Mercy Malaysia Releases Covid-19 Response Plan

The NGO received RM10 million from the Association of Banks in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 – Mercy Malaysia has released a five-point strategic response plan for the global pandemic, using the RM10 million injection donated by the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM).

The five points are critical preparedness, readiness and response support actions; operational supplies support and logistics; at-risk-community’s livelihood support and logistics; mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS); and epidemics/ pandemics risk reduction.

“We know for a fact that the Covid-19 pandemic will go down in history as one of the biggest medical crises affecting mankind. The country, in fact the whole world, is facing unprecedented changes and challenges that require massive resources,” said Mercy Malaysia president Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, who also heads the Pandemic Preparedness Cluster in the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

“Mercy Malaysia has been working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) to provide additional manpower, equipment, facilities and energy that are necessary to combat the rising number of Covid-19 cases. This includes providing personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical equipment to hospitals and government-run clinics that are facing critical shortage,” he added.

The medical relief non-government organisation is assisting CPRC to support frontline MOH doctors by providing volunteers to assist in health screening activities, logistic services and provision of food supplies.

The organisation is also working closely with the Malaysian Armed Forces to support with PPE supplies and food in quarantine centers around the country.

With the Movement Control Order (MCO) extended until April 14, Mercy Malaysia also said it recognised the need for mental health support. MERCY Malaysia’s Mental Health & Psychosocial Support team has been mobilized to provide emotional assistance through a Hotline and Facebook livestreaming every night at 9 pm.

Apart from that, the organisation has also been reaching out to vulnerable groups including bottom 40 per cent (B40) households, single parents, daily-wage earners, homeless persons, persons with mental disorders, foreign workers and refugees whose livelihoods have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak and the MCO.

ABM’s funds were contributed by Maybank, CIMB, Hong Leong, HSBC, Public Bank, RHB, Alliance Bank, AmBank, OCBC, Standard Chartered and UOB.

“There is a lot of uncertainty ahead. With ABM’s assistance, we are now better prepared to 

go the distance in reaching out to those in need,” concludes Dr Faizal.

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