By Salmy Hashim

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Bernama) -- U.S. Congressional staffers Wednesday were given a first-hand explanation on the benefits of latex gloves from Malaysia on Capitol Hill while helping themselves to some Malaysian food.

The Director of the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council, Dr. Esah Yip, armed with samples of the best Malaysian gloves, pamphlets and a slide show, updated the legislative aides on efforts Malaysia have made to alleviate the latex allergy problem that has caused concern among many glove users.

She also explained the benefits of the improved low-protein latex gloves for workers in the healthcare and food service industries.

The working lunch, hosted by the Malaysia Caucus, which celebrates its second anniversary Wednesday, was held to discuss trade relationship between the two countries, focusing on the health safety aspects of natural rubber products, particularly medical gloves.

Dr. Yip said, banning latex gloves could result in hospitals substituting them with synthetic gloves which may not be able to provide adequate barrier protection against viral transmission and infectious diseases, putting healthcare workers and their patients at health risks.

Over reaction to the latex allergy problem has led to the banning of the use of latex gloves in food handling in three states, namely Rhode Island, Arizona and Oregon.

There had also been moves to prohibit the use of latex gloves in the healthcare sector in a number of states including Massachusetts and Maine, Dr. Yip told Bernama.

Dawn Myers, a staffer who was at the luncheon told Bernama that she would not recommend the banning of latex gloves to her congressman following the presentation by Dr. Yip.

Malaysia is the world's largest supplier of medical gloves, catheters, latex thread and a host of rubber products.

It is also the largest exporter of medical gloves - both natural rubber latex and synthetic - to the United States and also to the world.

Malaysia's Ambassador to the United States, Datuk Ghazzali Sheikh Abdul Khalid, pointed out that Malaysia commands 47 percent of the US market, followed by Thailand at 34 percent.

"Because of this dominant market position, we take our responsibilities to our customers very seriously," he said.

Dr. Yip is one of the leading Malaysian scientists who helped develop the low-protein, low or non-powdered Standard Malaysian Gloves (SMG) that greatly diminish the risk of allergic reactions.

She currently heads MREPC here, which serves as an information and education centre for rubber products.

-- BERNAMA