Woes of Orang Asli at quarantine centre

 

When Covid-19 infections among the Orang Asli in Perak rose dramatically, a quarantine centre was opened in Sungkai specifically for them.

As most people are aware, preparedness is crucial when managing a crisis. However, as the Sungkai quarantine centre showed, the preparations were far from adequate.

Most of the occupants wanted to know why the officials had not checked the facilities at the centre. They also claimed the health ministry guidelines for quarantine were 13 pages long and difficult to understand. And to add to the confusion, some claimed the MOH guidelines contradicted government SOPs.

Many of the Orang Asli were confused because some families were told to quarantine at home while others were ordered, at short notice, to go to the quarantine centre.

Others alleged that family members were swab-tested and given red bracelets, but the head of the family was not given one so he could go and buy provisions.

This confused the community since the head of the family may have been positive but is asymptomatic, and could spread the virus.

In other cases, it was alleged that MOH conducted swab tests on 150 people although the total population of the village was closer to 300. Why were the swab tests handled haphazardly, they wondered.

Of the list of complaints lodged, the one that angered them most was the inadequate supply of water at the quarantine centre.

Was the centre checked before it was opened for occupation? Was the officer in charge not aware that water is needed for drinking, cooking and washing? The water supply was finally resolved, after a barrage of complaints.

MOH provided the building but there was no provision for food and drinks for the Orang Asli, especially the children.

With little warning, they had no time to obtain supplies like shampoo and soap and containers for hot water for themselves, snacks and drinks for their children, and milk and diapers for the babies. Fortunately, their assemblyman and MP came to their rescue, but surely MOH should have thought about this.

Photos of the Orang Asli waiting for their bus to take them to the quarantine centre showed that the authorities had not given social distancing much priority. On arrival, the Orang Asli complained that the centre was filthy and dusty. If it was not ready, why was it opened? This indicates a failure to plan properly

Many claimed there was no supply of medicine such as Panadol or even ointment for their aching limbs. Unlike the quarantine centres in the city, the one at Sungkai had no nurses they could go to for advice. They were not sure who was in charge should there be an emergency.

They also claimed that they were only given a pack of noodles for breakfast but no hot drinks. Lunch and dinner were also insufficient, so this begs the question: Was the contractor supposed to supply the cooked food, given wrong information or was he not given sufficient funds?

Some also complained that no blankets were available.

In one case, a group of Orang Asli from Pahang was told that they could return home after their quarantine ended. On their arrival, they were ordered to report to the nearest vaccine centre to receive their jabs. However, many alleged that the centre refused to attend to them because their village was under an enhanced movement control order (EMCO).

This shows a lack of communication within MOH. Will health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Perak menteri besar Saarani Mohamad and the state health director Dr Ding Lay Ming address these specific issues? They must learn from these mistakes so that future quarantine centres will be adequately prepared to receive patients. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.