MIRI – Any attempts to force the Penan to get Covid-19 vaccines will only reinforce their deep-rooted distrust of authorities, said a rights group.
Society for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak (Scrips) secretary-general Michael Jok said health authorities need gentle persuasion in dealing with the Penan.
“After decades of losing their jungles to logging activities, the Penan mostly do not trust the government authorities. If there is any attempt by politicians or government agencies to force them to be vaccinated, the Penan will simply run into the jungles to hide.”
Jok added that many natives living in remote settlements are still unaware of the severity of Covid-19.
He called on the state authorities to use local radio channels to dispense information about Covid-19 in Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, and other ethnic languages.
The virus has spread to the major Penan settlements of Long Win, Long Lamai, Long Luteng, Long Latie, and in Mulu National Park, with dozens of cases detected among natives.
Health teams from Miri have been dispatched to the settlements to address the outbreak.
Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala said: “We are setting up an isolation, quarantine, and treatment facility inside the national park to isolate and treat the infected to prevent further community spread.
He added that the in-situ treatment method worked very well in helping the Penan in Long Lamai, where a Covid-19 outbreak had taken place.
“In Long Lamai, the in-situ isolation, quarantine and treatment centre managed to help 22 Penan recover from Covid-19. The health team has done very well since they arrived in Long Lamai,” said Gerawat.
He said he and the health teams are trying to vaccinate as many of his constituents as possible.
The walk-in, jab, and register method is being done now at the Mulu clinic, he said.
Mulu is about 200km inland from Miri. – The Vibes, June 22, 2021
