KUALA LUMPUR – With only 18.9%, or 27,276 individuals, from 144,180 Orang Asli aged 18 and above registered for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK), the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) is pooling all resources to make PICK a success among the indigenous community.
Towards this end, Jakoa is planning various initiatives to disseminate information on vaccination to the community, including those still leading a nomadic way of life.
“Among the initiatives include providing information via tok batin (village heads) and Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee chairmen, in an attempt to coax more members of the community (to receive vaccine shot),” Jakoa said today.
To date, 4,395 Orang Asli have received at least one dose of the vaccine, while 1,500 people have completed two doses.
The role of the Jakoa Covid-19 Taskforce is also to ensure accurate information on the vaccination is delivered to the Orang Asli community effectively, it said.
To facilitate this, selected Orang Asli villages have been named vaccination centres (PPVs), apart from mobile immunisation registration programmes being held during contribution or food basket presentation events.
In Johor, Jakoa embarked on a strategy of vaccinating Orang Asli community leaders to build confidence among other villagers to receive the jabs.
Johor Agriculture, Agro-based and Rural Development Committee chairman Datuk Samsolbari Jamali said the strategy succeeded, as 2,314 individuals, or 19.8% of 11,670 eligible members of the community, agreed to get vaccinated.
There are 16,232 Orang Asli from the Jakun, Kuala, Seletar, Kanaq and Temuan tribes in 60 Orang Asli villages in Johor.
“We expect the vaccination registration of Orang Asli in Johor to be settled by the end of next month to achieve herd immunity and contain the spread of Covid-19,” he said.
In Pahang, two tok batin – Pigi Amau and Tosi Ayin – have initiated efforts by getting the shots themselves first today.
“The process is quick and there is no pain. I hope all my fellow villagers need not worry about getting vaccinated and if there are any doubts, come to my house and look at me,” said Pigi, who hails from Kg Chuat in Bera.
Pigi, 65, was the first of 200 members of the Semelai tribe in the village to be vaccinated.
Sharing the same experience was Tosi, 60, who is the tok batin in Pos Iskandar, also in Bera, who wanted his village friends to get the shots as well, as some are still afraid to register.
Tosi, of the Semelai tribe, was among 20 Orang Asli individuals selected to receive the jab today.
In Selangor, Orang Asli Islamic Welfare and Management Association chairman (PKPIOA) Norazman Jamalim said the role of local leaders, especially tok batin, is important to disseminate vaccination information as they still have problems accessing internet, apart from difficulties faced by senior citizens, on using smartphones.
Selangor Health director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said so far, 14,301 Orang Asli in the state are eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccine in five districts. – Bernama, June 21, 2021
