Diseases strike interior Baram

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MIRI: Malaria and dengue fever are spreading fast in longhouses, timber camps and Penan settlements in interior Baram district in northern Sarawak.

Baram MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan said he had found a high number of patients down with these contagious diseases, especially malaria, during his recent visit to Long Beruang, Long Banga and Long Peruan.

These settlements are located deep in timber concession zones more than 300km from here.

“In one of the longhouses, more than half of the 85 people living there are down with malaria.

“At least six people have been admitted to the Marudi Hospital, including three Penans.

“The health authorities have been notified, ” he said after presenting grants to RTM Miri here.

Sagan, who is Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, said Baram has 250 settlements scattered over the district and many of them were densely populated.

Even workers in timber camps had come down with the infections, he said.

He appealed to the Health Ministry to resume the flying doctor service swiftly.

Those living in very remote settlements did not have the means to get to urban centres to seek medical help because of the logistics and financial constraints, he said.

“The flying doctor service (using helicopters) would be the fastest way to reach these remote settlements and can help transport outpatients who are seriously ill,” he said.

The flying doctor service has been disrupted for almost a year due to contractual problems between the aviation companies and the Health Ministry.

Baram District Officer Joseph Balayong said the authorities were collecting information on the ground on the severity of the malaria and dengue cases.

There has not been any official declaration of an outbreak.