National Immunisation Week 2021 Celebration
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THE MALAYSIAN PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION MAY 2021 FOR MEMBERS ONLY Editorial Board Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail Dr Selva Kumar Sivapunniam MPA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2019-2021 President National Immunisation Dr Hung Liang Choo Immediate Past President AP Dr Muhammad Yazid Jalaludin Week 2021 Celebration Vice-President ‘Vaccines Bring Us Closer’ Dr Selva Kumar Sivapunniam Hon Secretary AP Dr Tang Swee Fong Asst Hon Secretary Dr Mohamad Ikram Ilias Hon Treasurer Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin Committee Members Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail Dr Noor Khatijah Nurani Dr Ong Eng-Joe Dr Thiyagar Nadarajaw Dr Fauziah Zainal Abidin Dr Rakhee Yadav Hematram Yadav Honorary Auditors Prof Dr Wan Ariffin Abdullah Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong Launch of the NIP Coffee Table Book Affiliated to: • Malaysian Council For Child Welfare • ASEAN Pediatric Federation On April 27, Ministry of Health, This is to ensure high immunisation • Asia Pacific Pediatric Association Malaysia (MOH) in collaboration coverage and thereby, keeping the – APPA (Previously Association of with Immunise4Life (IFL) Programme community protected from deadly Pediatric Societies of the South East Asian Region – APSSEAR) celebrated the National Immunisation vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs). • International Pediatric Association Week. This event themed ‘Vaccines (IPA) Bring Us Closer’ is held in conjunction The event was officiated by the with the World Immunisation Week Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham The Berita MPA is published for members to which is celebrated from April 24 to 30 Baba. In his speech, he highlighted keep them informed of the activities of the Association and to keep up with developments each year. the importance of immunisation in paediatrics and child health. programme globally and locally This year’s theme aims to encourage that has successfully led to smallpox The views and opinions in all the articles greater engagement from every elimination, wild polio virus elimination are entirely those of the authors unless segment of society to promote and in 5 global continents as well as otherwise specified. support both the childhood and reduction in under five mortality We invite articles and feedback from COVID-19 National Immunisation and morbidity. readers – Editor <[email protected]> Programme (NIP) in their own capacity. continued on page 7… Unit 16-07, 16th Floor, Menara Arina Uniti, 97, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2202 7099 Fax: 03-2602 0997 Email: [email protected] Website: https://mpaeds.my BERITA MPA – MAY 2021 • 1 From The President Advocacy in Action Get vaccinated, protect self, protect ALL Dear Esteemed Friends and are coming from wild animals. What Philippines Pediatric Society (PPS), Colleagues, are the core reasons these viruses American Academy of Pediatrics jumped from wild animals into (AAP) and the United States We are in a new cycle of human and spread? Are we, the Centers for Disease Control and movement control order (MCO) homo sapiens destroying the Mother Prevention (CDC). This program is as a result of the long-drawn Earth and the animal habitats that led by Dr N. Thiyagar. MPA invites Covid-19 pandemic. I hope all we are bringing them closer to more members to join or other friends, colleagues and your family human habitats? If so, this spill over professional organisations or NGOs members remain healthy and safe. will take place more frequently. to form a bigger coalition. As the Covid-19 vaccination is being rolled out slowly into phase Covid-19 pandemic is a wake-up 2, please ensure that you and your call of the intersection between International family members are vaccinated human and planetary health. In conferences and protected. response, in November 2020, Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) - SEA The multiple waves of Covid-19 National officially launched“RISE - the infections have caused many Southeast Asia Alliance for Health pandemic-induced postponements Immunisation Day and Climate”. RISE aims to build of numerous major international the prominence of the healthcare or national conferences. Most World Immunization Week falls sector in rising to the climate and conferences, meetings and CME on the last week of April every Covid-19 challenges and building a activities remain exclusively virtual. year. For year 2021, from 24-30 healthy, just and resilient Asia. The 17th Asia Pacific Congress of April, World Health Organization MPA has joined RISE and is now Pediatrics (APCP) in Lahore Pakistan (WHO) campaigned with the partner in this crucial journey. planned for 29-31 Oct 2021, has theme `Vaccines bring us closer’ is representing been postponed to year 2022. with campaign materials showing Dr S. Selvakumar MPA in the partnership. HCWH However, MPA has remained how vaccination connects us to was formed in the US in 1996 and steadfast that our next annual the people, goals and moments is now a coalition of hundreds congress would be a hybrid that matter to us most, helping of organisations in 52 countries. meeting to be held on 25-28 improve the health of everyone, HCWH works to transform health November 2021 together with the everywhere throughout life. care worldwide so that it becomes Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine These campaign materials are ecologically sustainable and a Society (APPES) Congress at the available on the WHO website. leading advocate for environmental Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Malaysian Paediatric Association health and justice, based on the This congress was postponed from (MPA), through Immunise4Life and vision of a health sector that does year 2020 due to the Covid-19 partners, organised the National no harm but promotes human and pandemic. Please visit our MPA Immunisation Day on 27 April planetary health. I call on friends website for on-going updates 2021. Chairman of Immunise4Life and colleagues who are interested regarding the congress. Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail presented or passionate to promote human a coffee-table book on National Thank you. and planetary health, please Immunisation Program to the contact Dr S. Selvakumar or MPA Minister of Health on that day. to join the group. There was also a multimedia video show, followed by a forum. You may As the Covid-19 pandemic takes Stay Safe, read the details in the write-up in centrestage in almost every this issue of BMPA. aspect of our lives, lest we forget Get Vaccinated, that other illnesses, such as NCDs, Protect All!! Partnership & mental disorders and social ills are still present and may be on coalition the rise too. MPA, in coalition Hung Liang Choo In the entire 20th century, the world with Malaysian Association of President 2019–2021 had 3 pandemics – flus in 1918, 1957 Adolescent Health (MAAH) has [email protected] and 1968. In contrast, in the first 2 embarked on a Tobacco Control decades of the 21st century, we Advocacy Program after a have had 2 pandemics – the 2009 virtual Regional Tobacco Control swine flu and now Covid-19, with Leadership Advocacy Workshop in few near-misses. All these viruses April 2021, at the invitation of the 2 • BERITA MPA – MAY 2021 Paediatric Frontliners Vaccinated! A glimpse of some of the MPA EXCO Members who had their COVID-19 vaccination shots when the immunisation programme rolled out first for frontliners in March. BERITA MPA – MAY 2021 • 3 News Alarming Number of Children Picking up Vaping The Star, 27 May 2021 IPOH: The “Early exposure to Malaysian e-cigarettes and Paediatric vaping may be the Association (MPA) gateway to the use has expressed of cigarettes, stronger concern over the nicotine products and growing number even pot (marijuana). of children vaping following viral “It is important for videos showing the government to kids taking a puff. ban e-cigarettes and vaping to Its president protect children and Dr Hung Liang adolescents from their Choo said such harmful effects,” a trend was she said. worrying, pointing She was commenting on a recent to several videos being circulated Dr Hung said marketing gimmicks video of a woman who allegedly online showing children using such as various flavours and gave her two-year-old child a puff e-cigarettes. attractive devices for vaping were on an electronic cigarette, also appealing. “E-cigarettes and e-liquid may and uploaded the video on contain nicotine, artificial flavouring, social media. She urged parents to be aware colouring and hundreds of toxic of what their children were up to, While the woman has since chemicals and heavy metals. and to know the harmful effects of apologised, a video of two very e-cigarettes and vaping. “Even more compounds are young boys vaping had also created when these chemicals gone viral. In partnership with the Malaysian are heated and vapourised during Association of Adolescent Health, Dr Hung said nicotine was a highly vaping,” she said. MPA will be conducting a tobacco addictive substance, which could control advocacy programme in These chemicals, said Dr Hung, affect brain development in babies, secondary schools soon. 2 posed serious health risks as they children and adolescents. could damage the lungs and were carcinogenic. 4 • BERITA MPA – MAY 2021 Report Managing Mild-Moderate-Severe Picky Eaters Virtual event, 13 March 2021 Current prevalence of picky eating in Malaysia is around 36-38% and in the recent years, it has become a popular topic among healthcare professionals (HCPs). Picky eating refers to the child’s unwillingness to try new food or only eating limited variety of food. Picky eating usually peaks in the toddler and preschool years. With the broad topic of picky eating in mind, MPA and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) organised a virtual event to discuss on management strategies of different picky eating severity, from behavioral and nutritional perspective. The event attracted 1,283 registrations with 779 HCPs Group photo with the moderators, UK counterpart and Danone Specialized who joined the live session.