Azlan Othman, Fadley Faisal, Daniel Lim & Lyna Mohamad
A steady stream of contributors are stepping forward as the nation battles the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Grand Motors has leased a Kia Carnival to the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Operations Centre to allow for the ferrying of patients to isolation centres and samples to the laboratory.
Grand Motors Special Project Manager Major (Rtd) Ramlie bin Mohd Arriff handed over the keys to BDRCS honorary member Haji Mohd Yusri bin Haji Wahsalfelah and BDRCS President Haji Mohd Suhaimi bin Haji Ibrahim during the ceremony at Grand Motors premises yesterday.
Haji Mohd Yusri said the initiative highlights the important collaboration between the government, auxiliary body and corporate in jointly tackling the outbreak.
“With the contribution, together we will work hand-in-hand to flatten the curve of this second wave. This is what we need in view of the growing number of cases. By having this, we are able to facilitate the government and related stakeholders to collectively carry out the responsibilities efficiently,” he said.
Haji Mohd Yusri said BDRCS has been kept busy since the re-activation of its task force operation centre, and that it is reaching out to vulnerable groups affected by the outbreak.
Major (Rtd) Ramlie said the initiative is part of Grand Motors’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) in helping ease frontliners’ daily operations.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei Darussalam has contributed 400 reusable face masks and 100 bottles of hand wash to a team of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) medical students on a mission to raise awareness on ‘How to stop spreading COVID-19 and stay safe.’
High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Nahida Rahman Shumona handed over the items to Calista Sauna Shim Chee Yen, a member of the Building A Safer Environment (BASE) team at UBD, at the mission.
The initial plan had been to raise awareness among expatriate workers in the construction sector in Brunei Darussalam, however, the increase in the number of cases led the team to expand its focus to include vulnerable groups.
Discussing the vulnerability of Bangladeshi workers and their living conditions in the Sultanate, the High Commissioner said,” There is a great need to improve the living condition of our workers here.
“I have visited many labour quarters in the capital since my arrival. Some staff houses are not suitable for human beings – with almost no hygiene and ventilation, let alone the question of social distancing and isolation if the workers are required to do so to stop spreading the virus.”
The Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM) also continues its relentless effort in helping frontliners, with numerous requests for specific assistance.
MKM handed over scrubs, aprons, face shields, face masks and gloves to the Berakas Health Centre. The items were purchased using direct donations made by the public and from donations made through Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam’s (BIBD) Community For Brunei.
Former MKM President Datin Paduka Hajah Intan binti Haji Mohd Kassim said, “We are very thankful for the public support and pray that they will be amply rewarded in this life and in the hereafter. We hope this public support will be unrelenting during this challenging time of the community facing a pandemic.”
Meanwhile, the Lions Club of Belait has conducted a number of charitable activities as it remains committed to helping people in need, particularly during difficult times.
Of the belief that the elderly are the most vulnerable group at this time, club members paid a visit to the Old Folk Home in Seria to hand over contributions which included a blood pressure meter, Accu-Chek for sugar level measurements, sanitisers, hand wash and bed linens.
President Johnny Cheong and former presidents Linda Chia and Joseph Teo handed over the items to caretaker Anna Chua.
Club members also presented medical equipment and daily necessities to the National Isolation Centre (NIC). Items included 100 toothbrushes and 100 units of soap, presented by former president Daniel Wong.
