By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Mar 23: Due to the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO), Sarawak government will provide several assistance such as food and temporary resting place for various agencies who are in the frontline to combat Covid-19 in the state.
Among the agencies involved are the state Health Department (including screening and quarantine centres), the police, Immigration, Armed Forces, Civil Defence Force, General Operations Force, People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) and Social Welfare.
Welfare, Community Well being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the state has approved an allocation of RM944,360 for the assistance from March 24 to 31.
“A temporary resting place at Riverside Majestic Hotel Astana Wing in Kuching will be provided for the state Health Department medical team and frontliners, who could not go back due to urgency of service and safety. Shuttle services to and fro the hotel will also be provided.
“Packed food will be distributed and coordinated by our ministry, through the divisional welfare offices and divisional state disaster management committee,” she told reporters at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.
Fatimah added that the state will also provide assistance to higher learning students. This in response to students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kota Samarahan campus who requested for hygiene kit from her ministry.
“As for students from Sarawak Matriculation College, we will provide 75 packed food for their dinner as well, because they are unable to return to their respective homes. This is to compliment the existing meals provided, which was only lunch,” she added.
Fatimah said there will also be psychological support and counselling for the community such as family members who are affected by Covid-19, especially senior citizens and mothers with young children to ensure the health of their mental well-being. — DayakDaily
