Ellron
KOTA KINABALU: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin welcomed the recent call by his predecessor Phoong Jin Zhe regarding the efforts to speed up the Covid-19 vaccination process in Sabah.
Ellron explained the ministry has indeed implemented the programmes mentioned by Phoong while their next programme would be carried out in stages according to the situation and suitability of time.
“The ministry has conducted special programmes and workshops to create and improve awareness to the public, the youths in particular, on our efforts as well as that of the government to combat Covid-19.
“There are many more programmes and activities on Covid-19 that we have planned for but could not be carried out at the moment due to the strict SOP (standard operating procedure) and enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO),” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
According to him, the ministry had conducted a workshop on Active and Healthy Community under the New Norms at four districts namely Tuaran, Kudat, Kuala Penyu and Papar.
The objectives of the workshop are to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers and threats of Covid-19.
Among the topics included in the workshop were talks on Covid-19 vaccination and SOPs implementation by the State Health Department in the districts involved, safety campaign by the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) as well as briefings on the dangers of drug abuse among youths by the national anti-drug agency.
“The programme was conducted in compliance with the SOP guidelines by the National Security Council (MKN) of Sabah, where only 120 participants were involved at any one time.
“After visiting the four districts, the ministry planned to hold similar programmes at five more districts but was forced to be postponed due to the on-going MCO,” he added.
Ellron went on to say that after the workshop was completed, the ministry would next organise the Covid-19 special programme at all 27 districts in the state.
The special programme, he said, was to explain on the vaccination programme, importance of SOP and volunteers among the youth.
“The special programme will be held continuously until the vaccination process is completed and that the Covid-19 pandemic has ended,” he said.
On Sunday, former Youth and Sports Minister Phoong had urged the ministry to be more proactive in helping to speed up the vaccination process in Sabah.
The Democratic Action Party (DAP) Luyang assemblyman suggested that the ministry should play a bigger role in the vaccination programme by increasing vaccination centres (PPV) and mobilise youth organisations that are registered with the ministry to fasten the vaccination process.
Phoong also urged the ministry to allocate budgets for youth organisations accordingly to encourage them to join the programme as volunteers.