The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

TZU CHI 128 31 On September 1, 2020, a new Covid-19 cluster was detected in Lahad Datu, Sabah. On September 26, after the Sabah state election, more cases were reported in Lahad Datu and Tawau. The number of confirmed cases in Sabah started to climb to top the nation. As of October 25, situations have been reported as serious in Tawau, Kota Kinabalu, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tuaran. Since mid-September, Tzu Chi has been delivering preventive medical supplies to various parts of Sabah. This is made possible with contributions from the general public. A s some of the Covid-19 positive cases were prison inmates and staff in Tawau Prison, Hospital Tawau especially despatched medical personnel, and set up screening and treatment centres there. The prison deputy director, Jomison Gondikit, explained that as space was limited, they converted a vacant room and a prayer room for the medical personnel to work and rest. However, these rooms were stuffy and poorly ventilated. In order to provide a more comfortable working environment for the medical personnel, Tzu Chi loaned and installed four units of air conditioners on September 12. Upon further requests, volunteers also delivered 20 Jing Si foldable beds, mattresses and eco-blankets the following day. This spared the medical personnel from sleeping on the hard and cold floor. Jomison was surprised by the volunteers’ efficiency in delivering the beds, to which the volunteers explained that the Jing Si foldable bed is a disaster relief invention by the Tzu Chi organization and hence, Tzu Chi Kota Kinabalu has stocked these for use during emergencies. A week later, the number of positive cases continued to rise and it spread to the community. Beds in the prison and hospital were close to saturation. Another treatment centre was then set up in the Tawau Sports Complex. Once again, Tzu Chi Tawau received request for bed supply and tents. On September 25, Tzu Chi delivered seven units of 10 ft x 20 ft tents to the Tawau Hospital, and 230 Jing Si foldable beds, and 230 mattresses and