Beyond merely issuing instructions on how to live in an era of endemic Covid-19, the government should introduce new health education ideas in line with living in the new norm.
PKR deputy secretary-general Dr Sathia Prakash Nadarajan stressed that this revamp of health education is a necessity for the people to understand life in the new norm.
“Covid-19 will continue to be around us for a long time and it also affects the lives of communities around the world including Malaysia.
“We see the government, especially the Malaysian Health Ministry coming with various new instructions, conditions, and directives in this endemic era.
“But the question is, do they really follow this way of life in this new norm? The government needs to introduce new health education to everyone,” he told Malaysiakini.
According to him, people still do not understand the basics such as the importance of using face masks.
“For example, recently, our government made a decision that wearing a mask inside a building is (now) an individual choice. The government also said that the decision was based on data and research.
“If you examine it, of course, we are at 2,000-3,000 a day. We must understand that the figure is not necessarily accurate as there are still people among us who do not inform even if they are positive because they have already had the vaccination and their symptoms are not so critical.
“And there are also those who do not realize they are positive, so the cases are definitely higher.
“The government’s decision not to make it compulsory to wear a face mask needs to be debated. However, the decision has been made. So, what we need to do next is to educate the people on the importance of using a face mask.”
This health education also needs to focus on other aspects such as mental health, he added.
“I hope the government today allocates funds in the 2023 budget for health education.
“If possible, this health education needs to be absorbed in schools so that the next generation is better prepared to face a pandemic like Covid-19,” he said. - Mkini
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