Volunteers needed for Klang Valley Covid-19 crisis - Health Ministry

 

The Health Ministry has called for volunteers to help with the Covid-19 crisis in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement yesterday, Greater Klang Valley Special Task Force commander Dr Chong Chee Kheong said volunteer help is needed for these tasks:

1. Verifying positive cases through telephone calls;
2. Contact tracing through telephone calls;
3. Data management and data entry using Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word;
4. Helping with administrative tasks;
5. Helping healthcare workers at healthcare facilities by observing and providing patients non-clinical care in the wards; and
   
6. Managing Covid-19 bodies at the Forensic Department.

According to the online registration form, available in Malay and English, volunteers must be able to work for a minimum period of seven days.

They must also declare their vaccination status and state when they can begin volunteering.

They will also need to state if they are willing to volunteer with or without remuneration. The remuneration quantum was not disclosed. Malaysiakini has contacted the ministry for more information.

According to the form, volunteers will be placed in hospitals, district health offices (PKD), Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CAC), Low-risk Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRC), forensic departments or will be made to do fieldwork in the Klang Valley.

Volunteers can indicate their preference but their placement will ultimately depend on “situational need” and “volunteer suitability”.

More beds, oxygen needed

In his statement, Chong, who is also the Health Ministry deputy director-general (Public Health), said there is a need for more resources.

“With the spike in cases, there is a need to quickly increase the Covid-19 bed capacity.

“This includes oxygen supply, related equipment and mobilisation of healthcare workers,” he said.

The task force was formed to make quick decisions on procurement and mobilisation of healthcare resources in the Klang Valley, which is where the Covid-19 crisis is most dire.

Aside from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Chong’s team is also mandated to oversee Negeri Sembilan, southern Perak and western Pahang.

Since its formation about two weeks ago, the ministry has yet to reveal who the other members of the task force are. - Mkini