COVID: Pregnant Orang Asli women among vaccine recipients

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 -- Pregnancy has not stopped Saripah Meraju and several other Orang Asli women in Kampung Sungai Rual, Jeli, Kelantan from getting their COVID-19 vaccine shots.

In fact Saripah, 46, who is six-months pregnant was glad to get vaccinated as she is aware that this would prevent her from getting infected.   

"Alhamdulillah. I have been waiting for my turn for quite some time and after getting this first shot I feel relieved and happy," said the mother of eight.

Saripah received her first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through an outreach programme  organised by the Jeli Parliamentary Service Centre in collaboration with the District Health Office and several other agencies at the Orang Asli Multipurpose Hall in Sungai Rual.

Another recipient, Che Mas Rosli, 27, who is expecting her second child said at first, she was quite worried about getting vaccinated, but she became more confident after she was briefed and advised by health officials.

"Honestly, in the beginning I was afraid but the health officials told me that it would not be harmful to me and my baby, so I was willing to get the shot," she said.

Meanwhile, Jeli District Health officer Dr Amirul Azman Abu Hassan said over 40 pregnant Orang Asli women had received the Pfizer vaccine through the outreach programme.

In addition, Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said over 500 Orang Asli settlers in Kampung Sungai Rual had been identified to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the vaccination outreach or community service programme being implemented in stages.

He said only 85 residents received the COVID-19 vaccine though 200 people had been targeted for the the first outreach programme held in the village on June 5 as many were hesitant due to their perception and attitude towards the vaccine.

"However, in today’s programme we see their awareness level has increased and through the two programmes so far, 235 people have received their vaccine," he told reporters when met after the programme today.

According to Mustapa, the Jeli Parliamentary Service Centre also plans to hold two more outreach programmes to complete the dose for over 500 Orang Asli residents in the village, and another  programme for other residents around the district.

Meanwhile, in Kampar PERAK, a former Orang Asli teacher, who is of the Semai tribe, Apa Bengal, 72, said, he would lead his community by example and encourage them to take the vaccine as well as do his part to help counter misinformation and allay  people’s fears about the vaccines.

Apa Bengal who received his  first Pfizer vaccine dose today said most of the Orang Asli settlers in Pos Dipang and Kampung Sahom have not received their shots and some have not even registered as recipients.

He also hoped that all village heads and the Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) would play a bigger role in advising and encouraging the Orang Asli community to get vaccinated.

"Don't just ask them to fill up the form. Pay more attention to them, explain the benefits of the vaccine and what they are required to do as most of them are not aware of what is happening,” he said.

Perak Housing, Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi, who was at the programme said, the state government was working on various programmes with the District Health Office to ensure that the Orang Asli residents in five settlements in Kampung Sahom, namely Pos Dipang, Sungai Peria, Sungai Budak, Batu 7 and Sungai Limau received the vaccine.

She said as there is only one vaccination centre (PPV) in Kampar which is at the Town Hall, the state government would set up a second PPV in Gopeng which is expected to operate on July 1, with a capacity of 400 recipients a day.

-- BERNAMA