SIBU: Public health is not solely the responsibility of the councils and all the government agencies said Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Hence, Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, stressed that everyone needed to be constantly reminded about the importance of public health which promoted and protected the health of people and the communities where they lived, learnt, worked and played.
“For instance, more people die of rabies this year and last year. So, I have to tell you that rabies death is very painful. Most of you have never seen people die of rabies.
“They are scared of water even the drips and all those things, yelling and screaming. The only thing we can do is to sedate them.
“That is why public health is indeed very important. If you have good habits and keep on washing well, then other public health diseases like rabies can be avoided,” he said in his speech during the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) councillors (2023-2025) swearing-in ceremony here yesterday.
On the threat of rabies, Dr Sim advised the public to vaccinate their dogs and make sure to vaccinate themselves if they were bitten by dogs to reduce the possibility of death due to the disease.
“If you don’t get vaccinated, you have a 99.9 per cent chance of dying and it is a very painful death,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang Ming Tee, permanent secretary of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Elizabeth Loh and Sibu Division Deputy Resident Christopher Ranggau Unting.
