Dust clouds due to high winds make Phnom Penh’s skies overcast in this April 3 photo. Hong Menea
Or Vandine, Ministry of Health secretary of state and spokeswoman, warned the public against sharing false information related to the current heatwave the Kingdom is experiencing.
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Meanwhile, several civil society organisations have called on the government to ensure the public is aware of the precautions they should take during the unseasonable weather.
On April 22, Vandine called on social media users to stop spreading false information.
“You should be wary of inaccurate information. The Ministry of Health issued guidelines on self-protection during the hot weather on April 10,” she said.
Some of the misinformation which has been circulating includes claims that consuming ice-cold water when temperatures are over 40 degrees could cause small blood vessels to rupture or explode, causing a stroke.
Nuth Sambath, president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture, said on April 23 that in such hot weather, people should follow the ministry’s guidelines.
“Nobody should share information that does not have a clear source,” he added.
He also offered some advice for people who were concerned about the rising temperatures.
“People should drink plenty of water, wear loose-fitting clothes that protect them from the sun and maintain good personal hygiene. Eating clean, drinking clean and living clean is the best way to avoid contracting infectious diseases that may cause health problems,” he said.
Cambodian Institute for Democracy (CID) president Pa Chanroeun said that he had observed a rise in the sharing of preventative measures and health advice for dealing with the heatwave.
“If some of the information being shared is false, this could have serious consequences to people’s health,” he added.
He believed that the health ministry should issue reminders and guidelines for preventative measures and health care on a regular basis during the hot season.
“Regular dissemination will attract the attention of the public, and increase awareness of the issue of global warming,” he concluded.
