Sarawak forms task force to boost public awareness of Covid-19 during endemic phase | Malaysia

KUCHING, September 20 – The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) today announced the formation of a working committee to come up with a publicity plan to raise awareness about Covid-19 during the endemic phase of the State.

SDMC Chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the members of the committee, which will be led by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) of the Chief Minister’s Office, were appointed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has existed since March 2020. We believe that we have reached the stage where a more intensive and aggressive health education program must be carried out systematically so that people have a better understanding of the situation in which we find ourselves. now,” he told reporters after chairing the meeting here.

He said the plan will also outline how people should adjust to life in the ‘new normal’.

“Free vaccinations are happening now, so we need to know how to live in the post-vaccination era,” he said.

He said it was crucial that the messages not only reach everyone on the ground, but also empower them to take care of their health.

“If a person is healthy, their family will also be healthy and the community will also be healthy,” he added.

“But people need to know what their role is. This is where the public awareness committee will come in with a plan and it will do the publicity blitz all over the state,” he said, adding that the dissemination of health education information is important to allow more people to understand how to curb the spread of Covid19.

Uggah said the publicity blitz will also involve state media, adding that pamphlets will be widely used and distributed.

He said the state government has invested a lot of resources and energy in protecting people from Covid-19.

“If you look at vaccination rates, ours is the fastest in the country,” he added.

“Now we are giving vaccines to teenagers,” he said, adding that the war against Covid-19 should not be left to the government alone.

He added that this is a war in which everyone must play their part.

Committee members include representatives from Ukas, Bernama, RTM, Sarawak Department of Information and TV Sarawak.