BUTTERWORTH – In just three months, the biggest low-risk Covid-19 centre (LRCC) in the north at the Mara Excellence Centre (MEC) in Jawi, near here, has come under tremendous pressure, with a continuous influx of patients as the pandemic situation in the region worsens.
Several viral videos circulating on social media – showing plastic foodware overflowing from the rubbish bins and food strewn on the floor, and flooding during a downpour as patients have their meals – have caught the attention of many, who commented on how badly the LRCC is being managed.
State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh told The Vibes that, while the state will help as much it can, private individuals are not permitted to enter the premises to provide aid as the area is a red zone.
“The management and whatever happens inside the LRCC is under the Health Ministry (MoH),” he said. “Whatever that is outside the fence, that is under the state government’s secretary (SUK).
“Then again, we cannot blame the doctors and nurses as they are the medical staff, not the management team,” Phee said.
The exco said while he has received many complaints, his office and the state authority cannot do much.
Cleanliness is paramount, Phee stressed, adding it is important to know how the disposal of rubbish is done to ensure there is no contamination.
He said the state, which contributed to setting up the LRCC, is willing to take over its management.
“I say: hand it over to us and we can manage it for you as we are serious about it. The medical force is suffering, and they are so tired. Now, the situation is controlling us; we are not controlling the whole situation. That is why it is going from bad to worse.”
Phee said the federal authorities had wanted to use the MEC as a low-risk treatment centre, so the state bought the beds and Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society Malaysia had helped set them up.
“I got the water dispensers, and we always had people to provide additional food, so that no one inside would be hungry.
“However, once it was completed, the centre was passed over to the MoH, as the SUK has no technical knowledge on how to handle this,” he said, adding that security is handled by the police and Civil Defence Force.
Penang Health Director Datuk Dr Asmayani Khalib told The Vibes that, while there are staff to ensure the centre’s cleanliness, patients also need to maintain cleanliness by disposing of all rubbish in the bins provided.
“The Penang Health Department, along with other frontliners, are on 24-hour duty. During check-in, all patients will be informed of the do’s and don’ts.
“We – the SUK, district officer, Health Department and all the frontliners – have tried to provide the best possible service to our patients,” she said.
Dr Asmayani said that, during the second week of record-high cases, the occupancy rate rocketed.
“Of course, there is some dissatisfaction, because it is not like the situation at home,” she said.
The MEC was selected as an LRCC after the state government requested an additional location as a quarantine centre from the National Disaster Management Agency. It is currently the biggest centre in the northern region and can accommodate about 1,000 patients in four halls.
Penang has, at press time, 2,099 active Covid-19 cases, with 187 new infections recorded yesterday and 338 the day before.
The state has seen 23,778 people contracting the deadly virus and 34 deaths since the pandemic began. – The Vibes, May 17, 2021
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