VULNERABLE communities, such as migrants, refugees and those from the bottom 40% (B40) group, are now being screened under Mercy Malaysia’s free Covid-19 programme.

These communities cannot afford the coronavirus tests at private or public healthcare facilities.

To reach out to these people, Mercy Malaysia volunteers set up a makeshift tent behind the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) humanitarian clinic in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

The two-week programme started last Wednesday.

The Malaysian Insight saw a long queue of those waiting to be registered to be screened the next day. About 150 were registered. Some 40 were tested on the first two days of the programme.

Prof Dr Mohammad Iqbal Omar, a Mercy Malaysia volunteer and executive council committee member who was on the ground, said the organisation is looking to screen at least 500 people in the two-week programme.

The programme aims to complement the Health Ministry’s efforts and fill the gap by screening the vulnerable who cannot afford the tests.

“We are focusing on vulnerable communities, such as migrant groups and refugees, because they’re not covered by Socso. They have to fork out their own money to pay for the test, so they may not be able to afford it.”

Some migrant workers are employed by small and medium enterprises or may have employers unwilling to foot the bill, he said.

As for refugees, the programme is open to those registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Currently, we only open to those registered with UNHCR because this has to be in line with government policy,” Iqbal said.

“Unless we have the green light from the ministry, we are willing to open up to any vulnerable group but we have to follow the rules and regulations set by the ministry,” he said when asked if undocumented immigrants will also be screened.

More coming for tests

For Nur Aisyah, 44, the experience of getting swabbed went well.

“Someone told me to come here. They said they are doing free screening here,” said the Myanmar national, who works as a cleaner.

Mohamudull Hassan Roshid, 21, said the experience of getting test-swabbed was all right.

“At first, I was very scared because they were going to take the swab from my mouth, but when I went there, it was not that bad. It took five to six seconds. It was okay.”

Hassan is also a community worker who has been working closely with Mercy Malaysia over the last few months.

He said while people were initially scared, they are now coming forward to get screened following the requirement for foreign workers to be tested.

Employers of migrant workers are also interested in the programme, he said.

“Every day, a lot of people come in. We send the message out to community leaders. They have been calling us on our hotline.”

Prior to the programme, Hassan said those who came forward were screened and referred to Ampang Hospital or a clinic.

Iqbal said initially, there was some hesitance among migrants to come forward and get screened.

“Initially, yes. They were reluctant after news spread that undocumented immigrants were being rounded up.”

However, Mercy Malaysia convinced them it was only taking a swab and that their privacy is protected.

Screening process

Iqbal swabs up to 50 people each time he dons personal protective equipment (PPE).

“I wear a complete set of PPE for three to four hours. I can do about 30 to 50 cases at one go.”

The samples are then sent to the lab for testing and the results go to the health office.

In the event of a positive case, the office arranges for treatment.

“We will get a copy of the results. They will arrange for the treatment irrespective of nationality and documentation,” Iqbal said.

Mercy Malaysia currently uses the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, or rRT-PCR, test.

The outfit is one of the Health Ministry’s partners working to keep migrant and refugee committees safe from the virus.

It has mobilised some 1,000 volunteers to aid the Covid-19 response.

The civil society group distributes food to migrants and refugees whose livelihoods are affected by the movement-control order.

Mercy Malaysia volunteers are also involved in sewing PPE, which is distributed to volunteers and hospitals. – May 18, 2020.