Every day, more and more individuals and organisations are rallying together to help and support the government and community cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. John Ambulance of Malaysia (SJAM) has formed a Special Task Force under the guidance of Dato’ Lai See Ming, the Commander-in-Chief of SJAM, and has been actively planning, coordinating and executing several initiatives since mid-March 2020.
Photo via St. John Ambulans Malaysia
SJAM ongoing initiatives include:
1. DIY Face Shield and Intubation Barrier Box
Due to the shortage of personal protective equipment for the frontliners, SJAM has mobilised all their branches all over the country to produce DIY Face Shields, following a simple guide that was created and shared on the SJAM Facebook page.
Together with donors and organisations that have generously donated the needed materials and volunteered to make the face shields, including SJAM officers and members, are making these face shields at home or at SJAM premises, adhering to social distancing, donning of PPE and taking personal hygiene measures.
The items have been delivered to 81 hospitals, clinics, and agencies in Johor, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Melaka, Kedah, Sabah, Negeri Sembilan, Pulau Pinang, and Perak, as of 5 April:
39,531 DIY face shields
3,550 pieces of 3-ply face masks
370 N95 face masks
200 sterile disposable gowns
58 units of intubation barrier boxes
2. Ambulance Services
St. Johns Ambulance has also provided support to the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) on 23 and 24 March, to relocate patients from a hospital in Kluang, Johor as the hospital is being converted as a COVID-19 Quarantine Station.
Upon request from the Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Johor, around 40 non-COVID-19 patients from Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom were transferred to the destination hospitals.
11 SJAM ambulances and 33 personnel were involved in this operation.
3. Health Awareness
The SJAM social media team has launched a series of public health communication campaigns on all their social platforms - SJAM website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The aim is to spread accurate and reliable information to the public and debunk any COVID-19 myths that have been circulated via social media.
Of course, to make sure that everyone is able to receive and understand their message, all of their communication materials which include health and lifestyle advice are published in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, and Tamil.
4. Appeal For Donations
Anyone who wants to be part of SJAM’s efforts in helping the frontliners is welcomed to contribute to the SJAM COVID-19 initiatives so that more individuals, organisations, as well as government health care professionals can serve in the frontlines. PPE such as goggles, face masks, N95 mask, isolation gown, medical disposable glove, head cover, and shoe covers are urgently needed!
Donations can be made to SJAM, or donation of PPE can be arranged for collection by sending them an email at admin@sjam.org.my.
But if you can’t help monetarily, it’s okay too, because just by staying at home and keeping yourself healthy, you are still helping the frontliners a great deal!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
