File photo showing a Bomba personnel carrying out sanitisation work.
KUCHING (June 6): The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) fully agrees with an expert’s recent claim that public sanitisation efforts are a waste of resources, said its president Professor Dato Dr Subramaniam Muniandy.
Infectious disease expert Professor Dato Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman had said that resources for large-scale nationwide sanitisation exercises should be better channelled into other priorities such as procuring personal protection equipment (PPEs), high flow nasal cannulas and ventilators.
“Latest evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 (also known as Covid-19) is an airborne virus therefore large-scale disinfecting of public areas will not be effective in preventing the spread of the disease,” said Dr Subramaniam in a statement today.
He also took aim at a minister’s aide for criticising Dr Adeeba for questioning the government’s public sanitation initiative.
“It is clear from his comments on the matter reported in the media two days ago that he did not do his homework and hasn’t a clue on the effective management of Covid-19,” said Dr Subramaniam.
Dr Subramaniam also said it was pointless when large surfaces that had recently been disinfected would very quickly be contaminated again.
“The standard operating procedures (SOPs) of physical distancing, face masking and hand sanitising are far more effective, evidence-based preventive measures against Covid-19,” said Dr Subramaniam.
He remarked public sanitisations were also not among recommendations from leading health authorities.
“According to the United States Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), spraying cleaning products or disinfectants in outdoor areas, such as on sidewalks, roads or groundcover, is not necessary, effective or recommended.”
Dr Subramaniam also pointed out the World Health Organisation (WHO) had issued an alert about the hazards of public disinfections as the chemicals used, such as formaldehyde, chlorine-based agents or quaternary ammonium, were not recommended due to its adverse health effects.
“The MMA hopes that after three Movement Control Order (MCO) and now a second full lockdown, the government has woken up and realised it is time to start listening to the experts.”
He said it was clear from the exponentially high numbers of infections and high death rate recorded recently that a number of government policies had failed to bring the Covid-19 situation in the country under control.
“It is time to listen to experts like Prof Adeeba. The WHO highly appreciates her contributions. Shouldn’t her home country do the same?” asked Dr Subramaniam.
Dr Adeeba is also a member of WHO Science Council.