Sahimin, Norhidayu and Abu Bakar, Nabila and Lim, Yvonne Ai Lian and Behnke, Jerzy Marian and Lewis, John and Kamaruddin, Nurliana and Zain, Siti Nursheena Mohd (2024) Entry of Migrant Workers to Malaysia: Consideration to Implement Mass Drug Administration Against Intestinal Parasitic Infections. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 13. p. 7842. ISSN 2322-5939, DOI https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2024.7842.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Over the last five decades, widespread industrialisation and urbanisation have resulted in the influx of low-skilled workers, particularly from Southeast and West Asia to Malaysia. The current practice for migrant workers entry for employment requires mandatory medical screening for infectious diseases. However, screening for parasitic infections in Malaysia is woefully inadequate. Many migrants come from low-income countries where parasitic infections are common, which may have public health implications for their overall well-being as parasitic infections, although not critical, may impact their overall productivity. The high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) recorded among migrant workers in Malaysia necessitates improvement in the national health policy to include mandatory mass administration of a single dose of anthelmintic drugs to all low-skilled migrant labourers, particularly upon entry into the country, admission, and encourage continuous surveillance. A constant stream of migrant labourers is anticipated, potentially resulting in an ongoing occurrence of parasitic infections within the population. The implementation of economic measures like health awareness initiatives, routine deworming campaigns, and improved sanitation facilities holds the potential to reduce the spread of these infections notably. More often than not, taking preventive actions proves to be more financially efficient over time compared to addressing severe infections at a later stage.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Ministry of Higher Education under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (FRGS/1/2020/SKK0/UM/02/18), Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (IF004-2021), Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) from Ministry of Higher Education (FP015-2014B), UM/MoHE High Impact Research Grant (UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/MED/23) |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Urbanisation; Malaysia; Parasitic Infections; Anthelmintic Drugs; Migrant Workers |
| Subjects: | Q Science > QH Natural history R Medicine > R Medicine (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine > Parasitology Deparment Faculty of Science > Institute of Biological Sciences Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International) Office > Asia-Europe Institute Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 22 Nov 2024 07:14 |
| Last Modified: | 22 Nov 2024 07:14 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/47111 |
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