KOTA KINABALU: The state government is mulling over the implementation of the Kemaman ‘gold’ standard operating procedures (SOP) in order to standardize its disaster evacuation centre management with the country’s existing standards.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim discussed and examined the possibility together with Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid at a briefing held by her ministry here yesterday.
Rohani said the Prime Minister recognized the Kemaman ‘gold’ SOP had been formulated based on feedback received through the country’s flood disaster incidences and can be adopted in the state to help manage victims located in the evacuation centres.
“Adopting it according to suitability in the state will also standardize the evacuation centre management system throughout the country,” said Rohani who arrived in Kota Kinabalu yesterday after visiting Kuching for the same purpose the previous day.
The minister also encourages the customization of relief items and management according to the needs of the state.
Part of the assistance that can be introduced in the state include the ministry’s collapsible partition, which supplements 1Malaysia for youth (IM4U) tent facility.
The mobile and height adjustable partition, already introduced in Peninsular Malaysia and Beaufort, will provide victims with privacy.
Other newly introduced facilities include waterproof mats, hygiene kits that consist of toothbrush and soap and refreshment kits consisting of snacks and drinks to help victims settle down during their initial arrival at the evacuation centres.
Finer detailed items such as baby and adult diapers as well as sanitary pads are also often forgotten during disaster situations, said Rohani.
According to her to avoid depression, conducive environment activities that can be participated by everyone and activities catering to specific gender should also be formulated by a committee formed in the evacuation centres.
This is inclusive of therapy through art, which can encourage children to express their emotions. Besides that, abled bodied evacuees can also be encouraged to stay active through the formation of committees within the centres.
Indoor games such as disaster related quizzes can also be established to raise awareness and increase the knowledge on pertinent issues there, said Rohani.
She added to curb depression among disaster victims, counsellors can be deployed at evacuation centres.
The minister said that these counsellors, from the Counsellor Board under her ministry, along with other facilities and assistance can be deployed to active evacuation centres that have been established by the state government.
“This is what we have shared with Datuk Jainab so the possibility of implementing it in Sabah can be considered by the state government,” said Rohani, who reiterated that the effort would also be focused on the collaboration to improve the state’s disaster evacuation centre system.