Accra:The Health Ministry has increased stocks of medical equipment at healthcare facilities nationwide to prepare for a potential rise in haze-related illnesses. This information was shared with the Dewan Rakyat today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad stated that the additional supplies include 841 adult aerochambers, 396 paediatric aerochambers, and 576 nebulisers to address a possible surge in respiratory cases. The ministry has also activated the National Haze Operations Room on September 4 and is closely monitoring three primary health conditions upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), asthma, and conjunctivitis, through 78 sentinel healthcare facilities.

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad mentioned that through the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), the ministry is enhancing public health measures in response to rising Air Pollutant Index (API) readings and deteriorating air quality caused by open burning. This was in response to a question from Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) regarding initiatives to mitigate the haze's impact on public health and inter-agency cooperation in monitoring air quality and protecting vulnerable groups.

Monitoring data from the 78 sentinel healthcare facilities indicated that URTI cases surged by 167.21 percent to 7,065 in epidemiological week 36, compared with 2,644 cases the previous week, due to worsening air quality.

In terms of inter-agency cooperation, Dr Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry has been providing technical advice to the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry on suspending outdoor activities when the API exceeds 100, and recommending school closures when readings exceed 200. The ministry is also working closely with the Department of Environment, the Malaysian Meteorological Department, and the National Disaster Management Agency to ensure early warnings and preventive measures are effectively communicated to the public.