MUALLIM: The sight of Slim River Hospital frontliners sewing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) gowns for their own use has prompted a doctor to post on his Facebook, urging those who can contribute either materials or sewing skills to come forward.
In less than 48 hours, Dr Hanafi Yahya’s call for “help” showed results with 10 seamtresses of different backgrounds volunteering and others contributing materials needed to make the PPE gowns.
The 37-year-old doctor said he was deeply moved by what he had witnessed at the government hospital, watching the exhausted frontliners making their own PPE gowns when they were supposed to be resting.
“The frontliners are relentlessly fighting the Covid-19 war. Despite being off the clock, those who have some sewing skills are seen making these PPE outfits.
“I could relate to the workload these frontliners have to endure during the Movement Control Order period because I have worked at a government hospital before,” he said when met at Slim River.
The hospital has also received two sewing machines and non-woven fabric to make the PPE gowns. It was learnt the hospital would need about 1,500 PPEs a month in the efforts to treat and contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dr Hanafi said each of the volunteers could produce about 10 PPE gowns that would be given to the frontliners.
“This what makes Malaysians so unique. Malaysians are a helpful lot who will not think twice about helping others. For those who have contributed, I want to express my gratitude,” he said.
Dr Hanafi also said with just few keystrokes, internet could be a powerful tool that would benefit many and it should not be abused to spread fake news or false information.