- S E G A L A_ M A C A M_ P E N Y A K I T -

fatz

Women from minority races less likely to go for screening: BCF
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 December 2007 1851 hrs

SINGAPORE : Women from minority races are less likely to go for breast cancer screening, according to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

Although it does not track figures officially, it said it noticed this trend from its breast cancer screening exercises.

With one in every 20 women in Singapore projected to get breast cancer and five women dying from it each week, early screening can help save lives.

That is why early screening is a big priority of the Breast Cancer Foundation.

But one trend it has detected at such screening exercises could potentially be of concern.

Christine Ang, General Manager, Breast Cancer Foundation, said: "We notice there is more Chinese turnout and fewer of the Indians and the Malays - we don't really know the reason why.

"I remember we did an outreach at Little India and the response was very poor. It could be that they are more conservative and do not talk about issues of the breast."

Another group it is concerned about is the less fortunate - across all races.

Ms Ang said: "I think a lot of them fear the worst - what if they contract breast cancer and then what? And treatment is still very expensive."

Thus, for the first time, the Breast Cancer Foundation has tied up with Carestream Health to offer free screenings to such less fortunate women, which finally encouraged more to go for screening.

Examples are women like 45-year-old Madam Tay Hui Leng, who has three young daughters, and 66-year-old Madam Salmah Sulaiman.

Madam Salmah said: "My children have always asked me to go for screening; I would agree, but I wouldn't go. Now, I have been compelled to do (it), so it's okay now."

When asked why she did not want to go for screening earlier, Madam Salmah said that she was afraid.

Madam Tay said: "It's very important for us as we reach this age (to go for) mammograms. I have been trying to ask myself to go many times but I keep having the fear of going.

"But with the help of Care Corner... (they are) very encouraging, (they) asked me to come, and (it is) free, so think I should (go), not just for my sake, but also for the sake of my family."

A mammogram usually costs at least S$50. - CNA/ms

fatz

Singapura : 29 Disember 2007         
         
USIA LANJUT BUKAN HALANGAN JALANI UJIAN BUAH DADA

Yayasan beri peluang sertai ujian mamogram percuma

Oleh
Khairul Bahriah Mahfud

HANCUR luluh hatinya melihat betapa seksanya seorang rakan meninggal dunia akibat barah payu dara.

Terjejas oleh peristiwa itu, Cik Salmah Sulaiman, 66 tahun, enggan menjalani ujian mengesan barah di buah dada kerana takut.

Ini walaupun dipujuk oleh anggota keluarganya.

Bekas tukang cuci yang hidup seorang itu juga tidak rela mengeluarkan belanja yang tinggi.

Namun, Cik Salmah akhirnya memberanikan diri apabila diberi peluang menjalani ujian mamogram secara percuma di klinik Radlink Toa Payoh semalam.

Beliau merupakan antara 25 wanita kurang berupaya yang dipilih badan-badan kebajikan di kawasan Toa Payoh untuk menjalani projek ujian mamogram percuma anjuran Yayasan Barah Buah Dada (BCF) dan ditaja syarikat peralatan kesihatan, Carestream Health.

Menurut Pengurus Besar BCF, Cik Christine Ang, harga setiap mamogram buat wanita berusia 40 tahun ke atas itu menjangkau $50 hingga $100.

'Mereka yang kurang berupaya tidak mampu merisaukan diri tentang ujian rawatan,' katanya.

Selain harga, batasan utama buat Cik Salmah adalah pengetahuan terhad tentang rawatan yang diadakan.

'Saya sebenarnya takut ujiannya sakit sangat, tetapi sebenarnya tidak. Sekarang lega juga hati,' katanya.

Kini, beliau akan menggunakan pengalaman tersebut untuk mendidik teman-teman dan anggota keluarga yang lain supaya lebih prihatin terhadap rawatan kesihatan.

Cik Ang pula menerangkan bahawa projek itu dijalankan untuk meningkatkan perhatian mereka yang kurang berupaya bahawa mengesan barah pada peringkat awal adalah genting dalam proses pemulihan.

'Ia tidak adil jika wanita-wanita ini dikecualikan daripada kesempatan untuk mengesan barah lebih awal hanya kerana tidak mampu,' katanya.

fatz

Dec 30, 2007         

Found: tick saliva protein stops blood from clotting
The protein found could be used to prevent a heart attack or stroke
By Liaw Wy-Cin

BESIDES leeches, another blood-sucking parasite - ticks - are turning out to be quite the little medicinal wonder.

The saliva of the disease-carrying tick can keep blood smooth-flowing and thus prevent that heart attack or stroke arising from a clogged artery.

A team of international scientists, including two from the National University of Singapore (NUS), has found a substance in the saliva of European ticks which stops blood from clotting.

This protein is important in keeping blood flowing smoothly through vessels in the body. And it is the parasitic blood-sucking nature of leeches and ticks that allows them to do this.

Both have anti-clotting proteins in their saliva which allow them to continue to draw a smooth flow of blood from their hosts. Proteins are essential components of cells and are vital for many normal biochemical reactions in the body.

An anti-clot drug, called hirulog, derived from the hirudin protein in leech saliva is already in the market.

The NUS scientists, Mr Koh Cho Yeow, 28 and Professor R Manjunatha Kini, 51, and their team want to do the same with the tick saliva protein - called variegin - they have found.

The parasite involved is a female tropical bont tick, known as Amblyomma variegatum and is found in Europe. Two European scientists on the team discovered the tick and roped in Prof Kini's team to help with working on the protein.

The scientists believe the drug derived from the tick saliva protein is better than hirulog.

Each of the two proteins work by interacting with the clotting agent thrombin and stopping its clotting activity.

But Prof Kini said that hirulog loses its ability to interact with thrombin in 15 minutes. He said: 'We have found that our protein, after 24 hours, is still about 30 per cent active against thrombin.'

The scientists will now test the variegin protein on animals in the US. If all goes well, the medication derived from the protein will be used as a preventive treatment.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

fatz

Singapura : 11 Januari 2008         
         
KISAH PESAKIT BARAH DIABADI DALAM KEMPEN HENTI ROKOK

HPB lancar kempen sebulan

Oleh
Farid Hamzah

ALLAHYARHAM Encik Mohammad Abdooh Mohamed Ali dan isterinya, Cik Elly Sukmawarni Sukardi, 33 tahun, pernah merancang untuk membuka sebuah lagi kedai menjual ayam dan pergi berbulan madu buat kali kedua.

Malangnya, hasrat tersebut tidak kesampaian apabila Allahyarham dikesan menghidap barah paru-paru peringkat lanjut sebelum meninggal dunia dua tahun lalu.

Semasa hayatnya, Allahyarham merupakan seorang perokok sejak usianya 12 tahun.

Kisah menyayat hati Allahyarham kini diabadikan menerusi kempen media selama sebulan yang dilancarkan Lembaga Penggalak Kesihatan (HPB) mulai semalam.

Kempen tersebut akan disiarkan di akhbar, televisyen, perhentian bas, dan panel-panel di kedai kopi.

Kempen itu berlangsung dengan tujuan menggesa para perokok supaya menghentikan tabiat mereka itu sebelum terlambat.

Dalam satu kenyataannya semalam, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) HPB, Encik Lam Pin Woon, berkata:

'Kebanyakan perokok tidak sedar bahawa kesakitan dan kesengsaraan bukan sekadar kematian awal, tetapi juga kesannya ke atas anggota keluarga mereka apabila kehilangan orang yang disayangi itu yang kadangkala pencari nafkah.'

Semasa dihubungi, Cik Elly Sukmawarni berkata beliau menerima tawaran untuk muncul dalam kempen itu kerana ingin menceritakan kesengsaraan yang dialami arwah suaminya itu.

'Saya sendiri lihat betapa sakitnya arwah suami semasa menghidap barah itu.

'Dan kini, saya harap orang ramai dapat belajar sesuatu daripada kempen ini,' kata peniaga ayam itu lagi.

fatz

CDC says dengue cases likely to increase this year
By Lian Cheong & Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 January 2008 2226 hrs


SINGAPORE: The number of dengue cases in Singapore is likely to increase this year, but the Communicable Diseases Centre (CDC) said the figures will not reach epidemic levels.

A total of 8,829 people came down with dengue infections last year

fatz

Jan 13, 2008         
Challenge to Malay smokers: abstain or quit
By Maria Almenoar


Smokers who sign up for the challenge will undergo tests to determine their nicotine and carbon monoxide levels. -- PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN

THE Health Promotion Board and Malay/Muslim community group Clubilya have again put out a challenge to Malay smokers - abstain or quit smoking this month.

Cabaran Muharam (cabaran meaning challenge in Malay and Muharam meaning the Muslim new year) is an annual event in its fourth year.

Smokers who sign up for the challenge will undergo tests to determine their nicotine and carbon monoxide levels.

They will be provided with free workshops to teach them strategies on quitting their addiction and, family members will also get tips on how to support someone who trying to quit.

Participants are monitored for a month and surprise 'smokerlyser' tests will be sprung on them.

Those who remain smoke-free for the duration of competition could win a trip, shopping vouchers or electrical appliances.

The HPB said that the campaign was targeted at the Malay community because the smoking prevalence among Malays aged 18 to 69 at 18.6 per cent is the highest compared to other ethnic groups.

The national average is 12.6 per cent.

This is according to the 2004 National Health Survey.

This year's media campaign for anti-smoking by HPB also starts this week and takes on a new twist in its approach.

Its poster boy is deceased smoker Mohammad Abdooh Mohamed Ali, who had picked up smoking at the age of 12 and was diagnosed with cancer at 45.

He died a year later in 2006, leaving behind his wife, Elly Sukmawarni, whom he had made plans with to set up another chicken stall and go on their second honeymoon.

The HPB hopes to used his story to increase the perceived self-vulnerability among smokers and encourage them to quit smoking.

Said HPB's chief executive, Lam Pin Woon in a statement: 'Many smokers do not realise that the pain and suffering extend beyond their premature deaths, when family members struggle with the reality of losing not just their loved ones but often also their family's bread winners

fatz

Training to help raise heart attack survival rates in commercial bldgs
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 January 2008 0250 hrs

SINGAPORE : More can be done to save those from a heart attack, says Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

The Community Development, Youth and Sports minister noted that at least 800 people collapse suddenly from a heart attack every year.

Out of this, more than 60 collapsed in commercial buildings like shopping malls and hotels.

Overall, he said the survival rate of those who collapsed is only two percent.

But in communities where bystanders know and provide CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator is used within minutes to restore a normal heart beat, survival rates can exceed 75 percent.

So to increase the survival rate, an awareness campaign was launched by SCDF and its partners the National Resuscitation Council and Singapore Heart Foundation.

More than 100 commercial building owners have pledged to send their staff for training and to equip their premises with the life-saving device. - CNA /ls

fatz

Singapura : 18 Januari 2008        
         
6 KES DEMAM CHIKUNGUNYA DI CLIVE STREET

Virus penyakit disebarkan menerusi nyamuk

ENAM orang, termasuk seorang warga asing berusia 27 tahun, yang kesemuanya tinggal di Clive Street telah dijangkiti demam chikungunya - satu penyakit virus yang dijangkiti menerusi nyamuk.

Kenyataan bersama Kementerian Kesihatan (MOH) dan Agensi Sekitaran Kebangsaan (NEA) berkata MOH telah menerima laporan mengenai kes warga asing itu pada 14 Januari lalu.

Menyusuli laporan pertama itu, MOH dan NEA telah menjalankan pemeriksaan terhadap penduduk dan mereka yang bekerja di Clive Street, dekat Serangoon Road.

Hasilnya, lima lagi orang dikesan menghidapi penyakit tersebut.

Siasatan juga mendedahkan, warga asing itu dijangkiti di Singapura kerana beliau telah beberapa bulan tidak meninggalkan negara ini.

Mereka yang terjejas telah dihantar ke Pusat Penyakit Berjangkit (CDC) di Hospital Tan Tock Seng.

Sebelum ini, kes-kes chikungunya yang dilaporkan di sini merupakan jangkitan dari luar negara dengan sebanyak 10 kes dilaporkan tahun lalu.

Seperti demam denggi, nyamuk adalah pembawa virus demam chikungunya.

Tanda-tanda jangkitan termasuk mengalami demam secara tiba-tiba, pening, loya, muntah-muntah dan sakit pada bahagian tulang dan bahagian bawah belakang.

Kebanyakan tanda sakit akan berlarutan antara tiga dengan 10 hari.

Namun, rasa sakit pada tulang mungkin menjejas pesakit untuk beberapa minggu atau bulan.

Penyakit itu sering didapati di negara-negara tropika dan dalam beberapa tahun lalu, penularannya dilaporkan di Afrika, Asia Tenggara, Asia Selatan dan pulau-pulau di lautan India.

Penularan penyakit itu juga dilaporkan di Malaysia dan Indonesia pada 2006.

Menurut NEA, para pegawainya kini sedang menjalankan operasi mengawal nyamuk secara intensif di kawasan Clive Street dan sekitarannya.

Kedai dan rumah di kawasan itu juga sedang diperiksa untuk mengesan pembiakan nyamuk.

Mereka yang telah ke kawasan Clive Street baru-baru ini dan kini mengalami demam dinasihatkan supaya berjumpa doktor.

fatz

Singapura : 19 Januari 2008         
         
DUA LAGI DIJANGKIT DEMAM CHIKUNGUNYA

DUA orang lagi telah dijangkiti demam chikungunya, penyakit mirip demam denggi yang berpunca daripada nyamuk.

Ini menjadikan jumlah mereka yang dijangkiti penyakit itu lapan orang kesemuanya.

Menurut satu kenyataan Kementerian Kesihatan (MOH) semalam, mereka telah dihantar ke Pusat Penyakit Berjangkit (CDC) di Hospital Tan Tock Seng.

Empat daripada mereka telah ditahan untuk tujuan pengasingan dan pengurusan.

Mereka semua tinggal di deretan rumah kedai di Clive Street.

MOH menyatakan mereka semua tidak ke luar negara baru-baru ini.

Lantas, kemungkinan besar mereka dijangkiti penyakit itu di sini.

Ini kali pertama demam chikungunya merebak di Singapura.

Menurut MOH lagi, penyakit itu mula dikesan di sini pada 2006 tetapi kesemua 13 kes yang dilaporkan ketika itu berpunca daripada jangkitan di luar negara.

Gejala penyakit itu sama seperti demam denggi.

Antaranya ialah demam, sakit sendi, menggigil dan rasa mual.

Gejala-gejala itu itu biasanya berakhir dalam tempoh 10 hari.

Belum ada ubat mujarab bagi penyakit itu, yang biasanya hilang secara sendiri.

Ia juga jarang membawa maut.

fatz

NEA steps up checks to control chikungunya virus
By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 January 2008 1921 hrs


SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) said it will step up efforts to keep the chikungunya fever situation in control although there has been no new case in the past three days.

The news that eight people in the Clive Street area came down with chikungunya fever surfaced on Thursday. Since then, the authorities have tightened checks, deploying 50 officers to comb the area for mosquito breeding sites every day, compared to 13 officers usually.

Chikungunya fever is an acute viral disease, similar to dengue fever. It is also transmitted via infected aedes mosquitoes.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said, "So far, no new cases have surfaced. It doesn't mean there are none, but we will continue to monitor this very very closely until we are satisfied. The GPs (general practitioners) and us are working very well. The minute they detected something, blood samples were sent immediately for analysis. So it (showed) that what we have put (on) the ground is working very very well."

Dr Yaacob said data so far showed that chikungunya is not fatal and has not taken root in Singapore.

But he warned against complacency. "You must keep your place clean, free of stagnant water."

Besides conducting checks on the ground, the NEA will also hold discussions with multiple agencies such as the Land Transport Authority and the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Monday to explore ways to control the spread of the virus.

Dr Yaacob also revealed that new measures to control the number of dengue cases will be announced during this year's Budget Debate. - CNA/ac

fatz

Health Ministry forms committee for national stroke strategy
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 January 2008 0048 hrs

SINGAPORE : The Ministry of Health has formed a National Advisory Committee for National Stroke Strategy.

This is to help the ministry develop an overall strategy aimed at the prevention and control of strokes, as well as minimise the burden of the disease.

The ministry's Director of Medical Services Professor K Satku made this announcement on Saturday at the 3rd Mount Alvernia Hospital Medical Conference.

Stroke was the 4th cause of death in 2006, accounting for 9% of all deaths.

Professor Satku said the committee will take a comprehensive approach at primary prevention, early detection, clinical services and rehabilitation.

It will also review current services, identify gaps and present to the Health Ministry recommendations to enhance the quality of stroke prevention and treatment in Singapore.

The review is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.

Professor Satku also asked encouraged public and private institutions which have established an appropriate learning environment within their organisation to be designated as accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) providers.

These institutions should have a CME committee which meets to develop and plan CME programmes on a regular basis for their doctors in their institutions.

Professor Satku said a collegiate learning environment enables a peer review process for robust supervision of new doctors in the health system.

If the hospital or doctor takes the initiative to organise and achieve this outcome, it would allow their hospital to supervise first year conditionally-registered doctors.

The ministry would then readily accredit the health institution as a provider of the supervisory framework.

In return, the doctors and the hospital would then have the flexibility to select and recruit their own doctors from abroad - specialists and non-specialists alike - and supervise them throughout their conditional-registration phase. - CNA /ls

fatz

New vaccine for cervical cancer, but doctors say pap smear must continue
By Chio Su-Mei, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 January 2008 2158 hrs


SINGAPORE : There's now another vaccine available to prevent cervical cancer.

Called Cervarix, the vaccine is said to be effective against 80% of the virus that cause cervical cancer.

But doctors cautioned that the new drug cannot replace the effectiveness of a pap smear.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in the world. It kills one woman, usually aged between 30 and 50, every two minutes.

47-year-old Chin Chee Choy is a cervical cancer survivor.

One in two patients die from the disease, which affects 200 women in Singapore every year.

"I discovered that I had cervical cancer in the later part of 2004. In the course of my treatment with my doctor Lisa Wong, I had my cervix removed," said Chin.

Women now have more choices to prevent cervical cancer.

There are two vaccines that offer partial protection against the disease, which is caused by the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus or HPV.

There are over 100 identified types of HPV, of which most are harmless and show no symptoms. Approximately 40 types of HPV are spread through sexual contact, and 15 HPV are cancer-causing.

80% of cancer-causing HPV is covered by the latest vaccine Cervarix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, while Merck's Gardasil, which was introduced here since 2006, covers 70% of such HPV as well as genital warts.

But doctors caution that vaccines alone are not enough.

They are urging women to continue going for their annual pap smear tests and practise safe sex and monogamy.

"There's a huge family of HPV virus, with many different types,... and there are other types (not covered by the vaccine) that can also cause cervical cancer. That's why you need to do pap smears as well, in case you get infected with the other types of virus," said Associate Professor Lim Lean Huat, Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS).

For those who wish to go for vaccination, the recommended age is from 10 to 25 years old, as approved by the Singapore Health Sciences Authority. - CNA /ls

fatz

Ten Chikungunya cases detected as of Wednesday
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 January 2008 0053 hrs

SINGAPORE: Another person has been infected with Chikungunya fever, bringing the total number of cases to ten so far.

The Ministry of Health said the latest case is a Singaporean with no recent travel history. But he works near Clive Street, the area where the cluster of cases was earlier detected.

All the cases were treated at the Communicable Disease Centre. Eight have been admitted for isolation and management. All but two have since been discharged.

The ministry and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have screened about 1,380 people from the Clive Street area since 14 January, and will continue the screenings on Thursday.

NEA has also inspected close to 2,800 premises in the area for mosquito breeding grounds, and a total of 59 breeding spots have been destroyed.

NEA will continue the operation until the virus threat is removed from the area.

Ratu_Lybeau

Originally posted by fatz at 24-1-2008 01:58 AM
Ten Chikungunya cases detected as of Wednesday
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 January 2008 0053 hrs

SINGAPORE: Another person has been infected with Chikungunya fever, bringing ...

sakit ape ni?????

fatz

Originally posted by Ratu_Lybeau at 24-1-2008 06:25 AM

sakit ape ni?????

Chikungunya fever is an acute viral disease, similar to dengue fever. It is also transmitted via infected aedes mosquitoes.

Ratu_Lybeau

ooo thanks ...i baru tahu...ni something new for me...thanks again

fatz

Rain gutters on most buildings in Little India to be removed
By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 January 2008 2041 hrs



SINGAPORE: The rain gutters on more than half of the buildings in Little India will be removed.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has ordered this in a further bid to contain the Chikungunya virus.

Rain gutters are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. More than 1,400 larvae have been found in Little India.

So NEA said that they will be taken out, as long as building structures are not affected.

NEA added that what should be removed are those which are in poor condition or those whose building owners show clear signs that they are unwilling or unable to maintain them in proper condition.

Removing them will help NEA officers who conduct daily routine checks.

Owners who don't comply with the order to remove the gutters may be fined up to S$20,000 or be jailed for not more than three months or both. The sentence and fine will be doubled for subsequent convictions.

Another problem that NEA officers encounter is the pails that foreign workers use to store rain water.

What's more, over 10,000 foreign workers throng Little India on weekends and this makes cleaning up a challenge.

Officials said they will only stop their daily checks when no new cases are found, in 24 days.

That's the number of days needed for mosquitoes to go through two incubation cycles.

At least eight people came down with Chikungunya fever at Clive Street, near Little India in early January and this has caused business to drop by about 10 per cent.

So shopkeepers too are playing their part to maintain cleanliness.

Johnson Kang, a hotel maintenance staff, said: "Normally when we clean all the rooms, we will try to empty whatever pail there is water in it, and every now and then we will check whichever corner. At the same time we have pest control coming once in a while to spray all and clean up all the rooms." -CNA/vm

fatz

Spate of chikungunya cases leaves Clive Street in Little India half-empty
By Loh Chee Kong, TODAY | Posted: 25 January 2008 1444 hrs


HIT BY THE AEDES MOZZIE: 9 out of the 10 patients had either worked or live in Clive Street

SINGAPORE: A palpable air of unease filled what was usually a walkway brimming with tourists and eager shoppers looking for a good bargain along the rows of shops selling anything from pre-paid phone cards to handicrafts.

At Clive Street yesterday afternoon

fatz

Another S'porean hit with Chikungunya fever, bringing the total to 11By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 January 2008 1823 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Chikungunya virus has hit another person in Singapore - bringing to 11 the total number of cases so far.

The Health Ministry said the latest case detected on 25 January is a Singaporean with no recent travel history and who spent some time daily in the Little India area.

The first 10 cases of the mosquito-borne disease have all been linked to the Clive Street area in Little India.

And since 14 January, the authorities have screened 1,795 people within a 150-metre radius of the affected section.

Checks were later expanded to cover a larger area and the latest case had spent time within the extended screening area.

More than 3,200 inspections have been conducted so far.

NEA has stepped up its operations to Rochor Road, Race Course Road, Lavender Road and Jalan Besar.

A total of 63 breeding sites have also been found and destroyed.

Of the 11 cases, nine were admitted at the Communicable Disease Centre for isolation and management.

All have been discharged, except for two who are still under observation, including the latest case.

Residents and owners of premises have been advised to check their area daily to remove any stagnant water that may breed mosquitoes.

Persons infected with Chikungunya fever should stay indoors to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus.

Those who have been in the Clive Street area recently and have developed a fever are advised to consult their doctors. -CNA/vm

fatz

Congestion will have long-term impact on productivity and health
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 January 2008 1722 hrs



SINGAPORE: Congestion is a problem that affects most big cities.

If not resolved, it will have a long-term effect on the economy, loss in productivity as people get stuck in traffic, and even health.

Associate Professor Eustan Quah, an economist, said: "Congestion may mean that people would be more stressed up - they may return from work later than is normal and this in turn may leave little time for whatever time there is for relaxation and leisure and this in turn also affects health and family unity.