Page 182 - ANUAL REPORT MOH 2017

Monitoring on food and drinks sold at school canteen were conducted by Nutritionist, Environmental
Health Officer and Environmental Health Assistant Officer. The implementation of food and drinks sold
at school canteen based on MOE’s policy was monitored. As of November 2017, 71.4 per cent (5,951)
schools with canteen which had food and drinks sold at their canteen were monitored throughout
Malaysia. The achievement of the monitoring activities exceeds the annual target which is 65 per cent
for 2017.

Furthermore, the developments of info graphics and animation video which emphasized on food
and drinks that can be sold and not allowed to be sold at school canteen were carried out in 2017.
In tandem to that, these educational materials have been disseminated through social media.
While CD’s containing these materials have been distributed to all State Health Departments
and MOE.

PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAMME FOR ANAEMIA AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the common cause of anaemia among pregnant mothers. It
occur due to the demand for iron and other vitamin is increase for the development of fetus and
the physiological changes that happens during pregnancy stages. If a pregnant mothers have a
low iron storage in body before pregnancies and failed to meet the required level for iron during
pregnancies, the risk to have iron deficiency anemia will be much higher. IDA in pregnancy is often
associated with increased fetal and maternal mortality, low birth weight, premature delivery and
maternal morbidity.

Since 2015, prevention and control programme for Anaemia has been one of the Quality Assurance
Indicator for National Indicator Approach in Ministry of Health. Percentage of anemic pregnant mothers
at + 36 week were the indicator that need to be monitored by all Health State Department in this Quality
Assurance (QA) process. Various intervention programme in state or district level has been developed
to suit local anaemia issues that has been identify during the evaluation process of QA. In general,
pregnant mothers are given haematinics with iron (ferrous fumarate), folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin
B Complex for both prophylactic and curative measure. Health education and nutrition counseling are
also been given to encourage mothers to consume food high in iron and to increase vitamin C intake
in their daily diet.

In 2017, prevalence of anaemia among antenatal mothers (Hb < 11gm %) attending government health
clinics was 6.3 per cent. It was a significant reduction as compared to 38.3 per cent in 2004 and lower
than year before which is at 7 per cent in 2016 (Figure 68).

MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA ANNUAL REPORT 2017 181