KUALA LUMPUR – The large-scale sanitisation ops conducted nationwide have been criticised by the Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association (PHPA), saying the move is not based on the latest scientific findings.
PHPA president Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the operation will only be a waste of resources if they are not carried out in a targeted manner.
“The chemicals used in sanitisation works are also feared to be harmful to the public.
“PHPA recommends that, before any sanitisation or large-scale operations that involve the people’s health, (the relevant agency) should seek advice from the Health Ministry (MoH) first.
“In this fight to break the chain of Covid-19 infections, all ministries cannot work alone or in a silo anymore without getting advice from knowledgeable parties and those with expertise in the field,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Cooperation and sharing of resources among ministries, he added, are important at this crucial time.
“All expenses used for sanitisation operations could be channelled to other more specific uses, especially in self-protection and strengthening the country’s healthcare system, which is now at a breaking point.”
While large-scale sanitisation still brings benefits to lower the level of the virus’ spread in red, orange and yellow zones, he said such measures should only be done in a targeted manner, such as closed areas where there is no proper ventilation.
“The willingness of the local community and workers should be taken into consideration before a sanitisation exercise is carried out because some may have health conditions like asthma and dermatitis. Such activity can worsen their health conditions.
“The environment and properties could also be affected with the use of chlorine or other chemicals in the process of such operations,” he said.
Last weekend, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin announced that a large-scale disinfection exercise will be carried out for two days beginning May 29 at 284 locations nationwide following a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases.
Zuraida’s announcement has since come under scrutiny as medical experts questioned the effectiveness of the public sanitisation exercises.
Malaysia’s prominent infectious diseases expert, Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, took to Twitter to say the ministry’s disinfection works were a waste of resources.
Large-scale nationwide sanitisation exercise begins today. There goes resources that could be better channelled elsewhere. Here are a few just of the top off my head. 1. PPE 2. High flow nasal cannulas 3. Ventilators 4. O2 sat meters 5. Food for volunteers https://t.co/sDUzFyAQpd
— Adeeba Kamarulzaman (@ProfAdeeba) May 29, 2021
Since the CDC guidance was mentioned ...updated April 14 2021https://t.co/hAPqOjd2Nr https://t.co/5ppYRUtvYD
— Adeeba Kamarulzaman (@ProfAdeeba) May 30, 2021
She also tweeted the latest guidelines from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that advised against large-scale sanitisation.
However, on Sunday, Zuraida had urged all parties to stop slamming public sanitisation exercises undertaken by the Fire and Rescue Department.
She had said that the intention of the operations launched since last year is to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
In a statement today, the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia (AMM) supported Adeeba’s stance and said that the resources used on the outdoor sanitation exercise would be better spent elsewhere.
AMM has also urged the government to prioritise Covid-19 interventions that will help reduce cases, protect hospitals and intensive care facilities during the two-week total lockdown.
By doing so, those measures are said to give Malaysian healthcare professionals and frontliners respite.
The academy added that ministers are expected to be prudent in their spending to achieve the best possible outcomes with minimal expenditures and diminishing fiscal reserves.
“In fact, CDC has debunked the public sanitation approach, stating that spraying cleaning products or disinfectants in outdoor areas such as on sidewalks, roads or groundcover is not necessary, effective or recommended.
AMM also cited the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) alert on the hazards of the public disinfection exercise, which stated that spraying or fogging certain chemicals including formaldehyde, chlorine-based agent or quaternary ammonium is not recommended due to adverse health effects. – The Vibes, June 3, 2021
