By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Aug 8: Approximately 36 per cent of 96 homeless people in Sarawak have received their first Covid-19 vaccination dose, says Welfare, Community Wellbeing ,Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
“In Samarahan, Serian, Betong, and Kapit, homeless people have completed their second Covid-19 vaccination dose, while in other towns the process is ongoing,” Fatimah said today during a press conference here.
She disclosed the majority of these individuals were placed at temporary accommodation centres while awaiting their second dose.
Earlier, Fatimah accompanied by Minister for Transport Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting , Assistant Minister for Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, had visited two temporary accommodation centres homeless people in Miri at community halls at Kampung Pujut Tanjong Batu (17 people) and Kampung Lereng Bukit (7 people).
“For the next 21 days starting today, they will be staying here while waiting their second jab,” she said.
Fatimah was informed that all the homeless individuals relocated to these centres during an operation known as ‘Ops Cerapan’ have tested negative for Covid-19.
“The vaccination drives for these groups are in progress, because we want to ensure that no vulnerable person is missed or left behind, and that is why it is crucial we place them at the temporary shelters so that we can vaccinate them,” she revealed.
Based on her ministry’s statistics, as of July this year, 18 homeless people in Bintulu have been vaccinated with their first Covid-19 vaccination dose, followed by Miri (16), Kuching (6), Sarikei (7), Serian (3), Kapit (2) and Betong and Samarahan each recording one.
Through various operation carried out in July this year, the ministry has identified a total 96 of homeless individuals.
Miri registered the highest with 24, followed by Sibu (21), Bintulu (18), Kuching (17), Samarahan (1), Serian (3), Betong (1), Sarikei(8) and Kapit (3).
Meanwhile, Lee has proposed to Fatimah short and long-term solutions to tackle homelessness in order to deter homeless people from returning to the streets.
“These plans include providing a shelter to accommodate the homeless and at the same time equipping them with life training skills so that they can return to society,” Lee pointed out. — DayakDaily
