KUCHING: A proposal to vaccinate the rural people in Sarawak all at once has gotten the thumbs-up from Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau.
Dennis in a statement said that the decision made by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) was a wise and spot-on decision.
“As a people’s representative who serves a very rural constituency, this is absolutely the way forward to enable more of our community to get the vaccine.
“Our rural people are eager to be vaccinated as they too want to go back to normal life as before the pandemic, he said.
He addressed that the rural area has very poor transportation systems, however, the plan to vaccinate them not by grouping is welcoming news.
“I would like to urge the federal government to consider the state government’s proposal seriously and if possible agree to it at the earliest time.
“It may need some readjustment on the federal level, especially on budget and workforce but it is a decision worth taking to save our rural folks from the Covid-19,” said Dennis.
The Telang Usan assemblymen added that with the distance and the unavailability of public transport, the rural community cannot move much since they have little income.
“They may be willing to be vaccinated but they have to travel from their longhouses for at least one hour using dirt logging road to the nearest clinic.
“The suggestion by SDMC will definitely help to mitigate the issues at hands to a certain extend. And of course, the best is if they could only get one jab instead of two,” he stated.
He mentioned that transporting the elderly to the nearest clinic will be a great challenge as no ordinary vehicle could use the logging road.
“This requires assistance from their children or villagers to travel and accompanied them especially for medical attention,” said Dennis.
However, he added it would be a waste of resources if those who accompany the elderly could not receive their vaccine once at the designated clinic.
“I believe by a state government knows every corner of the state. The federal government should not be worried and let the vaccination programme be handled by the state.
“As health matter is under federal authority, those serving in the very rural part of the state could review the proposal. That how I like to understand the suggestion,” he concluded.
