SIBU, April 30: Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Michael Tiang has set up the State Public Health Committee (SPHC) to oversee public health matters in Sarawak.
While Tiang himself holds the position of chairman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian will be the committee’s advisor and the ministry’s permanent secretary Dato Antonio Kahti Galis is the secretariat.
Also on the list of committee members are the Sarawak Health Department (JKNS) director; Natural Resources Environmental Board (NREB) controller; Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) director; Department of Agriculture Sarawak director; Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) director; Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager, and secretaries of City Councils, Municipal Councils, and District Councils.
Tiang said SPHC aims to provide advisory and direction on Sarawak’s public health matters and collaborate with relevant federal and State government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private sectors to hold public health-related programmes and activities.
He added that issues that will be deliberated on include dengue fever, rabies, regulatory and legislative issues identified in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and any other related matters.
“The scope under this committee shall cover a vast area of public health concerns under the local authorities and other state and federal agencies.
“I am optimistic that the SPHC will be smoothly manned to oversee the public health scenario in Sarawak,” he said in a statement today.
Tiang, who is also Pelawan assemblyman, said SPHC should meet on a quarterly basis unless there are urgent issues to be discussed.
The first SPHC meeting was held on Wednesday (April 27). — DayakDaily
