Stock up on dengue test kits, GPs told

the star
BY LOH FOON FONG

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry wants private general practitioners (GPs) to stock up on dengue rapid test kits and carry out tests on all patients with dengue symptoms as concerns of a worsening outbreak grow.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said most GPs currently did not keep stock of the test kits and missed 99% of dengue cases on patients’ first visits.

“To increase the percentage of those diagnosed correctly, we need them to have these kits,” he said after a special meeting on dengue at the ministry yesterday.

Dr Subramaniam said GPs had to put all fever cases under suspicion of dengue unless proven otherwise.

He also asked them to look beyond the normal symptoms such as fever and rashes.

The ministry, he added, would meet with the GPs soon on the use of the test kit.

Last week alone saw more than 2,900 cases of dengue. Dr Subramaniam expressed concern that the figure could surpass the 3,000-plus cases recorded last September.

The ministry was taking all necessary measures to combat dengue and requested cooperation from state authorities and local councils.

He reminded parents to ensure that their children put on long-sleeved clothing or used mosquito repellents in the morning.

This was because 80% of dengue cases happened at home as mosquitoes would be out foraging from 6am to 8.30am and 6pm to 8.30pm.

From Jan 1 to 24, the ministry reported 8,502 dengue cases nationwide – an increase of 65% or 3,361 cases over the same period last year (5,141 cases).

Dengue deaths for the same period totalled 20, compared with seven for the same period last year. The number represented a 186% spike.

Dr Subramaniam said one factor that brought about the increase in cases and deaths was the shift in the dominant dengue serotype which occurred last August – from DEN-2 to DEN-1.

Asked why there were more severe cases that resulted in deaths, health deputy director-general Datuk S. Jeyaindran said the virus was more deadly.

Grandpas love to work in disaster areas

the star
BY LOH FOON FONG

PETALING JAYA: Two grandfathers have no qualms about sweating it out and getting themselves dirty just to help flood victims in the east coast return to their normal life.

Disaster Aid Australia response team (DART) member Dave Tuzewski, 69, from Adelaide, and Disaster Aid USA ambassador and DART member Tore Knos, 65, from Los Angeles, were in Kelantan and Pahang from Jan 13 to 25 to set up 50 tents and two portable water filters for those affected by the massive floods.

Where most in their age group would have retired to a slower pace of life, they said they would seize every opportunity to be involved in disaster assistance.

“The joy of seeing people’s faces and them grasping your hand to say ‘thank you’ is so overwhelming. But I would tell them to thank their sponsors,” said Tuzewski at The Starheadquarters here yesterday.

Disaster Aid Malaysia (DAM), which was set up last year, had its first deployment when it sent the two highly trained DART members to carry out a needs assessment for a post-flood relief rebuilding communities programme.

Together with the Red Crescent Society, Nanyang Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of Kota Baru and Temerloh, they scouted some of the worst-hit areas, such as Kuala Krai, Kampung Guchil, Temangan, the Kuala Betis orang asli villages, Pulau Seratus, Pulau Renjuna and Kampung Teluk Renjuna.

Spacious shelter: Tuzewski (in white shirt) and Knos (third from left) demonstrating how to set up a survival tent at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. With them are (from left) Rotary Club of USJ past president Looi Kok Kheong, Rotary Club of Bandar Utama honorary secretary Janice Lim, DAM founder K.G. Tan and DAM member Judy Chong.

Besides bringing family survival packs comprising huge tents and essential tools, together with water filters that could churn out 10,000 litres of water a day for a whole community, the two also trained volunteers on disaster aid.

Knos, who has a son, a daughter and a grandson, provided disaster assistance to war victims in South Sudan in 2012 and Typhoon Haiyan victims in Panay Island, Philippines, in 2013, while Tuzewski, who has two sons and two granddaughters, helped typhoon victims in the Philippines in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Asked why they were passionate about volunteer work, Tuzewski said he had been involved in community service for most of his adult life while Knos said he wanted to give back to society in a bigger way after he retired four years ago.

They brought with them a wealth of experience which they could use to assist the people. Knos, a Rotarian of 10 years, is a master contractor, while Tuzewski, a Rotarian of more than 30 years, is a business consultant.

On how they kept fit, Tuzewski, whose diet is mainly fish and vegetables, said he walked 3km every morning to his gymnasium and did a 45-minute workout before walking back home. He also cycles in the mountains.

Knos prefers to take walks with his wife to the beach or cycle.

Floods: Over 5,000 Health Ministry staff affected

the star
BY LOH FOON FONG

PUTRAJAYA: More than 5,000 Health Ministry staff were affected by the recent massive floods in the east coast states with losses to health facilities estimated at RM387mil.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said some of the staff's houses were swept away or inundated and most of their belongings were destroyed.

“Some of them moved to evacuation centres while others stayed with relatives.

“Despite our predicament, we still have to continue providing services to the people,” he said when launching a fund for the affected employees.

Dr Subramaniam started the fund rolling with a donation of RM10,000. His deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, contributed RM7,000.

The floods, which started on Dec 26, were the worst in recent history to have hit the east coast and Perak.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry could not contact 60% of its staff at the peak of the floods in Kelantan due to communication and transport breakdown. Many were trapped in hospitals or clinics.

He thanked the staff who worked relentlessly to care for patients and also saved millions of ringgit worth of equipment and medicine from being destroyed.

He said the staff worked in a spirit of togetherness, including specialists who turned up in shorts and boots to clean clinics and hospitals.

So far, he said, 15 community clinics were destroyed while four hospitals, 108 clinics and one health office were badly damaged. Losses were estimated at RM387mil.

Dr Subramaniam said the number of confirmed leptospirosis and melioidosis infections – reported to be 126 and 20 respectively from Jan 1 to 22 – was still worrying.

In view of the cost-cutting measures that the Prime Minister announced recently, the ministry had to reduce its operations expenditure by about RM500,000, he said.

Build partnerships to solve problems, various faiths urged

The star
BY LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: In a globalised world, people of various faiths need to build partnerships to solve the world’s problems, said a New York imam.

Shamsi Ali, chairman of the Al-Hikmah Mosque in Astoria, Queens, New York said the Quran outlined four levels of connection among the people of various background – knowing one another and build understanding, respect and mutual compassion.

“The least is tolerance, but beyond that is more important, which is building partnerships,” he said at a talk titled “Islam beyond media-driven narratives: Muslims and non-Muslims in search for common ground” here yesterday.

Shamsi said the Quran also encouraged dialogue as righteous people existed among Muslims as well as non-Muslims.

“The Quran acknowledges diversity and made it a theological basis of faith so that we cannot be true Muslims unless we acknowledge that there is this diversity within our human life, including racial diversity,” he said.

The Indonesian American imam (head of mosque congregation) also urged the Muslims in South-East Asia to take up leadership in the global realm.

On freedom of speech, he said it should be balanced with civic responsibility.

“We have people around us who have feelings and we need to be sensitive,” he said adding that for this reason, having interfaith dialogue was important although not easy.

At the same talk, Lehigh University Center for Global Islamic Studies Assoc Prof Robert Rozehnal said education and personal interactions would help dismantle some of the negative mass media narratives on religion.

“I hope personal interactions will change opinions,” Rozehnal said.

On the issue of freedom of expression and the Charlie Hebdo incident, he said the magazine had a long history of poking fun and attacking religious communities.

This, he said, raised a difficult question of what democracy and freedom of speech meant.

“I will defend the idea of freedom of speech to the end.

“But I also hope that all speech is mediated by civility,” he said.

Subra: Hunger strikes not part of Malaysian culture

BY LOH FOON FONG

PUTRAJAYA: Hunger strikes are not part of Malaysian culture, said MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam of the planned hunger strike by an MIC leader.

“It is not a culture we should allow. Not in Malaysia. That is an Indian culture. Leave it in that continent.

“We should bring the good aspects and not the bad aspects of the culture into this country,” he said at a press conference after launching the funds for the 5,000-plus Health Ministry staff affected by the recent flood Thursday.

It was reported that Datuk G. Kumaar Aamaan was planning to hold a hunger strike Thursday to protest a Registrar of Societies (ROS) directive that his position as MIC secretary-general is invalid.

Kumaar said he had received the letter from the ROS on Monday, informing him that his position as secretary-general was not valid.

Party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had announced Kumaar’s appointment as secretary-general earlier this month, along with other appointments to key positions in the party.

However, his appointment had come under objection from members of an opposing faction in MIC, who claimed it was against the party constitution.

On Wednesday, Bernama reported Dr Subramaniam as saying that the ROS had stated in writing that it did not recognise the appointments made by MIC following its order for the party to hold fresh elections for certain posts.

He said he could confirm that there was a letter from the ROS stating that no new appointments should be made without first resolving the issue of re-election of the party’s 23 central working committee (CWC) members and three vice-presidents.

Explain deforestation, Kelantan told

The star
BY LOH FOON FONG

The Crisis Relief Squad MCA (CRSM) had discovered that a vast stretch of land and hills were cleared during its journey to Gua Musang and Kuala Betis in Kelantan on Jan 13, 2015 to deliver food to the orang asli.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The Crisis Relief Squad MCA (CRSM) has called on the Kelantan government to explain the deforestation in Gua Musang and Kuala Betis.

Its chairman Datuk Lua Choon Hann said the CRSM team that delivered food to orang asli living there was shocked to find vast swathes of land and hills destroyed.

“The state government must enlighten us on the deforestation there.

“We want a definite answer as to whether the deforestation was legally carried out,” he said at a press conference here.

Lua said the deforestation could have been among the causes of the recent severe floods.

Two days before going to the orang asli villages on Jan 13, CRSM informed Barisan Nasional secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor that the people there were stranded without food.

Following this, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he had sent the army to clear the roads and a helicopter to bring food to the villagers.

Lua said the forest destruction had damaged the environment and badly affected the livelihood of the orang asli.

“We want a committee to be set up to investigate the deforestation,” he said, adding that CRSM also wanted development to prioritise orang asli livelihood.

Recalling the relief mission, Lau said that upon receiving news that more than 2,000 orang asli villagers were stranded in Gua Musang and Kuala Betis, CRSM dispatched 12 members in five four-wheel-drive vehicles carrying six tonnes of food.

He said the journey was challenging due to landslides and fallen trees that made the roads inaccessible.

“What was supposed to be a two to three-hour journey took us seven hours.

“We had no choice but to set up a second station and the orang asli had to walk 10 hours out of their villages,” he said.

Lau said other voluntary groups had also delivered food to the orang asli.

Playing host to mosquitoes

Playing host to mosquitoes

BY LOH FOON FONG

PETALING JAYA: Six per cent of construction sites inspected last year were found to harbour mosquito breeding habitats, said the Health Ministry.

“Of the 35,768 sites inspected, 2,123 were found to have mosquito breeding habitats,” said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

A total of 912 compounds with a cumulative amount of RM456,000 were issued, while a developer was charged in court before being fined a total of RM35,000.

Other than fines, Dr Noor Hisham said another 756 sites were asked to either treat, destroy or remove all existing or potential mosquito breeding habitats under Section 8 of the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975.

The remaining 455 sites had been instructed to stop work temporarily for cleanups.

Dr Noor Hisham said the ministry was collaborating with other agencies for enforcement activities at construction sites.

The agencies include the Construction Industry Development Board, Department of Occupational Safety and Health, and Department of Public Works.

Dr Noor Hisham added that there were 108,698 dengue cases with 215 deaths last year compared to 43,346 cases with 92 deaths in 2013, an increase of 151% and 134%, respectively.

“The number of dengue cases reported for the first two weeks this year is still high,” he said, adding that each hospital had its own contingency plan to manage the shortage of beds during severe dengue outbreaks, he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said in the event of a surge in cases, additional beds, canvas beds or extension beds would be used in medical wards.

If all suitable areas in the medical wards had been occupied, the hospital would open up cubicles or utilise beds in non-medical wards with low bed-occupancy rates and first or second class wards to house dengue patients who are in stable condition, he added.

“A dengue management team will be responsible to review all dengue patients in non-medical wards to ensure their management is not compromised,” he said.

Suitable areas in hospitals would also be converted to a lounge for discharged patients waiting for family members to pick them up, with these areas equipped with comfortable seats and meals.

“With these measures, hospital beds would be made available as early as possible for any new dengue admissions,” he said.

Cabinet looking into construction of dams to mitigate severity of flooding

The STar
BY MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR, LOH FOON FONG, ZUHRIN AHMAD, MAZWIN NIK ANIS, SIMON KHOO, NIK NAIZI HUSIN,JOSEPH KAOS JR, D. KANYAKUMARI, M. KUMAR, NURBAITI HAMDAN, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, CHIANG KAH YEE, AND ALICIA WONG HUI YIN

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet is looking into several long-term solutions, including the construction of dams, to mitigate the severity of flooding.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has also ordered a review of all standard operating procedures and asset deployment strategy du­ring floods.

Sources said the Prime Minister wanted to ensure that the authorities were well-equipped should floods of similar severity occur again.

The Cabinet, he said, was looking at the idea of building dams as it could control peak flows, provide clean water for drinking and irrigation for farming.

Dams could also provide hydro­electricity, while the reservoir ­created could serve as ecotourism attractions.

On temporary housing for flood victims, Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said the Cabinet was considering several options, including allowing them to use 2,250 units of houses built under the Housing for the Hardcore Poor Programme (PPRT) in Gua Musang, Kelantan, Kuala Terengganu, as well as Pahang’s Temerloh and Maran.

“We are also looking at providing them with cabins or making use of government quarters and National Service camps as efforts to rebuild houses are underway,” Rahman added.

Another Cabinet member said the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa had been directed to determine the roles and responsibilities of ministries and agencies in the aftermath of the massive floods that hit several states.

“He will decide and determine which agency will be doing what. The urgent thing is to provide immediate temporary shelters for victims.

“The Chief Secretary will have to gather all the necessary data to start the process of rebuilding and reconstruction,” the minister said.

With the new school term starting soon, the minister said he was confident most schools would be able to open in time.

“True, many school furniture were destroyed in the floods but the Government, its agencies and civil servants are working round the clock to get the schools to reopen for the new session,” he added.

National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab said the number of houses in Kelantan that were destroyed was 2,660, Terengganu (20) and Perak (17).

“This number could possibly rise because we have not seen the full disaster in Pahang,” he added.

On temporary shelter, Mohamed Thajudeen said the council had put up 100 tents in Gua Musang and planned to put up another 100 at the Sungai Durian army camp.

“Each tent can house between four and six people and has running water, electricity, toilet and bathroom,” he added.

Health D-G: Outbreaks under control

PETALING JAYA: There are close to 13,000 cases of flood-related infectious diseases at relief centres in the devastated east coast states but no deaths so far.

Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 12,765 flood victims were diagnosed with infectious diseases as of Monday.

He said the common diseases treated at the centres were acute respiratory infection, skin problem and fever.

The other infectious ailments monitored for were acute gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, hand-foot-mouth disease, leptospirosis, dengue, typhoid, chicken pox and other notifiable diseases, he added.

“The outbreaks are well controlled with no cases requiring admission,” he said yesterday.

Dr Noor Hisham said there were 10 episodes of food poisoning where the victims were reported to have consumed food prepared more than four hours earlier but there had been no E. coli outbreaks so far.

He said 793 food handlers at relief centres had been vaccinated for typhoid.

“We will continue monitoring the infectious diseases in the centres and in the community as many victims have already returned to their homes,” Dr Noor Hisham added.

He said the active surveillance would continue for at least a month as some diseases had a long incubation period.

He said two helicopters were on standby for the ministry to use for critical cases.

Dr Noor Hisham also advised flood victims to take care of their mental and emotional health.

In Kota Baru, a Health Ministry statement said there had been 54 food poisoning cases since the flood started.

The number of people seeking consultation for acute gastroenteritis had increased from 240 to 280 a week. There were, however, not many cases of cholera or typhoid recorded in Kelantan, the statement said yesterday.

“Officials have inspected and sanitised 20,212 houses in 617 villages and disinfected 15,472 wells and 9,508 premises. Hand sanitisers were also handed out to the people in these areas,” the statement added.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital infectious diseases physician Dr Alwi Muhd Besari said the most common diseases treated by the hospital included typhoid or enteric fever, leptospirosis and melioilosis.

“About a month ago, we only had three patients with typhoid, one with leptospirosis and three with melioilosis,” he said, adding that the number had almost tripled since the floods.

A spokesperson for Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II said there had been more cases of typhoid fever, leptospirosis, food poisoning and diarrhoea.

“The numbers have already doubled since the floods started,” she said, but did not give exact statistics.

She feared there were many infected people who were not seeking treatment.

Clean-up exercise likely to cost Government RM20mil

BY MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR, LOH FOON FONG, ZUHRIN AHMAD, MAZWIN NIK ANIS, SIMON KHOO, NIK NAIZI HUSIN,JOSEPH KAOS JR, D. KANYAKUMARI, M. KUMAR, NURBAITI HAMDAN, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, CHIANG KAH YEE, AND ALICIA WONG HUI YIN

PUTRAJAYA: The clean-up exercise in the flood-affected states of Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu is likely to set back the Federal Government by about RM200mil.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said it would cost RM78mil to clean up public areas and amenities in areas under local authorities in Kelantan alone.

The ministry has yet to receive estimates from the Pahang and Terengganu governments but expects the cost to be at least RM50mil each.

“We have already raised the issue with the National Disaster Committee headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and we suggested that the money required to handle post-flood clean-up be placed under the National Security Council.

“We have already started the exercise in Kelantan on Tuesday, with the help of the local authorities, Fire and Rescue Department personnel and volunteers,” he said after flagging off a volunteer team heading for Kelantan.

The 270-strong team comprised Umno’s Urban Affairs Secretariat (SHEB) and non-governmental organisation #TeamRD which will be cleaning up schools in Kuala Krai.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has tasked the ministry to lead the clean-up exercise in states severely hit by the floods.

During the 2007 floods, the mi­­nistry spent RM90mil to clean up affected areas in Malacca and Johor.

Rahman said the ministry’s target was to complete the clean-up before the school session starts next week, adding that hospitals were also a priority as the need for medical services was high.

“Our other concern is to remove animal carcasses to prevent people from being exposed to more health risks,” he said.

The authorities were also determining the extent of damage the floods had on landfills, Rahman said.

'Disaster tourists' clogging up roads, hampering relief efforts

BY BEH YUEN HUI, SIMON KHOO, SYED AZHAR, NIK NAIZI HUSIN, RAHIMY RAHIM, ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD, LOH FOON FONG, NATASHA JOIBI, D. KANYAKUMARI, PATRICK LEE, STEPHANIE LEE, MICHELLE TAM, DINA MURAD, AND ADRIAN CHAN

KUALA KRAI: A large number of people are converging in Kelantan, bringing welcome aid to the flood victims. There’s another large number that is coming in – but they are not welcome.

These are the sightseers who want to see for themselves the scenes of flood devastation, who post selfies and other “I was there” pictures on their Facebook pages or Twitter timelines.

These “disaster tourists” are adding to the woes of the people by coming in large groups and clogging up areas with their vehicles.

They are also getting in the way of services and volunteers who are trying desperately to reach the victims.

Those distributing aid to the flood victims here say their jobs have been hampered by these “sightseers”. “They choke up roads with their cars,” they said.

A military officer, who only wanted to be known as Yan, said the roads in Manek Urai here were congested with casual visitors when priority should be given to vehicles bringing in aid.

“To bring 20 to 30 cars for a visit to the area only worsens the situation,” he said.

“The roads are already congested with victims’ cars as most are covered in mud and debris. These tourists shouldn’t be driving into the rural areas nor be there at all,” the officer said.

The bad traffic flow left volunteer doctor Beh Xi Chin and his team stuck on a bridge for almost three hours.

“People here have lost everything,” he said. “There are some who are doing everything they can to help these people, while there are others who are taking advantage of the situation,” he added.

Dr Beh hoped that the authorities would help control the “unwanted congestion”.

Volunteers from a Malacca-based NGO echoed this sentiment, saying they were shocked with “the mentality of some people”.

“Villagers from other areas came to the affected areas to take away supplies that were meant for the victims,” one of them claimed.

One of the motorists taking a photo of the situation there. - SAZUKI EMBONG and AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

Eighth Army Brigade commander Jen Datuk Azmi Yahya confirmed that there were large numbers of “unwanted tourists”, causing added traffic problems.

“Our work continues, but the process is being slowed because of this,” he said.

Malaysian Red Crescent Society national disaster management committee member James Kon said that people who were not involved in relief efforts should not get in the way.

“They should stay away for now. Some of the roads are not safe as well,” he added.

Twitter user @melatienida, whose parents hail from Kelantan, tweeted a discreetly taken picture of curious onlookers in Kota Baru.

“Banjir (flood) became part of the tourist attraction. People come to this spot just to see it!” she shared.

On Instagram, one user posted a video showing fast-flowing flood waters in Seberang Perak from her account, and included the #mybanjir hashtag: “Trip to see the floods. Oil palm plantation becomes a river. Water rushing past even though it’s blazing hot.”

When another user asked if she was a resident there, she replied she had just travelled from Sitiawan to see the floods for herself.

MCA raises over RM3mil for victims

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA has so far raised close to RM3.5mil in aid for victims in flood-hit states, said its president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Apart from the amount – RM2.26mil in funds and RM1.18mil in goods – the party had also sent 500 tonnes of items to the victims, he said.

“We will continue to send more to the affected areas,” he added.

Berjaya Group of Companies was among the latest donors.

Representing its founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Berjaya Corporation Bhd chairman Datuk Robin Tan donated RM300,000 to the Crisis Relief Squad of MCA (CRSM) for its flood relief efforts.

Mah Sing Foundation, represented by its CEO Ng Chai Yong, handed over RM150,000 worth of goods.

“Now, the funds will be used to rebuild homes and we are moving in more volunteers to assist on the ground,” Liow said at the handing over ceremony of flood disaster assistance at the MCA headquarters here yesterday.

He said CRSM would team up with government agencies to disburse aid and urged Malaysians to support the work of the military and other government agencies to assist the victims.

He said the Cabinet would meet tomorrow to come up with more proposals to help flood victims.

Asked when KTM services to the east coast would be fully restored, Liow, also the Transport Minister, said they were assessing the damage to the railway tracks following the floods.

MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said he had requested damage assessment reports from Chinese new village leaders within 24 hours.

“I have ordered them, together with the village committees to come up with an inventory report on the damage in their villages so we can discuss with the authorities (for assistance),” said Dr Wee, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

He said there were 607 new villages nationwide and the damage assessment had started in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

Dr Wee said MCA was helping flood victims all over the country, including those in the Kota Belud district in Sabah.

“Among our efforts (nationwide) are raising funds for flood victims, collecting clothing as well as donating food,” he said after dialogue sessions with small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) in Keningau, Tenom and Tambunan on Sunday.

Meanwhile, he reminded SMEs to increase productivity and upgrade goods and services as the industry was an important contributor to the nation’s economy.

He said a Secretariat for the Advancement of Malaysian Entrepreneurs (SAME) had been set up to educate SMEs on the various forms of assistance provided by the Government.