Sandakan: Sabah recorded 357 monkey malaria cases and one death in the first four months of this year, with Ranau, Kudat, and Tawau emerging as the main hotspots, announced Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. "This is quite serious. Early detection and immediate treatment are key. All health clinics and hospitals are capable of detecting these monkey malaria cases," he stated after launching the Wellness Hub in Sandakan today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly emphasized the importance of close cooperation with the Wildlife Department and the Forestry Department to combat this life-threatening disease. Monkey malaria, also known as zoonotic or simian malaria, is transmitted from monkeys to humans through mosquito bites and is usually caused by the parasite Plasmodium knowlesi.

Addressing the new Wellness Hub initiative, Dzulkefly described it as a critical catalyst in enhancing the nation's healthcare ecosystem towards a more comprehensive, proactive approach. This program encourages communities to adopt healthier lifestyles by promoting prevention over treatment.

He highlighted the urgency of this approach, noting that the government's annual expenditure on managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has reached RM64.3 billion, which exceeds the Ministry of Health's entire budget of RM46.52 billion. "The burden of NCDs in Sabah is no less worrying," he said, citing high rates of obesity, high cholesterol, smoking prevalence, and sedentary behavior.

Dzulkefly further revealed that there are 38 Wellness Hubs nationwide, with five located in Sabah: Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kudat, Keningau, and Putatan. "My ambition is to have at least one Wellness Hub per parliamentary constituency. We want to take a 'prevent before sickness' approach," he added. Additionally, the Wellness Hub aims to tackle stunting and malnutrition among children.