Public Education and National Registry for Zika
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the government’s management of the Zika virus, specifically regarding public awareness, medical screenings, and worker health surveillance. Mr Alex Yam, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Mr Christopher de Souza, Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong, and Mr Png Eng Huat inquired about establishing a national registry, providing support for microcephalitic infants, monitoring construction sites, and using traditional media for education. They also queried the provision of free screenings for residents in affected areas and improvements to the primary care system for migrant workers. Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong requested and received permission to address these five specific questions collectively within his subsequent Ministerial Statement on Zika.
Transcript
2 Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Health (a) whether Ministry will consider setting up a National Zika Registry much like the Zika Active Pregnancy Surveillance System (ZAPSS) that was set up in the aftermath of the Puerto Rico Zika outbreak to track the effects of Zika on mothers and infants as well as otherwise healthy adults; (b) whether the Ministry will encourage screening of pregnant mothers; and (c) whether the Ministry will provide support to families with microcephalitic infants due to Zika.
3 Ms Tin Pei Ling asked the Minister for Health (a) whether free Zika screening can be offered to residents of affected areas; (b) what support will be given to pregnant women suspected of Zika infection; and (c) whether there are useful insights learnt from managing and communicating the latest Zika incident and, if so, what are they.
4 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Health what steps have been taken to spread awareness among members of the public of the effects of the Zika virus on pregnant women and what steps can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting the virus.
5 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Health given the need for better health management of workers staying in construction sites and dormitories close to residential areas to control the spread of dengue and Zika (a) whether daily temperature-taking and submission of records should be implemented for these sites and dormitories; and (b) whether the primary care system for the workers should be reviewed and improved upon.
6 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will consider putting out more information to the public on the Zika virus via traditional media like free-to-air broadcasts during primetime hours and newspapers to educate the public and to separate the myths from the truth about the virus.
The Minister for Health (Mr Gan Kim Yong): Mdm Speaker, as I will be making a Ministerial Statement on Zika, may I have your permission to take Question Nos 2 to 6 in the Ministerial Statement later?
Mdm Speaker: I give my approval.