokok, jangkitan virus HIV, jangkitan chlamydia, faktor pemakanan, kaedah mencegah kehamilan tertentu, mengandung banyak kali dan sejarah keluarga turut dikaitkan dengan kanser jenis ini.

Terdapat lebih 250 jenis virus HPV, 15 darinya (16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, dan 82) dikelaskan sebagai sangat berisiko menghidap kanser pangkal rahim. HPV jenis 16 dan 18 pula diperakui sebagai punca 70 peratus kes kanser pangkal rahim di seluruh dunia.

Vaksin terhadap empat jenis virus HPV (6,11,16,18) telah diluluskan Pentadbiran Makanan dan Perubatan Amerika Syarikat (FDA) pada 2006 dan kini telah diluluskan untuk kegunaan di lebih 80 negara seluruh dunia.

Dr. Silvam memaklumkan masalah kanser pangkal rahim mungkin dapat dihapuskan jika program vaksinasi HPV dapat dijalankan dengan berkesan di negara ini.

“Ini merupakan antara perkara unik mengenai kanser pangkal rahim kerana ia dapat dicegah menggunakan vaksin.

“Tidak banyak kanser yang berpunca daripada jangkitan dan vaksin lebih mudah dibuat terhadap kuman punca jangkitan berkenaan,” ujarnya.

Beliau mendakwa jangkitan HPV merupakan punca utama kanser jenis ini dan faktor lain hanya menyumbang kepada pembentukan kanser pangkal rahim.

Tambahnya, pemberian vaksin juga dapat melindung wanita yang terlibat dengan aktiviti seksual kerana satu kali pendedahan sudah cukup untuk menyebarkan virus berkenaan, sama ada melalui seks secara rela atau tidak, seperti kes rogol.

Australia merupakan antara negara yang telah melaksanakan program vaksinasi terhadap semua kanak-kanak perempuan berumur 11 tahun ke atas iaitu umur yang dianggarkan paling awal bermulanya aktiviti seks.

*Semakin gemuk atau kanser ovari?

Kanser ovari bukan jenis kanser yang banyak berlaku di kalangan wanita tetapi kekerapan ia hadir pada peringkat akhir ketika pesakit menemui doktor amat membimbangkan.

Menurut Dr. Silvam, berbanding kanser payudara dan kanser pangkal rahim dapat dikesan melalui ujian fizikal, kanser ovari sukar dikesan pada peringkat awal.

“Memandangkan kedudukan ovari yang tidak dapat dicapai dengan mudah, amat sukar untuk doktor mengesan struktur abnormal pada peringkat awal.

“Kebanyakan pesakit kanser jenis ini datang berjumpa doktor setelah keadaan melarat dan mencapai peringkat akhir (peringkat 3 atau 4),” jelasnya.

Kata beliau, pada peringkat 3, kanser berkenaan telah merebak ke bahagian abdomen terutamanya pada buah pinggang, usus dan hati sementara pada peringkat 4 (akhir), sel kanser telah merebak ke seluruh badan.

Tambahnya, walaupun kebanyakan pesakit berumur lebih 40 tahun, terdapat kira-kira 10 peratus pesakit yang berusia sekitar 20-an dan 30-an.

Berbanding kanser payudara dan kanser pangkal rahim, kanser ovari juga tidak mempunyai sebarang alat atau program saringan. Gabungan faktor-faktor ini serta kedudukan ovari di dalam badan menyebabkan terdapat hanya 25 peratus kebarangkalian pesakit hidup lebih lima tahun selepas kanser berkenaan dikesan.

Dr. Silvam mendedahkan penghidap kanser ovari juga sering menganggap diri mereka semakin gemuk dan tidak menjangkakan menghidap kanser jenis ini.

“Kanser jenis ini akan menyebabkan takungan air di dalam abdomen sekitar peringkat 3 dan peringkat 4.

“Memandangkan pesakit tidak merasakan sebarang kesakitan daripada kanser ini atau takungan air, mereka sering menyangka perut membesar kerana kegemukan,” katanya.

Menurut beliau, pengesahan peringkat akhir kanser ini boleh dibuat menggunakan imbasan ultra bunyi atau imbasan CT.

Hasil penyelidikan terkini

Kanser payudara kini dianggarkan membunuh lebih 500,000 pesakit setiap tahun.

* Terbaru, kanser jenis ini dikatakan boleh dikesan pada peringkat awal melalui imej imbasan sinar-X rambut pesakit. Sekumpulan penyelidik dari Sydney, Australia mendakwa dapat membezakan antara penghidap kanser payudara dan individu sihat melalui kehadiran bentuk cincin dalam imej imbasan berkenaan. Selain itu, bentuk cincin dalam imej sinar-X penghidap juga dikatakan menjadi semakin pudar jika pesakit semakin sembuh selepas menerima rawatan. Kumpulan penyelidik berkenaan kini sedang membuat penilaian lanjut kesesuaian kaedah ini untuk diagnosis kanser payudara kelak.

* Sekumpulan penyelidik dari Institut Kanser Kebangsaan Regina Elena di Rom, Itali mendapati ubat kanser payudara dari kelas Aromatase inhibitor menyebabkan sedikit peningkatan risiko masalah kardiovaskular berbanding penggunaan ubat jenis tamoxifen. Ubat kelas Aromatase inhibitor digunakan selepas pembedahan membuang ketumbuhan untuk mengelakkan kanser berulang.

* Kajian di Pusat Penyelidikan Kanser Fred Hutchinson di Seattle, Amerika Syarikat (AS) mendapati perbezaaan jarak masa antara kali pertama seorang wanita datang haid dan kali pertama melahirkan anak mempunyai kaitan dengan peningkatan risiko kanser payudara.

Jarak kedua-dua peristiwa ini yang lebih dari 16 tahun membawa risiko 1.5 kali ganda lebih tinggi berbanding mereka dengan jarak masa keduanya sekitar lima tahun sahaja. Kajian epidemiologi pula menunjukkan penurunan antara lima hingga 20 peratus risiko kanser payudara bagi setiap tahun kedatangan haid yang lebih lambat.

Kanser pangkal rahim (serviks) kini mencatatkan 12,000 kes baru setiap tahun di AS sahaja dan membunuh lebih 300,000 pesakit setiap tahun, kebanyakan di negara-negara membangun.

* Britain, Perancis, Jerman, Austria dan Itali telah memasukkan pemberian vaksin HPV ke dalam program kesihatan kebangsaan masing-masing. Namun negara-negara Kesatuan Eropah tetap menyarankan saringan tahunan memandangkan vaksin tersebut tidak melindungi pesakit dari semua jenis virus HPV.

* Penyelidik Universiti Johns Hopkins, AS mendapati virus HPV telah menular kepada golongan lelaki dan kini menjadi antara punca utama kanser oral (mulut). Virus berkenaan dikatakan menyebabkan sama banyak kanser oral seperti tembakau serta alkohol dan mungkin akan melangkaui jumlah kanser oral akibat tembakau dan alkohol dalam tempoh 10 tahun akan datang. Lebih 5,600 kanser tonsil, bawah lidah dan bahagian atas tekak telah dikaitkan dengan HPV hasil peningkatan aktiviti seks oral.

Pengeluar vaksin HPV belum mendapat kelulusan FDA untuk kegunaan pesakit lelaki. Permohonan berkenaan dikatakan akan dibuat pada penghujung 2008.

Sebanyak 190,000 kes baru kanser ovari kini dikesan setiap tahun di seluruh dunia.

* Kajian di Sekolah Perubatan Harvard, AS mendapati pengambilan kafein dapat mengurangkan risiko kanser ovari namun satu lagi kajian berasingan mendapati kafein juga meningkatkan sehingga dua kali ganda risiko wanita mengandung keguguran.

* Penyelidik di Universiti Oxford mendapati pil perancang kehamilan dapat mengurangkan risiko kanser ovari walaupun jika seorang wanita telah berhenti mengambilnya sejak 30 tahun lalu. Lebih 100 juta wanita kini menggunakan pil ini dan pengambilannya dianggarkan akan mencegah lebih 30,000 kanser ovari setiap tahun untuk beberapa dekad akan datang.

* Sekumpulan penyelidik di Sekolah Perubatan Universiti Yale di New Haven, Connecticut, AS percaya mereka telah berjaya menghasilkan kaedah baru ujian darah yang pertama dapat mengesan kanser ovari dengan tepat pada peringkat awal. Kaedah ini dikatakan menggunakan enam penanda biologi secara serentak dan berjaya mengesan 95 peratus pesakit kanser ovari. Penilaian lanjut kaedah ini sedang dijalankan untuk aplikasi klinikal.

Nukleus

STRUKTUR kerangka tulang manusia adalah ‘serupa’ seperti rangka bangunan-bangunan tertinggi dunia. Kedua-dua struktur rangka ini membolehkan badan manusia dan bangunan tinggi menampung beban berat badan masing-masing. Selain sokongan berat badan, rangka juga membentuk rupa fizikal dan melindungi organ-organ lembut di dalam badan. Tisu otot yang bersambung pada rangka tulang dan sendi antara tulang-tulang utama pula membolehkan manusia menggerakkan anggota badan dan tanpanya anda akan kekal kaku di tempat sama seperti sebuah bangunan pencakar langit.

2008-02-22T14:35:00.000+08:00

Kawalan pundi kencing, tidak kira usia

Oleh Nurul Anuar Kari - utusan online

SELAIN borang soal selidik, pemeriksaan fizikal dan analisis air kencing juga dapat membantu doktor menentukan masalah pundi kencing di samping menentukan rawatan yang bersesuaian untuk pesakit.

BOCOR lagi! Sedang anda ketawa melihatkan sesuatu yang lucu, tiba-tiba terasa seluar menjadi basah. Ini juga bukan kali pertama kerana kejadian serupa berlaku setiap kali anda batuk, bersin, melompat atau berlari.

Perasaan yang kuat untuk membuang air kecil juga sering datang secara tiba-tiba sehinggakan anda ‘bocor' lagi sebelum sempat sampai ke bilik air.

Kerap kali pula anda perlu bangun berulangkali pada waktu malam kerana perlu membuang air kecil.

Mungkin ramai berfikir semua ini tidak pelik bagi warga emas, tetapi bagaimana pula jika mereka yang di pertengahan usia atau masih muda remaja?

Pada usia 50-an mungkin kejadian ‘terkucil’ lebih banyak berlaku berbanding mereka pada usia 40-an.

Tetapi bagaimana pula jika ia berlaku kepada mereka yang berusia 30-an, 20-an atau masih berusia remaja?

Tidak dapat mengawal keinginan membuang air kecil bukan sesuatu yang normal, terutamanya bagi golongan dewasa.

Berbeza dengan kencing malam (ketika tidur), masalah ini lebih melibatkan kemampuan diri mengawal pundi kencing (ketika berjaga) apabila datangnya keinginan mendadak untuk membuang air kecil.

Keupayaan mengawal pundi kencing, iaitu dapat menahan keperluan ke tandas sehingga masa dan tempat sesuai, biasanya dibentuk antara usia dua hingga enam tahun apabila kanak-kanak dilatih mengawal keinginan ke tandas.

OAB

Pundi kencing mempunyai dua fungsi iaitu mengumpul dan membuang air kencing.

Air kencing (bahan kumuhan) dari buah pinggang akan terkumpul di dalam pundi kencing.

Dinding pundi kencing akan diregangkan dengan perlahan-lahan bagi membolehkannya menampung sejumlah antara satu hingga dua liter cecair setiap hari.

Kebanyakan orang akan ke tandas apabila pundi kencing diisikan dengan kira-kira 250 mililiter air kencing (separuh penuh).

Ini bermakna seseorang itu akan membuang air kecil tidak lebih lapan kali setiap hari walaupun setiap individu mempunyai kekerapan ke tandas yang berbeza.

Otot pundi kencing akan mengecut dan air kencing dikosongkan melalui pembukaan salur uretra.

Mekanisme otot sfinkter uretra yang normal memastikan air kencing tidak bocor walaupun ketika ketawa, batuk, bersin, melompat atau berlari.

Masalah Pundi kencing Terlalu Aktif atau Overactive Bladder (OAB) merupakan antara kumpulan Gejala Salur Bawah Sistem Perkumuhan (LUTS) yang kadangkala tidak dianggap sebagai suatu masalah kesihatan tetapi diterima pula sebagai sesuatu yang normal di kalangan warga tua.

Profesor Dr. Sender Herschorn, Pengerusi Bahagian Urologi Universiti Toronto, Kanada menjelaskan, OAB adalah keadaan di mana pesakit mendapat perasaan yang kuat dan mendadak untuk membuang air kecil sehingga kadangkala gagal mengawal diri.

"Selain itu, pesakit OAB juga lebih kerap ke tandas (lebih lapan kali dalam 24 jam) dan juga sering bangun malam kerana terpaksa membuang air kecil (nokturia).

"Namun, masalah ini juga mungkin berkaitan dengan masalah lain seperti jangkitan kuman, obesiti, kemurungan, diabetes, asma atau darah tinggi," katanya.

Beliau mendakwa kira-kira 60 peratus golongan dewasa mengalami nokturia tetapi dianggap normal jika ianya berlaku sekali sekala dan tidak lebih sekali dalam satu malam.

OAB merupakan masalah melibatkan takungan air kencing di dalam pundi kencing serta keinginan yang teramat kuat untuk membuang air kecil. Ini juga menjadi asas utama untuk mengsyaki pesakit menghidap penyakit berkenaan.

Selain itu, nokturia, kekerapan membuang air dan kegagalan menahan air kencing sehingga terkeluar turut menjadi faktor sokongan untuk diagnosis OAB.

Menurut Dr. Herschorn, Kajian Penilaian Pundi Kencing Terlalu Aktif Kebangsaan (NOBLE) Amerika Syarikat mendapati OAB mempengaruhi 16.6 peratus penduduk negara berkenaan dan bilangan kes meningkat mengikut usia pesakit.

"Satu lagi kajian yang dikenali sebagai EPIC di Kanada, Jerman, Itali, Sweden dan United Kingdom mendapati 11.8 peratus daripada 19,165 peserta tinjauan menghidap OAB.

"Kedua-dua kumpulan lelaki dan wanita melaporkan gejala OAB mengganggu kehidupan seharian mereka dan memberi kesan kepada kualiti hidup," ujarnya.

Kata beliau, selain NOBLE dan EPIC, terdapat juga beberapa kajian di rantau Asia yang merekodkan 12.2 peratus penduduk Korea dengan OAB, 12.4 peratus di Jepun sementara negara-negara lain di rantau ini dianggarkan mempunyai antara 12 hingga 13 peratus penduduk dengan OAB.

Kesan dan kos

Masalah hilang kawalan pundi kencing ini mempengaruhi berjuta orang di seluruh dunia, tidak kira jantina dan umur.

Masalah ini mungkin memalukan bagi kebanyakan pesakit sehingga menyebabkan mereka mengehadkan banyak aktiviti harian dalam kehidupan.

Mereka juga terpaksa merancang perjalanan jauh dengan lebih rapi untuk memastikan terdapat tandas dalam jarak tertentu dan mungkin lebih gemar untuk duduk di rumah kerana takut terkencing di khalayak ramai.

Kajian di Korea turut menunjukkan kaitan antara masalah pundi kencing dengan fungsi seksual lelaki dan wanita, yang telah lama dikaitkan dengan masalah LUTS lain seperti masalah prostat, otot sokongan pelvis (pelvic floor) dan jangkitan kuman dalam sistem perkumuhan.

Masalah ini juga memberi kesan kepada produktiviti pekerjaan, ekonomi negara dan juga kos perubatan.

Pekerja yang mengalami masalah ini mungkin tidak selesa ketika bekerja, perlu mengambil cuti untuk berjumpa doktor dan perlu mendapatkan ubat atau produk tertentu untuk membantu mengawal gejala OAB.

Masalah salur perkumuhan dianggarkan telah menyebabkan kerugian antara €257 juta (RM1.22 bilion) di Kanada, hingga €5 bilion (RM23.65 bilion) di Jerman sepanjang 2006.

Pada tahun 2000, kos keseluruhan untuk masalah salur perkumuhan dianggarkan berjumlah €4.2 bilion (RM19.86 bilion) di lima negara Eropah dan di antara €255 juta (RM1.21 bilion) di Sweden, hingga €1.4 bilion (RM6.62 bilion) di Itali.

Secara keseluruhan, tahun 2000 mencatatkan kerugian ekonomi berjumlah AS$12.02 bilion (RM38.72 bilion), AS$9.17 bilion (RM29.54 bilion) terhadap masyarakat dan AS$2.85 bilion (RM9.18 bilion) kepada pelbagai institusi.

Diagnosis dan rawatan

Bagi pesakit yang berkemungkinan menghidap OAB, doktor akan mengambil sejarah tabiat membuang air kecil terlebih dahulu.

Selain itu, ujian fizikal terhadap pundi kencing dan bahagian abdomen dilakukan untuk melihat jika terdapat penyakit lain yang menjadi punca masalah berkenaan.

Ujian fizikal dapat menunjukkan jika terdapat prolaps (kejatuhan) organ tertentu, masalah prostat atau masalah otot pelvic floor.

Pesakit juga akan diberikan borang soal selidik, menjalani analisis air kencing dan beberapa ujian lain untuk diagnosis dan rawatan lanjut.

Borang soal selidik berkenaan memerlukan pesakit merekodkan jenis dan jumlah pengambilan cecair serta kekerapan membuang air kecil dalam tempoh tiga hari.

Ini dapat mengasingkan kes yang berpunca daripada pengambilan minuman berkafein (teh, kopi) dan alkohol yang menggalakkan pesakit membuang air kecil (diuretik).

Dr. Herschorn menyatakan diagnosis memerlukan pengasingan punca-punca lain yang boleh membawa kepada OAB sebelum pesakit disahkan menghidap penyakit berkenaan, sama ada OAB sahaja atau OAB dengan masalah sampingan.

"Gejala berkaitan dengan OAB adalah kompleks terutamanya jika ia melibatkan masalah kesihatan lain.

"Golongan lelaki mungkin menghadapi penyakit ini akibat daripada masalah prostat sementara wanita akibat masalah otot pelvic floor," jelasnya.

Kata beliau, pesakit yang mengadu terlalu kerap kencing (siang atau malam) pula mungkin hanya perlu mengubah cara hidup seperti jenis minuman, masa (seperti minum minuman berkafein sebelum tidur) dan jumlah pengambilan cecair harian dari minuman dan makanan.

Dr. Herschorn menegaskan pesakit yang menghidap OAB tidak perlu menyembunyikan diri dan mengelakkan daripada menghadapi masalah berkenaan.

"Tidak perlu malu untuk memaklumkan atau membincangkan masalah ini bersama ahli keluarga dan doktor anda.

"Selain lampin dewasa, terdapat juga ubat dan senaman tertentu (menguatkan otot-otot lemah) yang dapat mengurangkan masalah yang timbul dengan gejala penyakit ini," katanya.

Beliau menjelaskan, pengambilan ubat bersama perubahan cara hidup didapati amat berkesan dalam meningkat kualiti hidup pesakit OAB.

Tambahnya, senaman dan ubat mungkin tidak dapat menyembuhkan sepenuhnya penyakit berkenaan tetapi sekurang-kurangnya dapat mengurangkan masalah gejala OAB yang mengganggu kehidupan seharian.

Antara pilihan rawatan untuk OAB adalah terapi tingkah laku, ubat, terapi gabungan, terapi invasif minimum dan pembedahan.

Terapi tingkah laku melibatkan perubahan pada cara hidup seperti latihan menahan pundi kencing (tahan kencing) dan terapi otot pelvic floor (PFMT).

Terapi tingkah laku yang digabungkan dengan pengambilan ubat dilihat lebih berkesan daripada penggunaan salah satu terapi sahaja.

Dr. Herschorn menjelaskan perasaan kuat dan mendadak untuk membuang air kecil berlaku apabila berlakunya kekejangan otot pundi kencing.

"Ubat-ubat yang digunakan berfungsi menghalang isyarat dari otak ke pundi kencing dan menghentikan kekejangan tersebut seterusnya membolehkan pundi kencing menakung lebih banyak air kencing.

"Ubat tidak akan menghilangkan sepenuhnya gejala OAB tetapi dapat membantu mengurangkan kesannya dan mengawal masalah ini ketika meneruskan aktiviti harian," ujarnya.

Pengambilan ubat tertentu mungkin juga membawa kesan sampingan kepada pesakit di samping kemungkinan interaksi antara ubat OAB dengan ubat untuk penyakit lain.

Pesakit perlu mengambil ubat mengikut arahan doktor dan bertanyakan mengenai interaksi antara ubat yang diambil.

Sedar dan bertindak

Bagi mereka yang menunjukkan gejala OAB, perlu disedari terdapat rawatan tertentu untuk masalah ini.

Segera berbincang dengan doktor. Anda tidak perlu hidup dengannya dan ia bukan hanya dihidapi golongan warga tua.

Buat masa ini, 64 peratus daripada mereka yang menunjukkan gejala OAB tidak menerima sebarang rawatan di atas sebab-sebab tertentu.

Kebanyakan pesakit OAB dengan masalah kesihatan lain pula enggan untuk ‘menambah’ lagi pil untuk masalah-masalah kesihatan mereka.

Perasaan kuat dan mendadak untuk membuang air kecil bukan sesuatu yang normal.

Buangkan rasa malu untuk mendapatkan rawatan segera dan meningkatkan semula kualiti hidup anda.

Perhatikan gejala-gejala berikut dan jika anda mengalaminya, dapatkan nasihat pakar perubatan:

* ke tandas dengan kerap (lebih lapan kali dalam 24 jam)

* kerap merasai keinginan yang kuat dan secara tiba-tiba untuk membuang air kecil

* kebocoran air kencing (tidak tahan, hilang kawalan)

* kebocoran air kencing ketika ketawa, batuk, bersin, melompat atau berlari

* Kerap bangun malam untuk membuang air kecil (nokturia).

Elakkan juga minuman berkafein, terutamanya hampir dengan waktu tidur bagi mengurangkan kekerapan membuang air kecil.

Air kosong atau jus buah sesuai dijadikan ganti untuk diminum pada bila-bila masa.

Bagi warga emas, jangan sekat keperluan cecair harian badan anda.

Usia lanjut bermakna badan memerlukan sejumlah cecair yang cukup untuk fungsi organ-organ badan di samping mengelakkan sembelit teruk.

Jika anda mahu mengurangkan pengambilan minuman, tetapkan berhenti minum sekitar pukul enam petang atau beberapa jam sebelum tidur.

Antara jenis ubat yang digunakan untuk OAB adalah:

* Oxybutynin;

Ubat yang paling lama digunakan untuk rawatan penyakit ini, diambil tiga kali setiap hari. Boleh memberi kesan kepada bahagian badan lain, menyebabkan mulut kering. Pesakit dengan glaukoma penglihatan sempit tidak boleh menggunakan ubat ini kerana mempunyai kesan kepada mata. Banyak kesan sampingan, 90 peratus pesakit berhenti mengambil ubat ini selepas satu tahun.

* Propiverine;

Diambil dua kali setiap hari, hanya boleh didapati di Asia dan Eropah.

* Trospium;

Telah 20 tahun berada di pasaran, buatan Jerman, diambil dua kali setiap hari, belum terdapat di Malaysia.

* Tolterodine;

Berkesan merawat gejala yang timbul, kurang kesan sampingan, diambil hanya sekali setiap hari.

* Toksin Botulinum;

Melumpuhkan pundi kencing untuk sementara waktu, disuntik terus ke beberapa bahagian pundi kencing oleh pakar urologi, belum diluluskan sebagai cara rawatan untuk OAB (off label), tidak sesuai untuk kebanyakan pesakit.

* Solifenacin;

Boleh menyebabkan sembelit.

* Darifenacin;

Boleh menyebabkan sembelit.

Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai OAB, sila layari laman web Pfizer, www.pfizer.com. my atau melalui talian bebas tol OAB Pfizer 1 800 88 2833.

2008-02-22T14:34:00.000+08:00

Bahaya virus hepatitis

Oleh Dr Abdul Malik Jamal Buhari (Pakar Runding Perubatan dan Gasteroenterologi Kelana Jaya Medical Centre (KJMC))

GAYA hidup tidak sihat membuka laluan luas kepada penyakit untuk bersarang dalam badan.

Badan manusia adalah ‘perumah’ paling disukai virus dan bakteria kerana menerima bekalan makanan yang berterusan.

Virus hepatitis merupakan antara virus yang perlu diberikan perhatian yang serius.

Hepatitis bermakna keradangan hati dan virus hepatitis boleh menyebabkan kita mengalami masalah ini yang mungkin berakhir dengan kematian jika tidak diberikan rawatan yang sewajarnya.

Punca utama hepatitis ialah jangkitan virus dan tahap kerosakan pada hati bergantung kepada jenis virus yang menyerang.

Sehingga kini, tujuh jenis virus hepatitis telah dikesan di seluruh dunia yang dinamakan mengikut nama huruf iaitu virus hepatitis A,B,C,D,E,F dan G.

Bagaimanapun, virus yang lazim ditemui adalah hepatitis jenis A hingga E manakala jangkitan untuk hepatitis F pula hanya dijumpai sekali di India pada 1994 dan Hepatitis G hanya dikesan pada 1995.

Jangkitan virus-virus ini boleh dibahagikan kepada dua bentuk iaitu akut (gejala yang teruk dalam masa yang singkat) atau kronik (kerosakan teruk yang berlaku secara perlahan dalam tempoh yang panjang).

* Virus Hepatitis A dan E

Dua virus ini mempunyai ciri yang lebih kurang sama. Ia disebarkan melalui makanan tercemar dan menyebabkan hepatitis akut.

Biasanya pesakit akan mengalami masalah kesihatan selama sebulan.

Antara gejala jangkitan adalah;

- demam kuning, demam,

- sakit perut, muntah, cirit-birit,

- sakit kepala, mata menjadi kuning dan lesu

Apabila virus memasuki badan, ianya mengambil masa kira-kira dua minggu (dipanggil tempoh inkubasi) sebelum menyebabkan masalah kesihatan.

Biasanya individu dijangkiti juga mengambil masa kira-kira dua minggu untuk pulih semula.

Sehingga kini, Malaysia hanya mempunyai kes virus Hepatitis A (HAV) kerana jangkitan virus Hepatitis E (HEV) hanya dilaporkan berlaku di India dan Afrika.

Walaupun gejala jangkitan HAV dan HEV dianggap lebih ‘ringan’ berbanding virus Hepatitis B dan C, wanita hamil yang mendapat jangkitan HEV menghadapi risiko paling tinggi menemui maut (antara 15 hingga 25 peratus).

Hepatitis A boleh merebak melalui makanan dan minuman yang tercemar (disebarkan penyedia makanan yang telah dijangkiti atau daripada makanan mentah) atau melalui sentuhan, seperti membabitkan alat keperluan harian dan permainan di pusat jagaan kanak-kanak.

Malah, ada individu yang dijangkiti melalui darah yang tercemar (pemindahan darah atau perkongsian jarum suntikan) tetapi jangkitan melalui cara ini jarang berlaku.

Kanak-kanak yang dijangkiti HAV biasanya mengalami penyakit demam kuning pada kadar yang berbeza.

Kurang daripada 10 peratus kanak-kanak di bawah umur enam tahun mengalami demam kuning sementara 40 hingga 50 peratus kanak-kanak dalam lingkungan umur enam hingga 14 tahun mengalami demam kuning.

Kebarangkalian untuk mendapat demam kuning meningkat sehingga 70 atau 80 peratus jika jangkitan berlaku pada kanak-kanak lebih dewasa atau peringkat remaja sekitar umur 14 tahun ke atas.

Sehingga kini, masih tiada rawatan khusus untuk penyakit ini tetapi ia boleh dielakkan melalui pengambilan dua dos vaksin pada jarak enam hingga 12 bulan.

Pengambilan vaksin disarankan bagi individu yang berisiko tinggi seperti pengembara, lelaki homoseksual dan penagih dadah yang berkongsi jarum suntikan.

* Virus Hepatitis B

Virus Hepatitis B (HBV) mempunyai tempoh inkubasi yang lebih lama iaitu antara dua hingga tiga bulan.

Virus ini juga boleh menyebabkan dua jenis masalah, sama ada akut atau kronik.

HBV adalah virus yang paling lazim berjangkit di dunia. Dianggarkan lebih dua bilion penduduk dunia dijangkiti penyakit HBV dan kira- kira 350 juta lagi menjadi pembawa HBV yang kronik.

Lebih menyedihkan, kebanyakan pembawa HBV kronik ini berada di India dan Afrika.

Di Malaysia, 60 hingga 70 peratus kes HBV berlaku di kalangan orang Cina, Melayu (30 peratus) dan 10 peratus di kalangan orang India.

Virus ini disebarkan melalui hubungan seks, berkongsi jarum suntikan atau pemindahan darah.

Wanita hamil yang telah dijangkiti HBV juga boleh memindahkan virus ini kepada anak ketika bersalin.

Selain itu, HBV dikatakan 100 kali lebih cepat merebak berbanding virus HIV dengan gejala jangkitan seperti;

- demam kuning

- kematian akut (mengejut)

- jangkitan kronik

- kematian akibat penyakit hati yang kronik

Bagaimanapun, bukan semua orang yang mendapat penyakit hepatitis akibat HBV dan ada yang tidak mengalami masalah kesihatan dan boleh bekerja seperti biasa.

Hampir 90 peratus individu yang dijangkiti HBV mampu menyingkirkan virus tersebut melalui tindakan antibodi badan manakala 10 peratus lagi menjadi pembawa.

Oleh kerana itu, HBV lebih bersifat kronik dan gejala kesihatan biasanya muncul apabila usia menjangkau umur 40 tahun.

Di kalangan pesakit, dianggarkan 20 hingga 25 peratus mengalami masalah sirosis hati (sel hati mati, mengeras dan menyebabkan parut).

Daripada jumlah yang mengalami sirosis hati ini, kira-kira lima hingga 10 peratus mendapat kanser hati.

Jangkitan HBV boleh dikesan melalui pemeriksaan fungsi hati terutama ujian paras enzim hati (ALT).

Biasanya bagi individu yang dijangkiti, paras antibodi adalah tinggi, walaupun hatinya boleh berfungsi secara normal.

Selain itu, ujian yang boleh dilakukan bagi mengesan jangkitan virus ini adalah melalui proses serologi, imbasan bunyi, DNA bagi mengesan HBV dan biopsi hati untuk mengesan darjah keradangan atau kehadiran fibrosis (tisu hati bengkak dan bertukar menjadi parut).

Rawatan yang ada sekarang adalah untuk memperlahankan dan memberhentikan tindakan HBV daripada terus merosakkan hati.

Ianya diberikan dalam bentuk suntikan yang perlu diambil tiga kali setiap minggu dalam tempoh empat hingga enam bulan.

Pesakit juga perlu mendapatkan pemeriksaan susulan setiap enam bulan atau setahun sekali bagi memastikan tiada keradangan baru pada hati mereka.

Sebagai perlindungan, anda boleh mengambil vaksin Heptitis B yang diberikan dalam tiga dos dengan jarak tiga bulan setiap suntikan.

* Virus Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C dikategorikan sebagai penyakit kronik. Virus ini dikenali sebagai HCV dan boleh berjangkit melalui perkongsian jarum suntikan dengan individu yang dijangkiti, menerima darah atau menjalani pembedahan pemindahan organ sebelum 1995, menjalani dialisis darah dalam tempoh berpanjangan, hubungan seks (terutama yang kerap bertukar pasangan), akupuntur dan jangkitan dari ibu kepada bayi ketika bersalin.

HVC mempunyai tempoh inkubasi antara enam hingga tujuh minggu. Antara gejala yang biasa yang dibabitkan dengan HCV adalah;

- demam kuning (30 hingga 40 peratus kes)

- demam yang tidak teruk

- sakit perut

- keletihan

- kerap mendapat jangkitan virus lain seperti virus selesema

HVC boleh menyebabkan sirosis hati dan pengambilan alkohol yang berlebihan boleh mempercepatkan proses sirosis hati di kalangan penghidap Hepatitis B dan C.

Jika seseorang itu mendapat kedua-dua jangkitan HBV dan HCV, masalah sirosis dan kanser hati akan menjadi bertambah teruk. Bagaimanapun kes ini jarang berlaku.

Ubat yang diberikan kepada pesakit HCV biasanya bertujuan menghentikan tindakan virus berkenaan dan perlu diambil melalui suntikan atau pil selama enam hingga 12 bulan.

l Virus Hepatitis D

Virus Hepatitis D (HDV) dikategorikan sebagai virus yang tidak lengkap kerana ianya memerlukan HBV untuk bertindak.

Maknanya jika seseorang itu hanya dijangkiti HDV, dia tidak akan mengalami sebarang masalah.

Gejala kesihatan hanya muncul jika individu berkenaan juga dijangkiti HBV selepas dijangkiti HDV. Namun, kes seperti ini jarang berlaku.

Jika anda mengalami mana-mana gejala seperti yang telah disebutkan, segera jalani ujian lanjut untuk hepatitis, terutamanya bagi individu yang lahir sebelum 1989.

Berbincang dengan doktor mengenai kaedah rawatan yang sesuai dengan anda.

Individu yang disahkan bebas daripada jangkitan mana-mana virus hepatitis disaran mengambil suntikan vaksin sebagai perlindungan.

2008-02-15T18:17:00.001+08:00

200 pelajar kejururawatan baru OUM daftar diri

- UTUSAN ONLINE

KOTA BHARU 4 Jan. – Universiti Terbuka Malaysia (OUM) Wilayah Kelantan menerima kemasukan 200 pelajar baru yang akan melanjutkan pengajian peringkat Sarjana Muda Sains Kejururawatan dengan kepujian yang baru diperkenalkan tahun ini.

Mereka yang mendaftar hari ini terdiri daripada jururawat yang memiliki diploma dan sijil kejururawatan berdaftar dengan Lembaga Jururawat Malaysia dan yang sedang bekerja.

Pengarah OUM Wilayah Kelantan, Profesor Datuk Dr. Nik Najib Nik Abdul Rahman berkata, beliau gembira dengan sambutan yang baik itu walaupun ia baru sahaja diperkenalkan dan pengajian bermula pada 19 Januari ini.

Katanya, OUM Wilayah Kelantan merupakan pusat pengajian OUM yang ketiga di negara ini menawarkan pengajian kejururawatan.

“Kami berasa bangga dengan sambutan diberikan dan peluang masih terbuka kepada mana-mana jururawat yang berminat untuk menyambung pengajian peringkat ijazah,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui selepas majlis taklimat dan pendaftaran pelajar baru Semester Januari 2008 di bangunan OUM di Lundang, dekat di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, mungkin disebabkan pelbagai kemudahan pembelajaran disediakan telah menyakinkan pelajar untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di OUM.

‘‘Antara kemudahan itu seperti tidak menjejaskan masa kerja, kelas dua kali sahaja sebulan dan modul pembelajaran yang lengkap,” ujarnya.

Sementara itu beberapa pelajar yang ditemui mengakui bahawa banyak kemudahan disediakan dan keinginan untuk memiliki ijazah telah menarik minat mereka belajar di OUM.

Che Noor Hanan Mohd Shiyuti, 42, berkata, beliau yang memiliki sijil dalam bidang kejururawatan sudah lama berhasrat untuk melanjutkan pelajaran peringkat ijazah.

‘‘Saya rasa tercabar setelah 10 daripada 12 adik beradik semuanya memiliki ijazah dalam pengajian masing-masing, sebab itu saya tidak lepas pelung mengikuti pengajian ini,” katanya yang bertugas di Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Besut, Terengganu.

Rudilah Abdullah, 30, berkata, beliau mengikuti pengajian jarak jauh OUM kerana ingin meningkatkan lagi dalam bidang kejururawatan yang sedia ada.

‘‘Saya merasa bangga kerana berpeluang menyambung pelajaran peringkat ijazah di OUM ini walaupun sudah berumah tangga,” katanya yang mendapat galakan suami dan majikan.

Zainon Che Ngah, 52 pula berkata, walaupun sudah mempunyai empat anak, ia tidak mematahkan semangat untuk melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat ijazah.

Beliau berharap tindakannya itu memberikan rangsangan kepada anak-anaknya supaya tidak jemu belajar sehingga ke menara gading.

“Sekarang zaman orang berlumba mencari ilmu sebab itulah saya tidak melepaskan peluang untuk mendalami bidang kejururawatan yang merupakan kerjaya saya selama ini,” katanya yang bertugas di Putrajaya.

Seorang lagi pelajar, Shuib Burhanoddin, 64, berkata, usia tidak menjadi penghalang untuknya melanjutkan pelajaran ke peringkat lebih tinggi.

Katanya, walaupun dia kini bertugas sebagai pensyarah dan memiliki diploma kejururawatan awam, tetapi masih merasakan perlu meningkatkan lagi ilmu dalam bidang berkenaan.

“Peluang pengajian yang ada sekarang tidak wajar dilepaskan begitu sahaja dan perlu direbut supaya kita tidak ketinggalan. Saya merasakan kini sudah sampai masanya jururawat di negara ini memiliki ijazah supaya setanding dengan negara maju,” katanya.

2008-02-15T18:15:00.001+08:00

IOL & MICS: Teknologi terkini pembedahan katarak

Oleh: NURUL ANUAR KARI - UTUSAN ONLINE

SISTEM Stellaris membolehkan doktor membuat insisi sekecil 1.8 milimeter semasa pembedahan katarak.

KATARAK, perkataan yang semakin banyak didengar kini berikutan peningkatan bilangan kes setiap tahun di samping usaha membangunkan teknologi bagi pembedahan mata menggantikan kanta mata pesakit katarak.

Penyakit ini berlaku apabila kanta mata semakin legap dan mengganggu laluan cahaya masuk ke retina mata.

Kanta yang semakin legap akan menyebabkan pesakit menghadapi masalah penglihatan kabur, imej berganda, gangguan penglihatan warna dan masalah melihat cahaya terang.

Katarak dikatakan menyerang satu daripada enam indidvidu yang telah melangkau usia 40 tahun.

Menjelang usia 75 tahun pula, hampir semua orang akan mengalami katarak di salah satu atau kedua-dua belah mata mereka.

Kira-kira 18 juta pesakit katarak baru direkodkan di seluruh dunia setiap tahun dan dijangkakan lebih 40 juta penduduk dunia akan menjadi buta akibat katarak menjelang 2025.

Permintaan untuk pembedahan katarak di Asia pula dijangka terus meningkat dengan peningkatan usia penduduk rantau ini.

Pada 2003 sahaja, lebih lima juta pembedahan katarak dijalankan di Asia dan jumlah ini meningkat kepada lebih 6.1 juta pada 2006, mewakili peningkatan 21 peratus bilangan pembedahan dalam tempoh tiga tahun sahaja.

Di Malaysia, lebih 55,000 orang menjalani pembedahan katarak setiap tahun, menjadikannya prosedur pembedahan besar yang paling banyak dijalankan kini.

Kebanyakan penghidap katarak pula adalah warga emas melebihi umur 60 tahun dan mereka juga mengalami pelbagai masalah kesihatan lain dalam kehidupan seharian selain masalah mata.

Kejayaan pembedahan katarak kini adalah pada tahap 95 peratus di mana kebanyakan pesakit tidak mengalami komplikasi sampingan.

Pakar Runding Oftalmologi dan Pembedahan Mata, Pusat Pakar Mata Antarabangsa (ISEC), Dr. Choong Yee Fong menyatakan pembedahan katarak pertama dicatatkan di Mesir lebih 4,000 tahun lalu.

“Masalah penglihatan akibat katarak boleh menyebabkan kemalangan di rumah dan di tempat kerja.

“Penglihatan juga amat penting untuk memandu serta kebebasan hidup terutamanya warga emas yang di antaranya menghadapai banyak masalah kesihatan lain. Masalah penglihatan pasti akan menyukarkan lagi kehidupan seharian mereka,” katanya.

Kata beliau, memandangkan risiko penyakit ini meningkat dengan usia, boleh dikatakan semua orang akan mendapat katarak jika umur mereka panjang.

Peratusan pesakit katarak mengikut usia:

* 10 peratus golongan melebihi usia 60 tahun

* 25 peratus golongan melebihi usia 65 tahun

* 50 peratus golongan melebihi usia 70 tahun

* 80 peratus golongan melebihi usia 75 tahun

Pejabat Pendaftaran Pembedahan Katarak Kebangsaan (NCSR) Malaysia dan sumber industri yang lain menunjukkan terdapat 60,000 pembedahan katarak pada 2006 sahaja.

Tetapi, berdasarkan bilangan penduduk dan demografi Malaysia, dianggarkan sepatutnya 140,000 pembedahan katarak dijalankan setiap tahun.

Ini bermakna, kira-kira 80,000 kes tertinggal setiap tahun dan bilangan pesakit yang tidak dirawat akan berganda setiap tahun kecuali pesakit mendapatkan rawatan atau meninggal dunia.

Menurut Dr. Yee Fong, masalah katarak memerlukan kesedaran dan pendedahan kepada orang ramai.

“Masih ramai yang tidak mendapat maklumat terkini mengenai penyakit ini dan cara rawatannya.”

“Selain itu, perasaan takut terhadap pembedahan juga menyebabkan ramai yang membiarkan masalah katarak mereka berterusan,” ujarnya.

Pembedahan

Dengan teknologi sedia ada, antara enam hingga 25 kes dapat dirawat setiap hari tetapi waktu menunggu untuk pesakit mungkin mencecah sehingga satu tahun bergantung kepada teknologi yang digunakan, kepakaran dan bilangan pesakit di sesuatu pusat rawatan.

Pembedahan katarak melibatkan pembuangan kanta asal yang sudah legap dan menggantikannya dengan kanta intraokular (IOL) tiruan.

Dr. Yee Fong menjelaskan, walaupun risiko komplikasi yang dihadapi dengan pembedahan ini sangat rendah, tetapi risiko tetap ada dengan kemungkinan jangkitan kuman menjadi antara masalah utama.

“Teknik seperti ultrabunyi yang digunakan ketika pembedahan juga boleh menghasilkan haba dan meningkatkan suhu pada mata.

“Masalah suhu berlebihan ini juga telah berjaya dikurangkan kerana suhu yang terlalu panas mungkin merosakkan kornea pesakit,” katanya.

Beliau menekankan kebanyakan risiko pesakit menjadi buta adalah berpunca daripada jangkitan kuman dari kelopak mata dengan kebarangkalian satu dalam setiap 2,000 kes.

Prosedur pembedahan boleh dilakukan dalam hanya 10 minit dengan kos di antara RM2,500 hingga RM5,000 hospital swasta, bergantung kepada kaedah dan jenis lensa yang digunakan serta perkhidmatan disediakan hospital.

Dr. Yee Fong juga mendedahkan, secara keseluruhannya, lebih banyak wanita menjalankan pembedahan katarak daripada lelaki.

“Ini mungkin disebabkan jangka hayat wanita lebih panjang daripada lelaki.

“Bagaimanapun, lebih ramai lelaki yang memilih untuk menjalani pembedahan katarak di hospital kerajaan,” ujarnya.

Pembedahan katarak moden telah banyak berkembang dengan adanya pakar bedah berpengalaman, teknologi biometri, teknologi phacoemulsification dan teknologi kanta intraokular (IOL).

Komplikasi pembedahan seperti astigmatisme, bengkak, jangkitan kuman, pendarahan, penanggalan retina dan glaukoma juga semakin berkurangan.

Risiko komplikasi hanya akan meningkat jika pesakit turut mempunyai masalah mata atau masalah kesihatan yang lain.

Menurut Dr. Yee Fong, phacoemulsification kini menjadi Piawaian Emas untuk pembedahan katarak kerana ia lebih pantas dan selamat.

“Pembedahan cara ini juga kurang menghadapi risiko komplikasi di samping pemulihan penglihatan pesakit lebih pantas, sekitar satu atau dua hari sahaja.

“Cara ini melibatkan insisi kecil pada kornea dan menggunakan prob sekecil jarum untuk mencairkan kanta asal yang legap dengan gelombang ultrabunyi dan kemudian menyedutnya keluar,” jelasnya.

Kata beliau, kanta IOL yang boleh dilipat akan dimasukkan untuk menggantikan kanta asal dan kanta IOL ini akan mengembang sendiri di dalam mata pesakit.

Tambahnya, kuasa kanta IOL juga akan dibentuk mengikut keperluan individu pesakit seperti untuk mereka yang mempunyai masalah rabun.

MICS

Pembedahan Insisi Mikro Katarak (MICS) keluaran syarikat Bausch & Lomb merupakan kaedah phacoemulsification terbaru yang dapat mengurangkan potongan insisi bukan sahaja dari 2.85mm kepada 2.2mm, malahan sekecil 1.8mm.

Pengurangan sehingga 30 peratus saiz insisi ini dapat dicapai dengan sistem alat Stellaris syarikat tersebut bagi mengurangkan komplikasi dan hasil penglihatan lebih baik selepas pembedahan.

Dr. Yee Fong menjelaskan risiko jangkitan yang sememangnya rendah untuk pembedahan katarak dapat diturunkan lagi dengan saiz insisi yang lebih kecil ini.

“Kebanyakan kes juga tidak memerlukan jahitan berikutan peralatan pembedahan hanya digunakan untuk satu pembedahan dan mengurangkan risiko penyebaran penyakit.

“Ini membolehkan luka pulih dengan lebih baik dan pantas sementara pesakit dapat melihat semula tidak lama selepas pembedahan,” katanya.

Kata Dr. Yee Fong, mesin baru ini juga membolehkan pembedahan retina dijalankan tetapi buat masa ini lebih ditumpukan kepada pembedahan katarak.

Tambahnya, individu yang tiada katarak tetapi mengalami rabun dekat yang amat teruk juga boleh menggantikan lensa mata mereka dengan cara ini tetapi cuma jika tiada cara rawatan lain.

- Untuk maklumat lanjut mengenai rawatan katarak dan kanta IOL, sila layari laman web www.isecmalaysia.com atau dengan menghubungi ISEC di talian 03-22848989.

2008-02-15T18:14:00.000+08:00

Diabetes dan mata

SALUR darah normal di dalam mata amat halus (gambar besar) dan kerosakan akibat diabetes boleh menyebabkan pendarahan di dalam mata (gambar kecil).

- UTUSAN ONLINE

Bersama:DR. KOK HOWE SEN (Pakar Runding Pembedahan Mata, Pusat Pakar Mata Antarabangsa (ISEC) Midvalley, Kuala Lumpur)">

DIABETES kini semakin pantas menjadi ancaman kesihatan utama kepada negara dari segi bilangan pesakit dan juga kesannya kepada ekonomi kesihatan.

Kira-kira lima peratus golongan dewasa di Malaysia telah disahkan menghidap diabetes dengan anggaran bilangan sebenar kes adalah sekitar 10 peratus atau lebih.

Kebanyakan pesakit bukan sahaja gagal didiagnosis dengan diabetes malahan keadaan kesihatan mereka juga tidak dijaga dengan baik kerana kejahilan diri, tidak mahu menerima hakikat serta rasa puas hati dengan keadaan kesihatan semasa oleh pesakit dan kadangkala doktor yang merawat.

Diagnosis, pemantauan dan kawalan

Dalam kebanyakan kes diabetes, kalori dalam badan sering kali gagal dikawal dengan baik.

Ketidakseimbangan ini menyebabkan kandungan gula di dalam darah lebih tinggi daripada biasa yang seterusnya akan merosakkan dinding saluran darah pesakit jika tidak dikawal.

Kerosakan yang berlaku kepada salur darah mungkin akan membawa kepada kebocoran salur darah atau berkemungkinan menyebabkan salur darah tersumbat.

Memandangkan salur darah terdapat di seluruh bahagian badan, kesemua organ dan struktur badan berkemungkinan menerima kesan daripada masalah ini.

Antara yang paling mudah rosak akibat kerosakan salur darah adalah mata, yang akan mengancam penglihatan pesakit di samping buah pinggang, yang boleh membawa kepada penggantungan kepada dialisis untuk seumur hidup.

Diagnosis untuk diabetes hanya memerlukan ujian darah ringkas dan tidak menyakitkan yang boleh dilakukan di mana-mana pusat kesihatan atau klinik setempat.

Diagnosis awal membolehkan pesakit menerima rawatan segera yang selalunya lebih ringkas dan penting dalam mengelakkan atau memulihkan komplikasi yang timbul akibat diabetes.

Pemantauan penyakit ini pula hanya memerlukan alat mengukur gula darah (glukometer) yang murah dan mudah digunakan pesakit di rumah.

Jika usaha mengawal penyakit ini lambat dijalankan, terutamanya jika gejala tertentu mula timbul, komplikasi yang berlaku ketika ini mungkin tidak dapat dipulihkan lagi dan sering kali hanya dapat dikawal supaya tidak menjadi semakin teruk.

Penyakit mata diabetes

Salur darah di dalam mata adalah amat kecil dan menjadi antara yang pertama rosak di peringkat awal penyakit diabetes.

Perubahan pada mata akibat diabetes mungkin berlaku sebelum pesakit didiagnosis menghidap diabetes lagi dan perubahan ini amat mudah dikesan kini dengan adanya peralatan moden.

Oleh itu, pemeriksaan mata secara berkala dapat membantu dalam mendiagnosis diabetes dan juga memantau perkembangan penyakit berkenaan.

Mata pesakit diabetes yang semakin teruk selalunya menunjukkan pengawalan yang kurang berkesan, sejajar dengan kerosakan kepada organ lain seperti buah pinggang.

Perubahan pada mata di peringkat awal diabetes akan menyebabkan kebocoran kecil cecair atau darah daripada lubang-lubang kecil pada salur darah.

Bagi kes diabetes yang lebih teruk, salur-salur darah ini bukan sahaja akan bocor dengan lebih teruk malahan lambat-laun mungkin akan tersumbat.

Apabila semakin banyak salur-salur darah tersumbat, aliran darah mungkin menjadi tidak normal sehingga berlakunya pendarahan dengan banyak.

Tambahan lagi, pendarahan ini mungkin diikuti dengan kesan parut yang akan menyebabkan kemusnahan kawasan dalam mata yang sensitif cahaya (retina) dan akhirnya membawa kepada pesakit menjadi buta selamanya.

Pentingnya pemeriksaan berterusan

Mungkin telah berlaku perubahan besar pada mata akibat diabetes di kalangan pesakit yang tidak menunjukkan sebarang gejala diabetes.

Rawatan pada peringkat ini adalah yang paling berkesan kerana peluang kejayaannya lebih tinggi, serta rawatan yang lebih murah dan tidak menyakitkan.

Rawatan selepas pesakit menunjukkan gejala diabetes selalunya mempunyai peluang lebih rendah untuk berjaya dan kosnya juga lebih mahal.

Faktor masa ini ditekankan supaya pesakit tidak terlepas peluang merawat komplikasi diabetes ketika keadaan masih boleh dikawal dan peluang pulih adalah lebih tinggi.

Lebih lama pesakit tidak mengendahkan gejala-gejala yang timbul atau lambat mendapatkan rawatan, lebih rendah kebarangkalian untuk memulihkan kembali penglihatannya.

Rawatan mata

Di peringkat awal masalah mata akibat diabetes, rawatan hanya memerlukan pancaran cahaya ke dalam mata, sama seperti seseorang menyuluh menggunakan lampu suluh.

Prosedur ini bukan pembedahan, hanya mengambil masa beberapa minit untuk dilakukan dan pesakit boleh menyambung aktiviti harian secara normal sebaik sahaja selesai menjalani rawatan.

Kaedah ini kebanyakannya berjaya dan tidak menyakitkan dalam usaha mengelakkan pesakit kehilangan penglihatan.

Bagaimanapun, apabila kerosakan telah berlaku dan menyebabkan pesakit kehilangan penglihatan, rawatan akan menjadi semakin sukar.

Dalam keadaan ini, rawatan menggunakan laser terkini sering digunakan bagi menghalang keadaan pesakit menjadi lebih serius tetapi peringkat hilang penglihatan selalunya tidak dapat dipulihkan lagi.

Pesakit juga boleh mencuba pembedahan bagi kes peringkat serius tetapi ini akan menelan kos yang tinggi dan hanya boleh dijalankan pakar bedah vitreo-retina terlatih dan pernah menjalani latihan subkepakaran dalam bidang berkenaan.

Rawatan terkini untuk kes yang teruk, dan tidak dapat dirawat dengan kaedah lain, adalah dengan menggunakan suntikan ubat biologikal ke dalam mata.

Dikenali sebagai ubat ‘pintar’, ubat anti-VEGF seperti Lucentis menunjukkan hasil memberangsangkan dalam ujian peringkat awal kini tetapi kos penggunaannya amat mahal.

Pencegahan

Dapatkan nasihat doktor bertauliah dalam memantau dan merawat diabetes anda. Ini memerlukan doktor mengambil masa untuk menjelaskan dan berkongsi pemahaman asas penyakit ini bagi membantu pesakit menguruskan keadaan kesihatannya dengan lebih baik.

Malangnya, terlalu ramai doktor yang berkongsi pemahaman asas bersama pesakit dan tumpuan sebaliknya lebih diberikan kepada pemberian ubat yang kadangkala tidak bersesuaian.

Pesakit diabetes perlu mempelajari cara penggunaan alat glukometer dan menilai maklumat yang diterima melalui ujian ini, dalam menentukan cara mengawal dan merawat penyakit mereka.

Juga penting bagi pesakit diabetes mendapatkan nasihat pakar pemakanan untuk diet, senaman dan menurunkan berat badan bersesuaian dengan usaha mengawal penyakit mereka daripada menjadi semakin teruk.

Pemeriksaan fizikal penuh dan pemantauan berterusan, termasuk pemeriksaan mata juga amat penting selain perhatian kepada faktor risiko lain seperti tekanan darah tinggi, kolesterol tinggi dan merokok dalam usaha mengawal penyakit berkenaan.

Diet dan suplemen

Kawalan ketat kandungan gula dalam darah di kalangan pesakit diabetes dapat mengekalkan tahap kesihatan yang baik dan mengekalkan kualiti hidup.

Ini tidak bermakna seorang pesakit di abetes dilarang sama sekali memakan makanan lazat atau mempunyai kandungan tinggi zat tertentu.

Kawalan lebih melibatkan jumlah makanan dan kadar gula dalam darah selepas pengambilan makanan berkenaan.

Di sini, peranan alat glukometer dan nasihat pakar pemakanan memainkan peranan penting dalam menentukan corak pemakanan pesakit.

Selain itu, suplemen khas seperti buah bilberi dan ginko biloba tidak dibuktikan mempunyai kesan besar kepada masalah mata pesakit diabetes.

Wang yang digunakan untuk suplemen mungkin lebih baik digunakan mendapatkan nasihat pakar pemakanan yang akan memberikan kesan yang lebih besar dalam pengawalan penyakit diabetes.

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