style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) donated one million rubber gloves to the State Health Department, Thursday, for distribution to hospitals, clinics, dental clinics and healthcare facilities throughout the State. Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, who presented a mock cheque for the gloves to Sabah State Health Director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi, said it was the third such contribution after Sarawak and Perak.

To date, a total of two million pieces of medical glove have been distributed to hospitals and health clinics in Sarawak and Perak.

"It is hoped that the donation of one million gloves can be used fully to help reduce infection rates in hospitals in the State," he said.

He said Malaysia exported rubber products to more than 195 countries valued at RM18. 2 billion last year, of which 73 per cent or RM13.3 billion comprised rubber gloves.

Malaysia is the largest exporter of rubber gloves in the world, capturing 60 per cent of global market share and the exports are expected to grow significantly this year.

"In the first five months this year , the export of rubber gloves increased by 28.3 per cent to RM6.8 billion compared to RM5.28 billion previously."

Nasrun said the event in the form of a "Glove Awareness Programme" (GAP) aims to promote glove usage and raising awareness among healthcare workers in Malaysia on the need to use personal protective equipment for the prevention of infectious diseases.

"These programmes are organised with the intent of increasing the per capita consumption of medical gloves in Malaysia which is currently around nine pairs per year.

"This is considered low when compared to per capita consumption of gloves in the USA and European Union (EU) at 80 pairs and 50 pairs, respectively. So we hope to promote its usage today in hospitals in the State."

Asked on the possible reasons for the lower consumption in the country, he said it could be due to lower awareness and attitude as well.

Nasrun said India and China are also potential growth markets as the use of rubber gloves in hospitals there is also low.

"It is hoped that with greater awareness of the importance of wearing medical gloves as a protective gear in the health environment, the per capita consumption of gloves in Malaysia will increase to the level of the developed countries such as the USA and EU when Malaysia achieved developed status in 2020."

In conjunction with the glove contribution programme, MREPC also organised a seminar themed Gloves and Control of Infectious Diseases which was attended by 350 healthcare personnel from Sabah.

The papers presented include the "Proper Use of Gloves to Prevent infections" and "Standard Precaution at the Community and Home" delivered by the Deputy CEO of MREPC and a specialist in infectious disease from Hospital Queen Elizabeth, respectively.

Also present at the event was MREPC Chairman Ahmad Lai Bujang. - Neil Chan