KOTA KINABALU: Containing the rapid community spread of Covid-19 in Sabah requires an equal shift in deployment of healthcare resources, says Dr John Teo, who is among members of the medical fraternity helping the state.
He acknowledged that the Health Ministry was doing its best but said more needed to be done to mobilise resources to meet escalating demand in red zones and other areas.
“From the Covid-19 numbers we see daily, needs may outstrip supply in a very short time, ” he said.
“All issues are critical and pressing, including manpower, medical equipment and PPE, and the distribution of needs shift rapidly resulting in risks of maldistribution, ” he answered when asked what the most pressing issue facing overstretched frontliners was.
Dr Teo noted that every stakeholder, including politicians, policymakers, government agencies and the public, needed to play their part.
“The needs are enormous and the gaps are changing rapidly, ” he added.
He also said the government needed to coordinate and integrate all relief efforts across the spectrum rapidly and effectively.
Transparency and accountability are critical in engaging NGOs and the public, he added.
“Many NGOs and the public are assisting in the efforts. But central coordination of all these activities determines the effectiveness of this assistance, ” he said.
Dr Teo also urged the public to do their part by following the standard operating procedure in order to stop the spread of the virus.
Sabah had been recording three-digit Covid-19 cases every day since Oct 1.
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