PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has prepared 85 emergency medical teams comprising 387 personnel to respond to possible flooding during the 2026/2027 northeast monsoon, with psychological support also being lined up for affected communities.
The ministry said these comprised 36 Rapid Assessment and Health Rapid Response Teams, 34 Medical Rapid Response Teams and 15 Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) teams, Bernama reported.
“The teams will be mobilised as required to conduct health risk assessments, provide medical services and emergency treatment, carry out surveillance and control of infectious diseases, as well as provide mental health and psychosocial support to flood victims,” it said in a statement.
The ministry has also made available 128 vehicles to support personnel mobilisation and field operations, while flood-related medicine supplies at warehouses operated by concessionaire suppliers remain stable, with stocks estimated to last between one and three months.
Through the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), State Health Departments, District Health Offices and healthcare facilities nationwide, the ministry has also stepped up preparedness to ensure continued healthcare services, particularly in flood-prone areas.
The National CPRC has been in Alert Mode since Oct 27, with continuous monitoring of flood situations, healthcare facility preparedness and coordination of response measures with State Health Departments and relevant agencies.
The ministry said healthcare facilities at risk of flooding had also been identified, together with alternative facilities in the event of operational disruptions. Plans were also in place for the early transfer of high-risk patients, including pregnant women and those requiring haemodialysis.
The ministry said the risk of flooding could increase if prolonged rain coincided with high tides.
At relief centres, the ministry provides health assessments, infectious disease monitoring, environmental hygiene inspections, food and water safety checks, vector control, as well as mental health and psychosocial support.
These measures are aimed at reducing the risk of flood-related illnesses, including diarrhoea, food poisoning, leptospirosis and respiratory tract infections.
The ministry also advised the public to use clean and safe drinking water, consume properly cooked food and avoid food contaminated by floodwaters.
People were also advised to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, wash their hands frequently with clean water and soap, and avoid direct contact with potentially contaminated floodwaters.
“Those experiencing symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle pain after exposure to floodwaters are advised to seek immediate medical examination and treatment at healthcare facilities,” the ministry said.
The ministry also reminded patients with chronic illnesses, senior citizens, pregnant women and children to ensure continuity of treatment and adequate medication supplies in the event they need to move to relief centres.
Separately, 59 members of the Psychological Support Team (PST) from various agencies, including the Health and Education Ministries, will be deployed to relief centres in Kelantan to help flood victims cope with trauma and emotional stress throughout the monsoon season.
Bernama reported that Kelantan Welfare Department director Che Samsuzuki Che Noh said the team would also organise activities to ease victims’ emotional distress while they were at the centres.
He said the department mobilised 400 officers and staff, 13 counselling officers and 327 volunteers to ensure the smooth operation of disaster management and aid distribution.
Che Samsuzuki also urged the public to register early through the MyIBJKM application to facilitate the process when they are relocated to relief centres.
He said the information that needs to be completed in the application includes details of the head of household, family members, place of residence, and children’s schools to enable victim profiling to be done earlier.
“This information is important for facilitating data management and preventing the duplication of information.
“Once registration is completed, the relevant data will be channelled directly to the National Disaster Management Agency, thereby helping to expedite the provision of assistance, including the Bantuan Wang Ihsan,” he said.
He added that early registration also helps expedite the BWI payment process, including after the PPS is closed.
So far, 79,455 heads of household, with a total of 135,616 family members, have been recorded in the system, while 69,101 heads of household have registered through the MyIBJKM application in its second year of implementation.
He also urged the district-level Welfare Departments to intensify the campaign for the application registration during disaster management simulations to avoid congestion and delays in the registration process during floods.