Members of the security forces show their support for the programme.
KUCHING: The Welfare Department recognises the immense contributions rendered by its team of volunteers when it comes to providing help to the needy.
In this respect, it aims to train more individuals to become the department’s ‘Welfare Service Representatives’ for programmes across the state.
According to JKM Sarawak director Abang Shamshudin Abang Seruji, the target groups of such programmes comprise children activity centres, homes for the aged, community-based rehabilitation centres (PDKs) as well as other institutions under the purview of the department.
“These volunteers have been helping us a lot in undertaking activities involving the less fortunate members of society, especially the OKU (disabled) and senior citizens who are under our ‘Home Help’ services.
“Our current batch has been trained through visits to the homes of these old folks, the majority of whom are living alone in poor conditions. The volunteers help the senior citizens in their daily chores such as cleaning, as well as accompany them to pay bills, shop for groceries or seek medical treatment.
“We want to engage more (volunteers) going forward. This is our ongoing initiative,” he said when met during the department’s blood donation drive at the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) here recently.
The programme, themed ‘A Drop of Blood, A Thousand Hopes – Volunteers Give Back to Community’, managed to register more than 100 visitors, but only 95 were qualified to donate.
Abang Shamshudin (left) presents a memento to Dr Mohammad Masrin.
Nevertheless, Abang Shamshudin was pleased by the turnout at the drive, which drew many first-time donors.
“Back to our volunteers, they are the ones behind the successful run of this event – the first conducted by JKM Sarawak at UTC here. We are also happy to see the support given by many government agencies including the Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police, Civil Defence Department, People’s Volunteers Department, National Registration Department, Immigration Department, and the management of UTC.
“We are also encouraged by participation from NGOs (non-governmental organisations) such as Blind Centre Kuching and Kelab Motard Kuching.”
Adding on, Abang Shamshudin hoped that the drive would help in the ongoing campaign run by Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Blood Bank of getting more people to become donors.
“SGH must never face the risk of having critically low blood supply. As such, our programme today aims to help the blood bank in maintaining its supply.
“JKM Sarawak, through it volunteers, also hope to collaborate with blood banks across the state on holding donation drives like the one today,” he said.
SGH Blood Bank and Transfusion Unit head Dr Mohammad Masrin Md Zahrin also attended the blood donation drive.