THE Penang government will ensure that hospitals and government clinics in the state have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) supply, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
This assurance was made by Chow in his daily message via Facebook live on his FB page today, following a report by the Health Ministry director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on April 13 that they were facing shortage of PPEs.
“It has been the state’s commitment since the beginning of the movement control order (MCO) to ensure that all frontline workers have adequate facilities and equipment for their own safety.
“And I am constantly being updated by the state Health Department, including on the supply of equipment,” said Chow.
The situation of PPE supply in Penang is under control as Chow said donations have also been received from non-governmental organisations in the state.
Private companies too have stepped forward to make donations to the state Health Department through the state government for the purchase of necessary equipment.
The state Health Department has established a committee to shortlist the equipment and consumables.
Chow said as of April 11, the state government has distributed over 1.3 million face masks to the frontline workers and the community through local representatives.
He added that a total of 30,510 PPEs as well as nearly 310,000 gloves and socks received by the state government have all been transferred to the relevant parties.
From time to time, the state government has also handed over thermometers, hand sanitisers and face shields.
“This is our commitment to winning this battle together,” Chow said.
He said the Covid-19 outbreak has changed a lot of things, even in the way people move about, interact, do business and so on.
To deal with the new situation, Chow said the state has come out with strategies, known as ‘Penang Next Normal Strategies’, to assess the situation and restore the state’s economic condition.
He added that both the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) have also encouraged hawkers and Ramadan traders to carry out their business online.
Chow said according to the Penang police chief, the MCO compliance rate until the end of phase two (from March 18 to April 14) was 97.84%, with a total number of 861 individuals arrested during the nearly one-month long period.
On another matter, Chow thanked Intel for coming forward to donate RM250,000 to the Penang Covid-19 Fund. He received a mock cheque for the amount from Intel Malaysia representative, development organisation manager Aileen Kee, at Komtar today.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix and video by Alissala Thian