KUCHING, Aug 5: Assistance from various government and enforcement agencies during an integrated operation has resulted in the successful vaccination of four homeless individuals in the city.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, said the integrated operation, which was conducted today, saw participation from various agencies such as the Welfare Department (JKM), Social Development Council (MPS), Immigration Department, Ministry of Health (MOH), and the local government authorities (PBTs).
“During the operation today, a total of four homeless individuals were brought to the Covid-19 PPV in Stadium Perpaduan in Petra Jaya, for the vaccination process, and one of them is without an identification card.
“As such, we needed assistance from the National Registration Department (JPN) and also from the local Resident officer, who is the chairman for the Divisional Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) for the final process,” she said during her visit to Stadium Perpaduan PPV, today.
Fatimah pointed out that in Kuching, the operation was conducted based on two modus operandi.
For homeless individuals who do not have any mental health issue, they are brought to the PPV and examined to ensure that they can be vaccinated, while for those with mental health issues need another person, either a psychiatrist or a doctor from Sentosa Hospital to consent to the vaccination for them.
“We also found that not all of them can be vaccinated based on the decision of the doctor, due to their health condition,” she added.
Meanwhile, Kuching Divisional Resident Office representative Roslie Rebi said they are gearing up a mobile PPV to cater for homeless individuals with mental health issues in the city.
On the same note, Stadium Perpaduan PPV medical officer Dr Tangalakshmi Sanmugalingam said it is the first time for Stadium Perpaduan PPV to receive homeless individuals for vaccination.
According to Dr Tangalakshmi, the first group of homeless individuals are being examined para medically due to the lack of information about their health status.
“As such, we are doing the best we can, including providing a proper medical examination to ensure that they are safe to be vaccinated,” she said. — DayakDaily
