By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Jan 28: Due to the lack of facilities to conduct PCR test for Covid-19, Mulu Assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala advised his constituents to strictly follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) to avoid the infectious coronavirus.
Additionally, he also advised his constituents to stay at home during the current Conditional Movement Control Order and to wear face masks whenever they leave their homes.
“We don’t have testing facilities, adequate medical facilities and personnel in rural areas to deal with Covid-19 pandemic. Logistics challenges and difficulty of evacuating Covid-19 patients from rural areas to hospitals in towns for treatment will also be a huge problem.
“That’s why it is absolutely critical for our rakyat in longhouses in the rural areas including those living in towns to strictly comply with MCO conditions and SOPs to prevent the spread of Covid-19 to longhouses in the ulu areas in Mulu.
“So let’s make the SOP your habit and a new normal and don’t depend on others or enforcement agencies to remind you,” Gerawat told DayakDaily today.
He also advised his constituents to restrict their movement in and out of longhouses/villages to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19.
“Village chiefs (KMs/KKs) and their JKKKs must keep a record of anyone leaving or entering the villages/longhouses for possible contact tracing in the event of local infection. KMs/KKs and their JKKKs must report immediately anyone having C-19 symptoms to the nearest clinic and advice everyone to stay home pending advice from Medical Department or nearest Clinic,” he said.
Gerawat, who is also State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker reiterated that, even when the vaccine is available, it will not be full-proof protection against Covid-19, thus, strict compliance of SOP was still vital.
Citing the difficulty of getting the medical team to go to Long Jeeh to conduct PCR test for close contacts of two positive cases detected from Long Jeeh last few days, was an actual experience, he said.
“The medical team has to be flown by helicopter due to difficult road conditions caused by the current prolonged rainy season,” he said.
Gerawat said Long Jeeh has been directed by Divisional Disaster Management Committee to be under lockdown for 14 days after the detection of two positive cases from there.
“We will have to arrange for food assistance to be delivered to the Long Jeeh residents,” he disclosed.
Meanwhile, Gerawat thanked all the relevant agencies especially the Fire and Rescue Services Department (Bomba), Welfare Department for assisting the flood victims of Kampung Batu Bungan, Kampung Malinau, SK Batu Bungan, Mulu Health clinic and other government offices, which has been hit by floods recently.
“I am aware of the loss of crops caused by the flood and have asked the JKKKs of affected longhouses to report those affected to the nearest District Office and Agriculture Department for authorities to consider assistance for these affected farmers.
He also hoped those affected by the flood to remain vigilant and secure their household items and important documents.
“I have also requested for assistance from logging companies to repair damaged parts of their roads leading to some of the longhouses in Mulu constituency so that the local community can continue to have access to town for their essential needs,” added Gerawat. -DayakDaily
