Kota bharu: The Kelantan Health Department (JKN) is mobilizing 87 teams, consisting of 181 health inspectors, to carry out regular inspections at 62 Ramadan bazaar locations throughout the state this year. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that vendors comply with hygiene standards during the bustling Ramadan period.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob, the director of the Kelantan Health Department, stated that random food samples will be routinely collected and sent to laboratories for analysis. This proactive measure is designed to maintain food safety and is not solely a reaction to any occurrences of food poisoning. Dr Mohd Azman shared these details with reporters while officiating the state-level World Cancer Day event at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital.

Dr Mohd Azman further noted that the department is collaborating with local authorities and has already briefed vendors on hygiene practices. Additionally, vendors received typhoid vaccinations two weeks prior to the start of Ramadan bazaars. On a related note, he highlighted the prevalence of breast cancer in Kelantan, which accounted for 25 percent of the 6,172 cancer cases reported between 2017 and 2021. This increase is attributed to heightened public awareness about early screening and advancements in cancer detection technology.

In response to these findings, the Kelantan JKN is intensifying public awareness campaigns, encouraging individuals to prioritize their health and seek medical consultation at the first sign of any symptoms.