‘Greater Klang Valley’ task force set to enrich Covid-19 management: Adham

PUTRAJAYA – The “Greater Klang Valley” special task force has been established with an aim of strengthening health system preparedness in the Klang Valley in managing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said its role is to address the current situation, especially the desperate need for beds and manpower in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

“The task force has been set up by the Health Ministry (MoH) to look at a wider scope we call the ‘Greater Klang Valley’. It is a pandemic frontier.

“Although it is called ‘Greater Klang Valley’, we will also include southern Perak, western Pahang and northern Negri Sembilan, with a unified command centre,” he told a special press conference on MoH’s strategies in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in the Klang Valley here today.

He said the special task force, which began operating last Thursday, is led by Deputy Health Director-General (Public Health) Datuk Dr Chong Chee Kheong.

Subsequent to this, Dr Adham said Dr Chong’s position in the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) has been replaced by Deputy Health Director-General (Research and Technical Support) Datuk Dr Hishamshah Mohd Ibrahim.

He said the task force will ensure the readiness of all MoH hospitals, including private service operations involved in Covid-19 treatment, for proper pandemic management.

In addition, Dr Adham said it is the function of the task force to make thorough preparations before the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 ends on August 1.

He said this was because currently the MoH has taken over the management and facilities of various agencies and ministries through the implementation of the ordinance.

However, when the emergency period  is over, the non-MoH facilities must be returned to the respective agencies and ministries.

“This month, preparations will have to be made. For example, Health Secretary-General Datuk Mohd Shafiq Abdullah will have to negotiate with the Higher Education Education (MoHE) because we have taken over Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital Children’s Specialist Hospital during the emergency, but when the emergency ends, we can no longer use the facility to treat Covid-19 cases.

“As such, a fresh agreement must be signed with MoHE so the hospital may continue to be used to treat Covid-19 patients,” he said, adding that the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (Measures Within Infected Local Areas) Regulations 2021 must also be reviewed when the emergency ends.

Meanwhile, Dr Chong said the task force was set up to focus on Covid-19 transmission in the Klang Valley and its border areas because of the people’s movement.

“Due to the surge in cases, there is a great need to ensure sufficient beds, equipment and manpower to manage the situation,” he said. – Bernama, July 10, 2021