Health staff carrying on duty house-to-house active case detection using the Antigen Rapid Test Kit at the Refugee Community Settlement Scheme in Kiamsam on Wednesday.-Bernama photo
LABUAN: A mass active case detection (ACD) exercise for Covid-19 is in full swing at the Refugee Community Settlement Scheme (SPMP) in Kiamsam here to effectively contain a possible major outbreak in the densely-populated settlement.
The house-to-house exercise using the Antigen Rapid Test Kit (RTK-Ag) method involves some 5,000 people there.
Labuan Disaster Management Committee chairman Rithuan Ismail said it was part of the committee’s efforts to prevent Covid-19 spreading to the local community.
“The active case detection is to cover all the people in the settlement of all ages and nationalities…not a single family member must skip the test…and they will be given wristbands immediately, which will only be removed once they test negative, the next day,” he told Bernama at the settlement on Wednesday.
He said the Kiamsam refugee settlement was one of the areas on the island having recorded most cases of Covid-19 with fatalities.
Meanwhile, Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said the Kiamsam refugee settlement is a squalid and cramped squatter area and poses a health risk to the people, and thus the mass ACD exercise was crucial.
“This overcrowded squatter settlements lacks sanitation…with people living in miserable conditions, and with many of them crammed into very small living spaces are certainly vulnerable to the virus and can lead to an outbreak,” he said.
Dr Ismuni said the ACD exercise was also in preparation prior to the opening of the economic sectors of the duty-free island, as most of the people in the settlement are working in the town centre.
“We have 10 teams conducting the tests, if we cannot complete the ACD exercise today, we will continue tomorrow…those testing negative will be vaccinated…this is the first mass ACD exercise in this settlement,” he said.
National Security Council Labuan director Mohd Hafiez Daud said there were a total of 733 houses (occupied by some 5, 000 people) in the Kiamsam refugee settlement with most of the residents holding the IMM13 and Burung-Burung, a social visit pass for Filipino refugees.
“This Ops Bersih Covid-19 SPMP is being conducted on the spot without having informed them earlier, and we have received close cooperation from the people in the settlement as the turnout is overwhelming.
“The decision to conduct this operation was made within 24 hours after getting consent from the federal government, and a total of 110 personnel from the police, NSC Labuan and healthcare personnel are involved in the operation,” he said.
Labuan police chief Supt Ahmad Jawila said the police contingent was fully prepared for the operation with a road block mounted at the entry point to the settlement and at sea by the marine police team.
“We have not detected any element of attempts to escape and I believe the operation will be a success due to the close cooperation of the people and members in the Labuan Disaster Management Committee,” he said. – Bernama