PKRC Gambang as a show of solidarity for UMP to handle Covid-19

KUANTAN, 1 June 2021 - The selection of the Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Sports Complex as the sixth Covid-19 Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) in the state is to accommodate more patients.

The PKRC was established due to the limited ward capacity in the hospital to treat low-risk Covid-19 patients.

Thus, patients with no history of chronic diseases that require intensive treatment and can manage themselves will be housed here.

The Deputy Director (Medical 2), Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) cum the Director of PKRC Gambang, Dr. Sarifuddin Saad representing the Pahang state government, expressed his gratitude for the togetherness and great contribution of UMP in the effort to help address the spread of Covid-19 in the state.

“Facilities at PKRCs are constantly upgraded to provide comfort to patients, among others by providing areas for prayer, exercise and dining, and improving communication and internet access.

“We also aim to make PKRC Gambang the best in terms of facilities and more holistic patient care.

“UMP residents do not have to worry when the UMP Sports Complex in Gambang is turned into PKRC; in fact, it is a meaningful history in jointly dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in Pahang,” he said.

Understanding the anxiety of some UMP residents, he explained that so far, the Covid-19 virus spreads through liquid particles from the nose and mouth of infected patients when they cough, catch a cold, sneeze or talk.

“These liquid particles can be large (droplets) or small (aerosols).

“Aerosols can remain in the air for a longer period or travel farther than 1 metre.

“While droplets are heavier and will usually fall within a distance of 1 to 2 meters,” he said during the online briefing session in the PKRC Talk Webinar programme entitled ‘PKRC Gambang@UMP: What Do We Need to Know?’ recently.

He is confident that with the PKRC location away from other buildings, the pandemic can be avoided from spreading to other areas.

He said all patients will be ensured to be in the PKRC hall only and always under the supervision of security personnel.

“We will work with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), People’s Volunteer Corps (RELA), Civil Defence Force (APM) and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) to ensure the safety at PKRC.

“In addition, various security measures are also implemented during the use of the hall, such as the installation of barbed wire, all hall doors are locked tightly, activating closed circuit telvision cameras (CCTV), providing static control posts and other security features to facilitate movement control.

“All patients and staff can only be in the permitted area via the designated route without accessing the UMP main route,” he said.

He also hoped that PKRC Gambang would be one of the best PKRCs and a benchmark for other PKRCs given its complete facilities to enable patients to carry out leisure and spiritual activities, motivational talks and others.

He said each PKRC is different because it is based on the facilities available in a PKRC itself.

“As long as it does not pose a significant risk to patients, we do not prevent patients from carrying out activities in the PKRC and in fact, it will speed up the patients’ recovery process.

“I am confident that when they leave PKRC Gambang, they will be happy and have memorable memories,” he said.

PKRC Gambang, which has been operating since 1 June with 12 patients, can house up to 1,380 local male patients.

The programme, which was conducted through the Microsoft Team platform and live broadcast on SUARA Komuniti UMP Facebook, was joined by more than 100 UMP residents. It was moderated by the Manager of Registry Department cum the Liaison Officer of the UMP Disaster Management Steering Committee, Mohd. Raizalhilmy Mohd. Rais.

UMP is also among the 19 universities identified as the vaccination centres (PPV) for Institutions of Higher Learning (IPT) in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to provide more access to the people to get the vaccine.

By: Nor Salwana Mohd Idris, Corporate Communications Unit, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology