PETALING JAYA: Coordination efforts among local authorities could be enhanced to improve the delivery of medical services during emergencies in high-risk areas, says a public health expert.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said these efforts would ensure assets such as air ambulance services could be more readily deployed on short notice to sites such as hilly terrains or riversides when tragedy strikes.
“Local authorities should also pay close attention to areas within their jurisdiction which are identified as being prone to natural disasters such as landslides.
“Given that landslide-prone locations can also house tourist attractions such as campsites, it is important for local authorities to be well-versed on emergency preparedness so that they could spring into action on short notice.
“These efforts include coordinating air ambulance services (across various government agencies) well in advance, where they can be easily deployed in cases of emergencies.
“For this, landing sites (for air ambulance services) should also be mapped out in the said plans to ensure smooth operations when the need arises,” she said.
Dr Sharifa also noted the importance of air ambulance services during natural disasters, such as landslides, as roads heading to ground zero could be closed off for safety purposes.
“Road closures can delay medical personnel from reaching the site promptly, which can hamper the process of providing immediate medical assistance to victims and later sending them to nearby medical facilities.
“In some instances, roads affected by natural disasters may also collapse, rendering them completely inaccessible by ground vehicles,” she said.
On Saturday, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) noted that many resorts on hillslopes, hillsides or riversides are located far away from healthcare facilities.
“The Health Ministry will need to look into ensuring sufficient air ambulance services in such situations,” its president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai said in a statement.
The MMA, he said, also urged the authorities to immediately conduct inspections on all hillslope and hillside properties around the country.
