KUCHING: Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Sarawak Chapter chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam has expressed delight that volunteers from diverse backgrounds are coming on board to provide support at vaccination centres.
He said these included students, homemakers and professionals who were all taking precious time off to support MRCS in its Vaccination Centre Volunteers Support Programme.
“I see true voluntary spirit from these volunteers who are willing to be forefront despite the pandemic,” he commended during his visit to the mega vaccination centre (PPV) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today (June 26).
MRCS Sarawak Chapter initiated its Vaccination Centre Volunteers Support Programme since the inception of the mega PPV at the BCCK early this month in support of the state government’s effort to ramp up vaccination to 80 percent of the population by August this year.
To date, MRCS is supporting various vaccination centres located at the BCCK, the Kozi Square, the Sarawak General Hospital Clinical Research Centre, and Masjid Darul Hana in Kuching as well as in Bintulu, Miri and Sibu.
On a daily basis, over 300 volunteers are mobilised to support non-medical operations at these centres.
“Our main objective at the vaccination centres is to provide the greatest customer service to the vaccine recipients. Volunteers greet the recipients with a great smile and provide clear instructions while they are walking through the aisle and at every station in the vaccination centre,” said Dr Chan.
He pointed out that the courteous actions of volunteers helped to brighten the mood of vaccine recipients and keep them calm.
“Registration counters and waiting areas have also been separated systematically. Our volunteers are always there to lead them through the centres, following the flow, which smoothens the entire vaccination experience,” he said.
MRCS has actively responded to this public health crisis since the onset in March last year, with its initial response of providing much needed personal protection equipment (PPE) to hospital frontliners as well as essential life-saving ventilators.
Volunteers were mobilised during the first movement control order (MCO) to work from home, making DIY face shields, protective gowns, hoods, and head and foot covers. MRCS distributed over 20,000 face shields, 6,000 face masks, 4,000 hand gloves, and numerous other protective items.
In addition to assisting in replenishing over 5,000 pints of blood for the blood banks throughout Sarawak, MRCS also helped in the distribution of food parcels to families in the B40 group during the lockdown period.
Dr Chan thanked all volunteers for their efforts and urged more youngsters to come forward as volunteers.
“This is a good chance for them to experience something new and it helps the country to achieve herd immunity as soon as possible,” he added.
During this pandemic, MRCS appeals to the general public and corporate organisations to contribute wheelchairs, necessities or donations in kind to support the society in its humanitarian work throughout Sarawak.
Further information on MRCS Sarawak Chapter can be found at its Facebook page www.facebook.com/mrcsarawak or by contacting its office at 082-428228.
