UNHCR to help MoH identify COVID-19 infected refugees - Dr Noor Hisham

PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Health is working closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure refugees and asylum seekers were engaged in COVID-19 prevention and control activities.

Director-General of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, said such effort was to curb any potential transmission of the killer virus in the community. “To track the participants of a tabligh rally involving this group recently, the UNHCR is also working with the Action and Assistance Team of the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (IMARET), Muslim Relief Agency and MERCY Malaysia as partners from the non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

"MoH is participating in this activity through the involvement of members at the District Health Office level," he told a media conference here today. Dr Noor Hisham said the joint team would provide information on the COVID-19 infection to refugees and asylum seekers.

In fact, the team would also explain the importance of getting immediate treatment in the event they have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, even if they have not participated in the rally.

This is especially so considering the community lives in small homes and always interact closely.