Kota Kinabalu: WWF-Malaysia has partnered with Mercy Malaysia to donate RM150,000 in funds to support frontliners providing medical and health services during the Covid-19 pandemic in Sabah.
The funds were used to purchase much-needed medical equipment such as the Respiratory Ebus Minipro for hospitals.
This equipment, which is the first in Sabah, will help patients in the long run, especially those who suffer from Long Covid and other respiratory health issues.
Other than that, the donations were used to set up hand-washing kiosks in several schools and orphanages around Sabah to avert infection and raise awareness of the new norm among students and school staff.
According to WWF-Malaysia’s Conservation Head in Sabah Dr Robecca Jumin, this initiative was part of the newly-established Social Development Unit under WWF-Malaysia’s Sabah Landscapes Programme to engage with and encourage sustainable livelihoods for communities in Sabah.
“We believe working in collaboration with the local communities is the most effective, equitable and efficient way to restore the natural world that we all hold dear and depend on. Therefore, our social development programme was set up to ensure seamless collaboration with local communities,” she said.
WWF-Malaysia Social Development Manager Anne Baltazar said the Covid-19 pandemic has substantially impacted communities in Sabah.
“During the initial lockdown, the region was in desperate need of emergency supplies. People were also suffering from food security, loss of income and unemployment as the lockdown has restricted movement and business activity. We hope that this small contribution will go a long way in helping ease the burden of our frontliners,” she said.
Mercy Malaysia Acting Executive Director Zuraidah Mian said the collaboration with WWF-Malaysia helped enhance the capacity of her organisation’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Plan.
“We truly appreciate the support of WWF-Malaysia and recognise the impact of their generous contribution to the healthcare services, particularly in Sabah,” she said.
