Proper gear and attire vital for frontliners

PETALING JAYA: Collective effort in the country is vital to equip frontliners with the proper gear and attire, say civil society leaders and economists.

They said a good first step was taken by fashion industry leaders, who are racing against time to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that are essential in the frontliners’ battle against Covid-19.

Economist Datuk Dr John Anthony Xavier said the move by the fashion industry was a great morale boost for the frontliners.

“Without the PPE, you are going to put the frontliners at grave risk of infection and death. That will be demoralising all around and an immoral thing to do, ” he said.

It was reported that the Health Ministry was encouraging various parties, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to donate PPE for use by frontline personnel treating Covid-19 patients.

The Group of 25 Eminent Malays (G25) said they fully supported the Health Ministry’s call for the public to donate PPE to hospitals as it would reduce the reliance on imported PPE. However, the group pointed out that the government needed to come up with solutions to distribution and logistics problems they faced when dealing with imported PPE.“It is important that the government identify the problems to avoid further delays in the distribution of PPE to frontliners, ” it added.

Another economist, Prof Dr Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University, said all hands must be on deck to help medical frontliners.

“Failure to ensure adequate testing, treatment and protective equipment will jeopardise their lives, prolong the outbreak and delay the recovery of the economy, ” he said.

Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said all Malaysians must chip in whatever way they could to help the country during this time of a major health emergency.

“It is important if we can get everybody to help out and treat this as our national responsibility, ” he said.