UNIVERSITI Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) is expanding access to free screenings for anaemia as well as optional dengue vaccination for children, through weekend community drives across the Klang Valley.
The programme screens children for anaemia (low red blood cells), a condition that frequently goes undetected, UMMC said in a media statement.
Affected children may tire quickly, find it hard to concentrate in school, appear pale or seem to lack energy.
Left unrecognised, anaemia can impair learning, growth and development.
Children with anaemia are also more vulnerable to severe illness if they contract dengue, making early detection doubly important in dengue-endemic settings, said UMMC.
The expansion builds on encouraging turnout at earlier programmes and aims to reach more families amid Malaysia’s growing dengue outbreaks.
“More than 76,000 dengue cases had been reported nationwide by Oct 14.
“In addition, dengue-related deaths already nearly doubled by early September, with 62 deaths compared with 32 during the same period last year.
“An international review also found that children with dengue were two times more likely to develop severe dengue compared with adults,” UMMC stated.
For children and their families, dengue can mean hospitalisation, missed school and time away from everyday activities.
Fatigue can persist for several weeks after recovery, while parents may need time off work to provide care.
More than 3,600 children took part in UMMC’s programme between May and October this year, with 60% to 70% opting to receive dengue vaccination.
Community sessions were held in Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Kepong, Subang Jaya and Shah Alam.
“The response so far has been encouraging, and we want more families to be able to participate,” said UMMC public health medicine specialist Prof Dr Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki.
“By holding more sessions close to home and on weekends, we hope to make it easier for parents to have their children screened and to discuss dengue prevention with our medical team.”
Selected community sessions will also feature clowns, balloons and goodie bags.
Parents and guardians can bring their children aged seven to 12 for walk-in screenings at the upcoming community sessions, scheduled from 9am to 3pm.
The locations are Masjid Subang Perdana, Shah Alam (Nov 1), PPR Pinggiran Bukit Jalil, Puchong (Nov 14), Apartment Idaman Damansara Damai PJU 10/1 (Nov 22) and PPR Lembah Subang 2 (Nov 28) in Petaling Jaya.
Weekday walk-ins are also available until Oct 30 at Level 5, Women and Children’s Health Complex of UMMC.
Families are also encouraged to remove potential mosquito breeding sites at home and seek medical advice promptly if dengue is suspected.
