Year: 2021

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 1 — The increase in COVID-19 cases between May 31 and July 25 has led to a sharp drop in blood collection nationwide, especially in the Klang Valley, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

 

He said among the factors for the shortage were concerns by the public and donors on safety issues during the blood donation process as well as cancellations of blood donation programmes.

 

“This declining trend is extremely worrying and can affect patient treatment capacity,” he said in a statement today.

 

 

Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry (MoH), the National Blood Centre (PDN) and blood banks have always prioritised the safety of blood donors, blood donation campaign organisers and staff to ensure a safe blood donation process.

 

He said each blood bank must comply with standard operating procedures (SOP) based on ‘Guidelines for Prevention and Control During Blood Donation Activities to Curb the Transmission of Infectious Diseases COVID-19-Annex 49’ to improve public safety.

 

According to him, the guidelines have been updated recently in line with international guidelines which have SOPs that require blood donors and health workers to be certified healthy before entering blood donation venues.

 

 

“This includes conducting preliminary screening on prospective donors with only those who show no symptoms, are not infected with COVID-19 or have no close contact with COVID-19 patients within 14 days can donate blood,” he said.

 

“The arrival of donors to the donation venues is always monitored and limited to a certain number at a time to ensure physical distancing during the donation process is complied with,” he said.

 

Dr Noor Hisham said registration desks, blood donation equipment, beds and stress balls are continuously cleaned by health staff.

 

He said blood donation needs to continue even though the country was facing the COVID-19 pandemic as it was to help patients in need.

 

This includes emergency patients for cases such accidents or complications during childbirth, premature babies who lack blood, thalassemia patients, cancer patients, those with kidney failure as well as those who need to undergo critical and complex surgery, he said.

 

In addition, he said of late, there were also many COVID-19 patients, especially those with a background of chronic diseases, who also needed blood transfusions.

 

Dr Noor Hisham said the average amount of blood needed per week for patient use nationwide was 14,000 bags of blood, including at blood centres, which needed 3,500 to 4,000 bags of blood per week to supply to hospitals in the Klang Valley.

 

MOH called on the public to immediately come forward to donate blood at PDN, PDN Donation Suite, Midvalley Mall, Puspanita Blood Donation Suite, Precinct 10, Putrajaya and nearby blood banks as well as during mobile blood donation campaigns to ensure adequate blood supply at all times in hospitals.

 

The PDN in Jalan Tun Razak operates Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 8 pm and from 8 am to 4 pm on weekends.

 

The PDN Donation Suite, Midvalley Mall and the Puspanita Blood Donation Suite, Precinct 10, Putrajaya operate daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, Aug 1 — The Sarawak government’s command centre, which is currently under construction, will also serve as a data and information storage centre for all ministries and state government agencies, said Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

 

He said that all the information available in the command centre will serve as a reference for the state government, to see what is happening, and the activities carried out under the ministries and agencies in their respective areas.

 

“At the same time, we can identify problems and weaknesses in delivering services to the people as a whole, in line with the Smart Sarawak initiative,” he said in his speech at the 33rd Kuching City Day celebration, held at the State Legislative Assembly Building here today.

 

 

Abang Johari also proposed that Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Kuching South City Council (MBKS) develop their own command centre, so that all information can be shared directly with the state government’s command centre in line with the theme of this year’s Kuching City Day celebration, ‘Digital Transformation towards Shaping a Smart Kuching City’.

 

“In this context, DBKU and MBKS need to move in tandem, and fast, to achieve smart city status by 2022.

 

“There is still much more to be done and implemented if we want to achieve Smart City status. But I am confident that with the development of increasingly sophisticated digital technology, and the expertise of a very proactive workforce, we will definitely be able to achieve it,” he said.

 

 

Meanwhile, DBKU mayor, Datuk Junaidi Reduan, said that, as an initial step to transforming services in line with Sarawak’s Digital Economy Strategy, the city hall had formulated, and would implement the e-DBKU Plan starting this year.

 

He said that the e-DBKU Plan, expected to be completed in 2025, includes three main components, namely innovative digital solutions, service delivery and smart city.

 

“DBKU, as the administrator, regulator and maintainer of the city, needs to deliver efficient and effective services to meet the aspirations and needs of our customers, the residents of Kuching.

 

“In the near future, the initial phase of the e-DBKU Plan will be realised, and can be completed within five years as planned,” he said.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, Aug 1 — More than 20 tonnes of food aid have been distributed in the Santubong parliamentary constituency since last week to families living in villages placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) and those under home quarantine.

 

To date, more than 3,000 families comprising over 13,000 residents from Tabuan Melayu, Bintawa Hilir and several other villages in the area have received the food supply from its Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

 

Wan Junaidi in a statement today said each household received a food pack of essential items including canned food and fresh meat and chicken.

 

 

He said a special task force from his parliamentary service centre was now actively delivering the food aid to those in need, especially villagers affected by the lockdown.

 

“I am constantly communicating with my officers to get updates on the situation.

 

“We are doing our best to ensure that my constituents are taken care of. Similarly, those who are in need of assistance should not hesitate to contact my parliamentary service centre,” he added.

 

 

On Thursday, 3.4 tonnes of food supply was delivered by the team from this service centre to 820 families in Bintawa Hilir, involving 3,000 residents.

 

Bintawa Hilir is one of several areas in Sarawak placed under the EMCO from July 21 to Aug 3 following the high number of COVID-19 cases detected.

 

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

 

GEORGE TOWN, July 31 — The third edition of Penang state-level Family Day 2021, celebrated online for the second straight year following the COVID-19 pandemic, has lined up various exciting activities to promote quality time among family members.

 

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said in this year’s celebrations, themed ‘Happy Family, Bright Future’, organisation of various appropriate online activities had been selected to enable all family members to participate, starting today until Aug 28, through the Facebook page of the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), as the event co-organiser.

 

“Parents can take this opportunity to strengthen family ties with various activities at home according to their priorities and suitability,” he said after officiating the Penang state-level Family Day 2021 celebrations via Zoom webinar in Komtar, today.

 

 

Meanwhile, the state Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman, Chong Eng said among the interesting activities that had been lined up included virtual training, creative board games and artworks as well as online forums that would help family bond.

 

She hopes the public can take advantage of the month-long celebrations and spend quality time with their loved ones.

 

“According to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in April 2021, quality time with family, as well as good family relationships can lead to lower mental health symptoms.

 

 

“The same report also stated that a good family environment also increases children’s resilience and has a positive impact on their mental health,” she said.

 

She added that the Women and Family Development Committee (JPWK) and the Village Community Management Council (MPKK) will help any families affected by the pandemic in terms of home-based business projects, as an initiative in supporting those who have lost their income.

 

“I would like to assure everyone that the state government will always be with the people, to face this challenge together as we are fully aware of the difficult situation that the people are going through at this time,” she said.

 

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEPANG, July 31 — The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) has urged all nursery operators registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) to apply for the special assistance under the People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) before Aug 31.

 

Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said RM13.2 million had been allocated for the benefit of about 4,400 nursery operators.

 

“The purpose of the aid  is to ease the burden of the operators in managing the centres and help them bear the cost of disinfecting the premises and all other facilities in ensuring that the centres adhere to the latest standard operating procedures (SOP),” she said after presenting PEMULIH aid to five nurseries here today.

 

 

Rina said so far, 1,101 operators have applied for the one-off assistance of RM3,000 for institutional child care centres, workplace and community day care centres and RM800 for those who operate from their homes.

 

“Of the 1,101 applications, over 600 have been approved and those who have not submitted their application, have until Aug 31 to do so through the district JKM office or the JKM website.

 

“The approval will not take long and the operators are only required to submit the basic documents,” she added.

 

 

At the event today, the RM3,000 special assistance was presented to Taska Nur Qasih Ixora, Taska Daun Biru and Taska Cahaya Permata Dengkil  while two home-based nurseries each received RM800.

 

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency