KUCHING, Apr 15: Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Sarawak Timber Association (STA) have donated RM2 million worth of test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) to help frontliners combat Covid-19 pandemic in Sarawak.
The disposable medical supplies include 10,000 pieces of Covid-19 test kits, protective medical coveralls (sterile) – 5,000 pieces, isolation gown (Non-Sterile) – 10,000 pieces, medical vinyl examination gloves- 200 boxes, medical boots cover-10,000 pairs, medical goggles- 5,000 pieces, face shield- 5,000 pieces, KN95 medical protective masks- 10,000 pieces, disposable medical masks- 105,000 pieces and medical head cover- 10,000 pieces.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said that the disposable medical supplies and items from STIDC and STA are on the way via sea freight and is expected to arrive in Kuching on April 21.
“The initial plan was for the PPE and tests kits to be flown directly via a private chartered flight and MAS Kargo from China to Kuching but due to the long wait for flight permits from Civil Aviation Authority of China and other stringent clearance procedures by their local authorities, the sponsors made a decision to transport the medical disposables via sea-cargo,” he explained.
Upon arrival, he emphasised that the medical disposables will be immediately handed over to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) for delivery to the State Health Department for the frontliners.
Awang Tengah applauded STIDC and STA for their contribution and called for more organisations to come forward with Covid-19 relief.
“This contribution from STIDC and STA shows their support and commitment as the timber industry players in Sarawak to the state government in combating together Covid-19.
“It is hoped that more organisations and bodies will lend their hands and contribute. We are all in this together and let us all be united and hope and pray that we will all pull through this difficult time becoming stronger and more resilient,” he urged.
Earlier on, Awang Tengah also distributed 100,000 pieces of face masks to Normah Medical Specialist Centre, SDMC, service centres for Adun N8 Satok, Adun N41 Kuala Rajang and Adun N26 Gedong, Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (MUDeNR), Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development (Mintred), STIDC subsidiaries as well as government departments and agencies.
The brief handing over ceremony was held at STIDC’s multipurpose hall today (April 15) with strict adherence to the Movement Control Order (MCO) guidelines. —DayakDaily
