1.Somali woman with multiple sclerosis, a case report
Joyce Pauline Joseph ; Suganthi Cinnasami ; Md Hanip Rafia
Neurology Asia 2017;22(1):81-84
There is variable prevalence of multiple sclerosis, higher in those residing in latitude away from
the equator, and among the Caucasian population. Multiple sclerosis has not been reported in some
countries, partly related to access to modern medicine. Although multiple sclerosis has been reported
among the Somali diaspora, it has not been reported among the residents in Somalia. We report an
adult Somali woman who has relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis for 8 years, affecting the optic
nerves, cerebellum and spinal cord.
Multiple Sclerosis
2.Updates on Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practices on Tuberculosis among Healthcare Workers
Farhanah Abd Wahab ; Sarimah Abdullah ; Jafri Malin Abdullah ; Hasnan Jaafar ; Siti Suraiya Md Noor ; Wan Mohd Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad ; Abdul Aziz Mohamed Yusoff ; John Tharakan ; Shalini Bhaskar ; Muthuraju Sangu ; Mohd Shah Mahmood ; Fauziah Kassim ; Md. Hanip Rafia ; Mohammed Safari Mohammed Haspani ; Azmi Alias ; Rogelio Hernández Pando
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(6):25-34
Ranking as the most communicable disease killer worldwide, tuberculosis, has accounted
with a total of 9.6 million new tuberculosis cases with 1.5 million tuberculosis-related deaths
reported globally in 2014. Tuberculosis has remain as an occupational hazard for healthcare
workers since 1920s and due to several tuberculosis outbreaks in healthcare settings in the early
1990s, the concern about the transmission to both patients and healthcare workers has been
raised. Healthcare workers have two to three folds greater the risk of active tuberculosis than the
general population. Several studies on knowledge, attitude and practices on tuberculosis among
healthcare workers worldwide have revealed that majority of the participated healthcare workers
had good knowledge on tuberculosis. Most of the healthcare workers from South India and South
Africa also reported to have positive attitude whereas a study in Thailand reported that most of
the healthcare providers have negative attitude towards tuberculosis patients. Nevertheless,
majority of the healthcare workers have low level of practice on tuberculosis prevention. An
improved communication between healthcare workers and the patients as well as their families
is the key to better therapeutic outcomes with good knowledge, attitude and preventive practice
towards tuberculosis.