By Dhiya Damia Zuhairul
KUANTAN, 20 July 2021: The Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre at the International Islamic University Malaysia (SASMEC @ IIUM) here on Monday became the first among institutions of higher learning in Pahang to provide on-site vaccination facilities (Pusat Pemberian Vaksin or PPV).
SASMEC @ IIUM’s hospital director, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohamed Saufi Awang said the university hospital centre, aside from being the first on-site vaccination facility in Pahang, also had a plan to help in vaccination outreach programme to reach a minimum of 80 percent of the population by November this year.
IIUM PPV coordination head, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Razman Mohd. Rus had ascertained to make sure that the environment at the on-site vaccination centre is spacious and comfortable for the elderly, special needs, and those aged 18 years and above, to come and get vaccinated.
Since its operation that began on 19 July, Dr. Razman had considered providing tents for those who arrived early with chairs at the waiting area, buggies and wheelchairs for the special needs, and a group of volunteers of 300 staff, including 180 SASMEC @ IIUM’s students, to cater to people going in and out of the facilities.
A fourth-year medical student, Mohammad Azhan Awang, 24, said that all the volunteers have completed important training on how to cater for any emergency that could happen at the university hospital.
Moreover, the vaccination centre is also capable of holding up to 1,000 vaccine doses daily.
Dr. Mohamed Saufi Awang said that before the staff get to be selected to serve as part of the IPT PPV last month, vaccination had been performed on them first by SASMEC @ IIUM since March 2021.
The university hospital operates on weekdays between 9 a.m until 5 p.m.***