By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — The Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching delivered 10,000 pieces of KN95 face masks and 6,200 pieces of SMS isolation medical gowns to the Sarawak General Hospital on 11 June 2021.
The donations came from “generous contributions from Catholics and friends throughout Sarawak, Malaysia, and overseas,” Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh said, after handing over the parcels to Local Government and Housing Minister, Dr Sim Kui Hian and Sarawak General Hospital Director, Dr Ngian Hie Ung.
The prelate had made the appeal for aid to procure personal protective equipment (PPE) and face masks during last year’s Sunday Masses, live-streamed amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Sarawak.
The donations, made collectively with Bishop Joseph Hii of Sibu Diocese and Bishop Richard Ng of Miri Diocese, were offers of support, with prayers, for the safety of medical frontliners serving Sarawak during this COVID-19 period.
The Archbishop advised the public to adhere to the pandemic safety SOP of wearing face masks and to practise social distancing. He expressed confidence that the infection curve can be flattened if everyone works together.
He thanked Dr Sim and Dr Ngian for organising the collection of the PPE and face masks in response to a letter the Church had sent to SDMC chairman, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. He also thanked Alan Tay and Kevin Chin for volunteering staff and vehicles to transfer the 76 cartons of PPE and face masks from the Archbishop’s office (ACCPC) store to the hospital, with coordination from hospital personnel Mary Belare. “Every little help contributes to the common good for all people,” he said.
Give blood to save life
Handing over of the donations took place at the lobby of Pusat Tabung Darah Hospital Umum Sarawak. Noticing that he was standing in front of the Blood Bank, Archbishop Simon Poh, who is also chairman of the Association of Churches in Sarawak, said: “I echo the appeal of our Hospital and encourage all Christians and friends of goodwill to give blood to save life.”
