Latest news with #NgweHeeSem
New Straits Times
09-06-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Melaka Covid-19 cases surge by over 20pct
AYER KEROH: Melaka recorded a surge in Covid-19 cases, with a rise of more than 20 per cent in new infections during Epidemiological Week 23 (ME 23), from June 1 to 7. State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said a total of 93 new cases were reported, up from 77 the previous week. He said the increase brought the cumulative number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Melaka to 164,821. "However, no deaths or admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) have been reported. "As of Saturday, there were also no active clusters recorded either within or outside the state," he said in a statement today. Ngwe said as of ME 23, Melaka had recorded 1,545 cases of Covid-19 variants categorised as Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). This included seven cases of the Beta VOC, 144 Delta VOC cases, 1,276 Omicron VOC cases, and 79 VOI cases. "The State Health Department will continue to monitor the transmission of the virus, and preventive and control measures will be carried out continuously with the support and cooperation of various agencies," he said.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Melaka Vape Ban: Executive Council to Deliberate Proposal
MELAKA: The proposal to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes or vapes in Melaka will be tabled and discussed in more detail at the State Executive Council (MMKN), said state Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman, Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem. He said this shows Melaka's high commitment to public health given that there have been many cases of lung-related diseases linked to the use of vapes recorded by the state Health Department lately. 'We are seeing more and more health cases involving vapes. So there is a need for us to bring this issue to the MMKN meeting so that a decision can be taken on the sale of vapes,' he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating Melaka's 2025 World Tuberculosis Day and the Wellness On Wheel Roadshow in conjunction with the People's Representative Programme for the Sungai Udang state constituency at Japerun Sungai Udang here today. Also present were the state's senior executive councillor for Housing, Local Government, Drainage, Climate Change and Disaster Management Datuk Rais Yasin. who is also the Sungai Udang seat coordinator and Melaka Health Department director Dr Ruzita Mustaffa. Meanwhile, Rais said his committee and the local authorities (PBT) would act in accordance with the decision made by the MMKN regarding the sale of vape later. 'We will look at the framework of the proposal that the state Health Department will bring to the upcoming meeting and the PBT will implement it when the time comes. If the decision is to ban (sales), we will follow it,' he said. He said that so far, the number of applications for vape sale permits and licensed vape sales in Melaka is quite high. 'But for me, what we are more worried about are traders who are hiding behind electronic device sales licences. So if there is an order to ban it, we will do so and it will make enforcement easier,' he said. Commenting further, he said assistance from the federal government is also needed, in terms of standardising regulations or banning vape nationwide. 'However, we will look at it from all angles, including (e-cigarette and vape) entrepreneurs, and we want a win-win situation. At the same time, we will continue to prioritise public safety and health,' he said.
Malaysiakini
24-05-2025
- Health
- Malaysiakini
Late detection leads to rising TB cases in Malacca
Delays in case detection continue to be a challenge in tackling tuberculosis (TB) in Malacca, said state executive councillor (Health, Human Resources, and Unity) Ngwe Hee Sem. He said even though all Health Ministry facilities in the state provide free and curable early screening services, the public still takes this potentially fatal disease lightly. 'Every year, around 500 to...
The Star
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Melaka exco to deliberate proposal to ban vape sales, says rep
MELAKA: The proposal to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes or vapes in Melaka will be tabled and discussed in more detail at the state executive council, says Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem. The state Health, human resources and unity committee chairman said this shows Melaka's high commitment to public health given that there have been many cases of lung-related diseases linked to the use of vapes recorded by the state Health Department lately. "We are seeing more and more health cases involving vapes. So there is a need for us to bring this issue to the executive council meeting so that a decision can be taken on the sale of vapes," he said. He was speaking to reporters after officiating Melaka's 2025 World Tuberculosis Day and the Wellness On Wheels Roadshow in conjunction with the People's Representative Programme for the Sungai Udang state constituency at Japerun Sungai Udang here Saturday (May 24). Also present were the state's housing, local government, drainage, climate change and disaster management senior committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin. who is also the Sungai Udang seat coordinator and Melaka Health Department director Dr Ruzita Mustaffa. Meanwhile, Rais said his committee and the local authorities would act in accordance with the decision made by the state executive council regarding the sales of vape later. "We will look at the framework of the proposal that the state Health Department will bring to the upcoming meeting and the local authorities will implement it when the time comes. If the decision is to ban (sales), we will follow it," he said. He said that so far, the number of applications for vape sale permits and licensed vape sales in Melaka is quite high. "But for me, what we are more worried about are traders who are hiding behind electronic device sales licences. So if there is an order to ban it, we will do so and it will make enforcement easier," he said. Commenting further, he said assistance from the federal government is also needed, in terms of standardising regulations or banning vape nationwide. "However, we will look at it from all angles, including (e-cigarette and vape) entrepreneurs, and we want a win-win situation. At the same time, we will continue to prioritise public safety and health," he said. — Bernama
The Star
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Construction of Melaka Hospital's Women and Children's Block on track
MELAKA: The construction of the Women and Children's Block of the Melaka Hospital is on track despite delays caused by a complicated and lengthy technical process involving various government agencies. State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said that due to the delay, the cost of the project has risen to RM723mil, from the original cost of RM696mil. "This is a federal government project under the Health Ministry and, certainly, the state government wants this project to be completed within the stipulated period, even earlier if possible, but it must be understood that there are many procedures that need to be followed and passed. "Currently, the Health Works branch of the Public Works Department (JKR) Headquarters is finalising the Need Statement for this project through a workshop that will be held today and thereafter, the pre-tender process will commence as soon as the Need Statement is finalised," he said when met by reporters at Seri Negeri here on Tuesday (May 20). He said this in response to a statement by the Opposition Leader in the State Assembly, Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub, on the construction of the Women and Children's Block of the Melaka Hospitaln and the need to expedite the project due to the congestion at the Melaka Hospital, where a child who was allegedly delayed in receiving treatment suffered a seizure. Ngwe said the state government also wants the project, which is expected to start next year and scheduled for completion in 2031, to run smoothly immediately because it does not want the allocation approved in the 2023 Budget in October 2022 to be withdrawn. "We hope that this project can be completed within five years, but it's important to explain that several factors have contributed to the delays. These include the need to demolish the existing building, which is the Nursing Training Institute, road widening works, the land acquisition process, and obtaining various technical approvals from the Public Works Department, the Ministry of Health and related agencies,' he said. He said each stage and process requires time, including the two-phase tender exercise, as the government is committed to appointing a contractor with proven capability and quality to implement the project. - Bernama
