SANDAKAN – A baby in a family of 35 living under one roof in Kg Batu Putih, Kinabatangan, survived on sugar water after the household ran out of infant formula but was unable to buy more due to its members being under quarantine since September 28.
The family, comprising seven siblings and their children, were ordered to self-isolate after a relative tested positive for Covid-19.
Aslinda Amit, who has seven kids, said the family lost their income as they are unable to leave the house for work.
However, help arrived on Wednesday after the Sabah Civil Defence Force (Kinabatangan Zone) learnt of their plight.
Head officer Ahmad Roslan Mohd Kamel said 150 food packs have been distributed to residents of the village who are under home quarantine.
He said the especially large family also received assistance from the Disaster Operations Control Centre today and private groups including the Kinabatangan Muslimah Association, which donated food and infant formula, among others.
Meanwhile, at the Batu Putih Mile 7 People’s Housing Project here, an asymptomatic Covid-19 patient who has been isolating for two days said the lunch provided to patients would arrive only at 3pm.
“It takes them a long time to deliver the food. I am staying in Block F, where 70 ‘stable’ Covid-19 patients are placed.
“I have asked Duchess of Kent Hospital about the food delivery time, but they told me that it is the responsibility of the Sandakan clinic at Mile 7.
“I hope they will give this attention as we are already sick with the virus, and now, we have to wait till 3pm for our lunch. It’s unreasonable.”
The flats have been used as a quarantine centre since the nationwide movement control order was imposed in March, with several blocks serving as a treatment centre after beds filled up at the hospital here.
Each flat houses three patients, with each patient having a room to themselves. – The Vibes, October 11, 2020
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