KUCHING, Jan 19: With the recent spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in Sarawak, Habitat for Indigenous and Urban Programme (Hidup) has taken the initiative to organize a sanitizing exercise in schools and places of worship within the Stakan and Muara Tuang communities.
To kick off their 2021 programmes, Hidup collaborated with Siburan Fire and Rescue Services Department (Bomba) to sanitise SK St. James, Kampung Quop, near here yesterday.
“The Bomba personnel proceeded to sanitize the classrooms, administrative offices and adjacent building. And on behalf of Hidup, I would like to thank Bomba officer PBK II Valentine Samy and his team from Bomba Siburan for their assistance and support,” said Hidup’s president George Young Si-Ricord Junior in a statement issued here today.
He added that since the second wave of Covid-19 hit the State, he had appealed to everyone to assist in whichever way they can.
“Now, more than ever before, we must do all we can to ensure that rural Sarawakians are well-informed and prepared to reduce the likelihood of being infected. Hand hygiene is a very critical preventive measure and we hope that the villagers from this programme will spread the word to others and make hand washing and sanitizing a regular habit,” he said.
George reiterated one cannot turn a blind eye to this medical pandemic which has not only impacted the economy but also attuned the people to new norms.
“The fight against Covid-19 needed as many hands that are available to engage closely with communities. Thus, Hidup is embracing innovative initiatives with corporate partners to provide support to the communities and to mitigate the spread of the disease,” he added.
On flooding, George said residents living along Jalan Muara Tuang/Datuk Mohd Musa are resigned to the fact that they lived in constant fear whenever a continuous downpour occurs.
“These areas are notoriously prone to flooding amidst rising water following continuous heavy rain.
“Recently on January 13, 2021, many areas there were inundated by flood from 10pm till the wee hours of January 14, 2021,” he said.
He added that affected families stayed up during the entire night fearing for their lives by monitoring the intensity of the rain and they had to move their personal belongings, including their vehicles to higher grounds.
Among the affected areas were Merdang Lumut, Sungai Empit, Taman Samarindah, Uni Garden and Jalan Saput, Kampung Quop.
On the same note, George urged the local council to engage with the local communities by informing them of new development and construction taking place in their neighbourhood instead of just informing the homeowners closest to the projects.
“One such example is the ongoing road expansion along the Muara Tuang/Jalan Datuk Mohd Musa which resulted in water run-off, debris and sediments into nearby houses during heavy downpours and the local residents have to bear the brunt of it,” he highlighted. — DayakDaily
