Stop the prejudice, nurses' uniform set by WHO

SHAH ALAM - The overly prejudiced and sceptical attitude towards health workers clothes needs to stop because it has been designed according to special specifications set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Legal practitioner Nadhirah Halim said that their clothes were designed according to the code of ethics and risk assessment to facilitate the work done.

"This garment is designed with 65 per cent poly and 35 per cent cotton fabric that provide maximum filtration against germs.

“These materials are not the type that sticks to the body and is not absorbent because they face a high risk when handling patients involving fluids, blood and infections.

"Each health officer also operates wired medical devices, heart rhythm detection machines and various medical machines that use wiring and high voltage electricity such as ECG machines and ventilators," she said in a statement on Saturday.

Sinar on Thursday reported that Kuantan Member of Parliament (MP) Wan Razali Wan Nor, during the Health White Paper debate session claimed that most female nurses were wearing tight clothes and did not comply with syariah.

The Pas MP asked the government especially the Health Ministry to take example of some other hospitals that give their female staff the option to wear more appropriate clothing.

He also gave examples of USM Hospital Kubang Kerian and Sultan Ahmad Shah Kuantan Medical Centre and even congratulated these two hospitals for giving better ethical choices for employees.

Thus, Nadhirah stressed that the opposition should use their capacity as MPs as much as possible to discuss the people's more relevant and idealistic issues instead of discussing personal issues and criticising on religious grounds.

"They should also be sensitive to the main issues and problems of the people especially in improving the economy and cost of living of the people in the transition of the endemic phase and should be smarter to understand certain dressing requirements of a profession.

"The act of judging a person's faith and religion based on their clothes should be stopped. Instead, look at their job needs and contribution in the field of medicine," she said.