Day: July 8, 2021

— The Ministry of Health (MOH) has re-evaluated existing strategies and identified responsive measures to enhance the preparedness of hospitals in the Klang Valley and the COVID-19 Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) 2.0 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) to receive and treat COVID-19 patients especially those in category 4 and 5.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said in a statement today that among the immediate measures taken was to add ICU beds in MOH hospitals and university teaching hospitals to enable category 4 and 5 patients to be transferred from MAEPS PKRC to the hospitals.

For example, he said 20 ICU beds had been added at the Ampang Hospital while eight ICU and 45 ward beds added at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Teaching Hospital from July 7.

Dr Adham said MAEPS PKRC received an average of 800 COVID-19 patients a day, with an average of 200 patients in category 4.

Of the total 5,198 beds at MAEPS PKRC, 154 are reserved for COVID-19 category 4 patients and it has already exceeded the maximum capacity set, while the remaining beds provided for category 1, 2 and 3 patients are also almost fully utilised, he said.

Dr Adham said 1,550 oxygen cylinders would be added at the centre while 300 oxygen concentrators would be procured from more than one supplier.

The Institut Latihan KKM (ILKKM) in Sungai Buloh, which has 2,400 beds, will resume operations with category 1 and 2 patients so that MAEPS PKRC can focus on the treatment and rehabilitation of category 3 and 4 patients, he said.

He added that more than 110 healthcare workers would be redeployed to the MAEPS PKRC beginning today for a period of one to six months to support the centre’s operation.

It involved 75 medical officers, paramedics and drivers from Kedah, Perak and Terengganu as well as a total of 43 medical officers from hospitals in the Klang Valley.

“More staff from other areas where the situation is under control, will be stationed in the Klang Valley,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Adham said the Tuanku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital (HTAR) in Klang has 60 more beds and additional equipment worth about RM1.1 million to increase its capacity to receive COVID-19 patients.

A field hospital with a capacity of 50 beds would also be set up at HTAR through the cooperation with the armed forces, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Donations of tablets to students not only lighten the burden of parents but also ensure that they are not left behind in adopting Home-based Learning and Teaching (PdPR).

A student from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Rusila, Muhammad Muzamir Romzi, 15, said this after receiving a tablet which was contributed by the Lembaga Kemajuan Terengganu Tengah (Ketengah) today.

He said he faced difficulties in following PdPR because he had to share his mother’s cellphone with his two siblings as the family was poor.

The situation resulted in him often being late in sending in his homework and at times he missed out on attending online classes with his teachers and classmates.

“My mother’s telephone is old and at times problematic, resulting in our studies also being disrupted.

“Indeed, my parents can’t afford to buy new telephones or gadgets for us as their income from selling burgers is just enough for us to get by,” he said.

He said this when met at a handing over ceremony of tablets at a drive-through at the Marang Education Department here today.

Another recipient, Nurizzah Insyirah Kamaruzzaman, 15, a form three student at SMK Tengku Lela Segara, said she was becoming more enthusiastic about following PdPR as she did not have to share a telephone with her two siblings.

“Our parents are very aware of our difficulties in sharing one telephone for PdPR but it is what they can afford to provide now.

“As such, I am very appreciative of the contribution of a tablet by Ketengah. God willing, I will share it with my siblings if necessary,” she said.

Ketengah chairman Datuk Razali Idris said the agency had allocated over RM350,000 to buy 900 tablets to be distributed to students from the B40 and M40 groups statewide.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

— Admiring the noble effort by his friend in helping those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by setting up a food bank, a former Al-Maunah member here, has decided to come to his assitance.

The food bank was set up two weeks ago by Nik Mokhtar Md Rashid at a sewing shop owned by Che Sabri Che Jaafar to help the residents living in the vicinity of Pekan Pulai Chondong, who could not afford to buy food during this difficult time.

Touched by his friend’s earnestness to help those in need, Che Sabri, 51, said he decided to lend a helping hand to manage the food bank at no cost.

He said the food bank provided items such as sugar, rice, eggs, cooking oil, sardines and other necessities that are available every day except Friday, from 8 am to 5 pm.

Che Sabri said the items on the food bank would be replenished by Nik Mokhtar, 41, on a regular basis.

“Almost every day, about 20 to 30 locals around Machang will come to collect the necessities provided. In fact, sometimes desperate residents come to pick it up at night,” he said when met by reporters at his sewing shop in Pekan Pulai Chondong today.

Meanwhile, Nik Mohktar, who is also a supplier of gas cylinders in Machang, said the setting up of the food bank was a continuation of the food basket assistance he provided for those in need during the previous month of Ramadan.

“I also shared the food basket initiative on my Facebook page and managed to receive contributions of up to RM4,000 which could be used to help around 300 families during that period.

“The same method was applied to set up the food bank as an effort to ease the burden of the residents here,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Over 9,000 residents especially from Sepang district have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the mega vaccination centre (PPV) at Movenpick, KL International Airport, since it started operations on Monday.

Its manager, Dr Noraziah Abdul Karim, said only 2,000 doses were given on the first two days of operation and the amount was raised to 5,000 from yesterday.

She said the PPV experienced congestions yesterday as some would-be vaccine recipients turned up although it was not their appointment day.

“Thankfully, we were able to control the situation and reminded vaccine recipients to comply with their appointment dates,” she said today.

She was speaking to Bernama after receiving a visit by Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Amzad Hashim, who went to inspect the vaccination process.

The mega PPV, a collaboration among the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, MB Perkasa Sdn Bhd and Golden Horses Health Sanctuary Chinese Medical Centre, operates daily from 8 am to 9 pm.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The widow of a frontline worker at Kolej Laila COVID-19 quarantine and low-risk treatment centre (PKRC) who died while on duty last Friday, will receive the Social Security Organisation’s (SOCSO) survivors’ pension benefit.

Normardiah Mansor, 31, widow of Ainatulazizi Afandi, 34, will receive a monthly payment of RM870.38 for the rest of her life beginning this month to help reduce her family’s burden, Sibu SOCSO branch manager Tan Phang Chia said today.

“His five children, aged three to 11, will also enjoy the survivors’ pension benefits till they are 21 or are married before that age,” he told reporters after Normardiah received the RM2,000 funeral benefit cheque from Sarawak Housing and Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Annuar Rapaee at Kampung Bahagia Jaya, Teku here.

According to Tan, SOCSO pays survivors’ pension to beneficiaries of contributors who die before reaching 60 irrespective of the cause of death as long as they fulfil contribution requirements.

Azinatulazizi, who was a People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) member was reportedly on duty from 11 pm to 7 am on July 2 when he was found unconscious in the centre’s toilet by a colleague.

Health Ministry personnel on duty there checked him before confirming he had died.

Meanwhile, Dr Annuar, who is also Sibu Division disaster management committee coordinator, said although no autopsy was done on Azinatulazizi, his COVID-19 test came back negative.

He said he would contact the Social Welfare Department to obtain any assistance that they could provide to further reduce the widow’s burden.

“I understand that the deceased’s family has allowed the eldest child, aged 11 years, to be housed in the PERYATIM (Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Yatim Sarawak) Complex Sibu branch, in Kemuyang to continue and ensure his education is managed properly,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

For three consecutive days, Sarawak recorded less than 300 new COVID-19 cases when 281 cases were reported by the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) today.

In a statement, JPBN said the cases recorded today brought the overall cases in Sarawak to 67,841 so far with eight of the 40 districts having more than than 10 cases each.

The eight districts are Kuching with 57 cases, Sri Aman (52), Sibu (40), Mukah (18), Bintulu (17), Samarahan (15), Telang Usan (14) and Kapit (11).

In this regard, there were four new COVID-19 deaths today taking the overall death toll to 428 people.

Meanwhile, the committee also reported a new cluster, the Pagar Serian cluster involving 14 detainees of Serian police station lockup positive for COVID-19 comprising 12 foreigners and two locals. They were isolated for treatment at the Serian COVID-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC).

JPBN also declared the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) at Rumah Panjang (Rh) Munan in Betong from July 8 to 21 as well as Rh Lau Anak Janting, Batu 20, Jalan Bintulu-Miri between July 7 to 20.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed usage for COVID-19 patients in government hospitals in Johor is showing a downward trend, at 78 per cent as of July 6.

Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said although the use of ICU beds was still at a limited level, it had shown a downward trend compared to previous months.

“The capacity of the ICU bed usage as of July 6 is 78 per cent where 68 patients need respiratory assistance.

“It has shown a downward trend from mid-June this year when bed usage was at around 77 to 85 per cent, while in May it was around 90 to 97 per cent,” he said in a statement here today.

There are 160 ICU beds in government hospitals in Johor including improvised areas. Of that figure, 108 beds are reserved for COVID-19 patients.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency