KUALA LUMPUR: During the Movement Control Order (MCO) and now Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), many Malaysians have stepped up to do their part for the country.
We have seen ordinary Malaysians as well as popular individuals in the local arts, music, entertainment and fashion industry contributing to improve the lives of fellow citizens and everyone affected by the pandemic.
Dr Jezamine Lim and her husband, popular comedian Harith Iskander, were among those who felt compelled to do their part, especially after reading about medical frontline workers needing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as well as vulnerable groups, foreign workers and refugees going hungry.
The couple started The Hope Branch on March 23, an initiative to quickly and effectively raise funds to assist those affected by Covid-19.
Their goal was to raise RM250,000 by the middle of this month to support The Hope Branch's initiatives. They have raised RM216,598 up to yesterday.
"In the beginning, looking at the tonnes of postings online, we realised many medical frontliners were in need of PPEs. We then compiled and pressed an order to China for PPEs with our own funds. Then, we realised we needed more and we couldn't do it ourselves, so we started this fundraising drive," said Dr Jezamine, explaining how the initiative started.
The Hope Branch's tasks included fundraising to cover the cost of PPE for healthcare frontliners in selected hospitals and government health clinics in rural areas, besides the police and armed forces in selected states.
"We also provide daily supplies for those most affected during this period, such as daily wage earners, the homeless, immigrants, refugees and underprivileged homes," added Dr Jezamine.
The Hope Branch is working together with KitaJagaKita to execute speedy aid delivery and stay connected with medical frontline workers.
Its key collaborators are the Kuok Group, Sahabat Selangor, Kantin, Cantin restaurants and SouthernRockSeafood, which was assisting with manpower.
Dr Jezamine said their target was to provide food to almost 2,100 deserving individuals three times a day.
They also contributed hot meals to soup kitchens that were operating, such as Pertiwi and The Lost Food Project.
Thus far, funds raised had been used to purchase 100,000 pieces of PPE (three-ply medical masks, eye covers, face shields, protective gowns and shoe covers) for hospitals and the police. Funds have also been used to supply dried food and consumables for hospital staff and the police.
Among the hospitals that received PPEs and dried food items from The Hope Branch were Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, University of Malaya Medical Centre, and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, as well as government health clinics.
Dr Jezamine added that The Hope Branch planned to continue this mammoth task even after the CMCO as people, especially vulnerable groups, would still be in need of assistance.