KUALA LUMPUR – National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), Pertubuhan Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWatch), Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and Yayasan myNadi have started assisting the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) in its vaccine outreach programme.
This segment of the vaccine outreach programme involves house-to-house vaccination of severely ill, bed-bound patients and people with special abilities. This includes those with cancer and other chronic diseases who are unable to travel to public vaccination centres.
In its pilot week, the frontliner teams will be vaccinating patients as well as their family members from the district of Hulu Langat. On its first day, the team vaccinated a total of 102 people.
NCSM, MyWatch, MMA and Yayasan myNadi will commit their resources and mobilise volunteers for this purpose. They are honoured to continue supporting the nation in its time of need, according to a statement.
“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have worked continuously to ensure that all chronic disease patients including those with cancer can continue receiving care, as well as to run many initiatives to provide care and comfort to them during this time.
“When the Ministry of Health reached out to us to assist them in this initiative, we did not hesitate. Supporting vaccination of these members of the community will help us get our nation back on track quicker,” said NCSM president Datuk Dr Saunthari Somasundaram.
“We (the NGO community) have supported national pandemic efforts through multiple ways from providing equipment and PPE to MOH hospitals; right down to food aid for the B40 and ill patients. Supporting the vaccination efforts is one of our country’s greatest needs at this time. And we are always ready to serve,” added MyWatch president Roslizawati Md Ali.
“The vaccination outreach programme is very important for us to reach herd immunity and not leave anyone behind in the national Covid-19 vaccination programme. Being medical professionals, it is our duty to deliver the best to our patients.
"In this case, the patients are immobile and unable to come to the centres. It is time for us to go and vaccinate them to ensure they and everyone in their family are protected,” said Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo, honorary secretary-general of the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).
The vaccine outreach programme will be coordinated by Bahagian Pembangunan Kesihatan Keluarga, Ministry of Health Malaysia and will be rolled out in phases nationally.
The NGOs are calling for individuals caring for those who are severely ill, bedbound and specially-abled individuals to register the person they are caring for to be included in the vaccine outreach programme.
Those who are interested to register the individual you care for, click here. For details, call 1800-88-1000.
NCSM, MyWatch, MMA and Yayasan myNadi are also calling for willing and ready volunteers to support the house-to-house outreach programme.
Volunteers can be both healthcare professionals or non-healthcare professionals.
Retired health personnel or recent graduates are welcomed. Schedules will be aligned to ensure that even volunteers who can contribute one day a week can assist and take part.
Those who are interested to register as volunteers, click here. – The Vibes, July 7, 2021
