The world of Tzu Chi Augusts 2021 (Vol.136)

2021 • 08 24 By the Tzu Chi Documenting Team Translated by Lee Hui Yieng pecial Feature Tzu Chi KL & Selangor has offered its premises, the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall, to be used as a vaccination centre to help expedite the country’s vaccination effort, making it the first NGO to participate in the National Covid-19 Immunization Programme (PICK). Safeguarding Health through Vaccination Centre W ith the raging Covid-19 pandemic in the country, the Government has to accelerate vaccination rate in an attempt to achieve herd immunity, thereby reducing its impact on the national economy while safeguarding health and lives. In the light of that, Tzu Chi KL&Selangor has offered the KL Tzu-Chi Jing Si Hall to be used as a vaccination centre. The Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Health (MOH), Datuk Dr. Chong Chee Kheong, along with his staff, inspected the venue on May 28, 2021, and was satisfied with the premises. Upon obtaining the MOH’s approval, Tzu Chi volunteers immediately launched into action, and managed to set the premises ready for this new role within two weeks, with advice and assistance from Dr. Ang Kong Hui, Chief Operating Officer of Clinical Services at Sunway Healthcare. Coming together for the same mission BookDoc, an online healthcare platform, is one of the collaboration partners. In addition to mobilizing medical personnel to be on duty, it also arranges for an ambulance to be on standby at Jing Si Hall on weekdays. Whilst, the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) and Community Policing Malaysia despatch medical volunteers and an ambulance respectively on weekends, enabling the vaccination centre to operate seven days a week. NLC General Pest Control, too, contributes by providing free disinfection services. During the trial run of the vaccination centre on June 11, MOH especially mobilized manpower to offer support. Datuk Dr. Chong Chee Kheong commended during his visit that the vaccination centre was up to expectation and, “Had a very good atmosphere. The vaccination process went smoothly, without any stress of waiting on the vaccinees’ part. Volunteers were friendly, too.” His encouraging feedback boosted the volunteers’ confidence to start operating the vaccination centre officially and administer 600 doses of vaccines daily from June 19. As the operations went on smoothly, from July 5, the vaccination centre began to administer 800 doses daily. Every day, about 25 medical volunteers and 70 Tzu Chi volunteers from all over the Klang Valley are on duty at the vaccination centre. To them, it is only right to step forward to serve and contribute to the country during such trying time.