Around Campus Info

Respect PKU staff, our frontliners

Translation by: AMINATUL NOR MOHAMED SAID, FACULTY OF COMPUTING

Facing of the outbreak of the Covid-19 that has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Health (PKU), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) is always on alert to fight the spread of the outbreak in both university campuses.

Even during the university's new student registration session on February 7, the PKU was ready for any possibility.

At the time, the university had asked students who returned from the semester or just returned from China to undergo local health screening before continuing their activities on campus as the outbreak of Wuhan, China late last year caused many people to become infected and death rates increased due to the virus since January.

According to the Director of PKU, Dr. Khairul Salleh Abdul Basit, since then the university has set up a UMP Disaster Management Committee to coordinate all actions to deal with the outbreak.

We are working closely with the District Health Office (PKD) and the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) to update the latest information and guidelines to control the spread of Covid-19 cases at UMP.

"We will ensure that any students or staff with symptoms of Covid-19 or new arrivals from abroad will be asked to conduct home-surveillance within 14 days and notify PKD if further action is required," he said.

Dr. Khairul also appreciates the continued support from the Student Affairs and Alumni Department, Security Division, and the Center for Development and Property Management in the success of the program, especially in dealing with student welfare.

He also has good cooperation from the UMP Disaster Management Committee and works closely with the PKD including assisting in contact detection if it involves students or university staff.

In line with the movement control order by the government, the PKU has implemented a staff rotation system for both campuses to minimize movement throughout the control period.

According to Dr. Khairul, they also provide health care services and operates as usual for outpatient treatment from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm as there are a handful of students attending the MCO in the campus.

“For emergency cases outside of office hours, students or staff may contact the staff on duty at the PKU.”

“They are also taking the initiative to provide face shields using readily available items as these ready-to-wear equipment are not available in the market.

"They are also provided with Personal Protective Equipment such as dresses, 3 ply masks and gloves to carry out their work as frontliners of the university," he said.

UMP citizens are also reminded to always obey the government's instructions and to keep themselves clean. For those with symptoms, they are asked to be selfless and always wear a face mask when in public.

The Security Division is also provided with a body temperature scanner to check the health of campus citizens and visitors at the UMP entrance.

As well as students on campus, daily body temperature checks will be taken at the College Residentials to ensure that they are always healthy and as a precautionary measure.

He advised the campus citizens to stay at home or on campus and obey the Movement Control Orders (MCO).

For any concerns, please contact the PKU staff at 09-424 5777 (UMP Pekan) and 09-549 3111 (UMP Gambang Campus).

Around Campus Info

UMP Campus successfully disinfected and welcomes its workforce

Translation by: AMINATUL NOR MOHAMED SAID, FACULTY OF COMPUTING

As a precautionary measure to combat the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) carried out sanitation operations at several focus areas and buildings at both UMP campuses in Gambang and Pekan from March 23 to April 7, 2020.

The operation is aimed at ensuring a clean and safer workplace environment for employees to return to work upon the completion of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

According to Landscape and Cleaning Executive, UMP Services Sdn. Bhd. (UMP Services), Hairudin Idris, is responsible for conducting sanitation operations including office buildings, lecture rooms, student hostels, libraries, mosque and cafeterias in stages starting at UMP Gambang Campus and at UMP Pekan the next level.

“A total of 30 personnel were involved in the operation from as early as 9.00 am to 12.00 noon.

"A briefing is given to all personnel to ensure that operations are carried out in accordance with the standard of safety procedures each time an assignment begins," he said.

"Personnel will be using disinfected fog spray in the building area with more focus on risky areas such as handles or door handles, elevator buttons, main counters, desks, and others to ensure the campus is free of Covid-19 disease outbreaks," he said.

At the same time, the safety of personnel is emphasized by ensuring that the personnel involved in this operation are required to adhere to the stipulated steps and guidelines.

All personnel is required to wear complete personal protective equipment (PPE) during the course of this operation.

They also equipped with safety equipment such as face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer.

Then, every time the surgery was completed the staff was required to clean their hands and face with soap.

While all used PPEs will be collected in yellow plastic clinical waste for disposal in clinical bins.

Meanwhile, while others were working from home following the MCO, cleaning work around campus continued as usual, but in a minimal amount to ensure the campus environment was clean.

UMP Services is a subsidiary of UMP Holdings Sdn. Bhd. also provides services for public disinfection cleaning including mosque, office buildings, clinics, hotels, and hotspot locations to combat the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.

Research and Innovation

UMP lecturers produce reusable DIY face shields

Translation by: DR. ROZAIMI ABU SAMAH, FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

The spirit of assisting the frontliners and the scarce of personal protective equipment (PPE) have inspired three lecturers from Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) to produce face shields to help the frontliners battling the Covid-19 outbreak.

They are Dr. Zamzuri Hamedon, Dr. Ismayuzri Ishak, and Khairul Fikri Muhammad from the Faculty of Manufacturing and Mechatronics Engineering (FTKPM) shared the idea of producing the face shields in two days.

With support from the Dean of FTKPM, they managed to produce simple and cost-effective face shields.

Formed since 24 March, the trio contributed various ideas and prototypes for the design of face shields before the final printing process.

When contacted, Dr. Zamzuri said that the initial stage was executed with the consultation from the Director of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Dr. Norazmi Abdullah and the Head of Emergency Department, Dr. Badli Sham Baharun.

“Taking into account the suitability and comfort of the users, we managed to complete 30 sets in two days and distributed to the frontliners at HTAA.

“We have received more orders from friends and health personnel.

“The face shields undergo a three-dimensional printing technology (3D) known as Reusable DIY Face Shield (RDF), which are made from readily available headbands, rubber bands, and A4 transparent plastic,” he said.

Complying with the MCO directive, the delivery is only done through post.

In the early stage, they managed to complete between 50 and 60 sets daily and now have increased production to between 150 and 200 sets.

Each packet contains five RDF sets along with a user manual. Users can reuse the RDF set for at least three or four times, depending on the usage, and they are advised to sanitise the RDF set before and after each use.

The deliveries were also made to UMP medical and security staff, health clinics, and hospitals throughout the country, including Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital (HOSHAS) in Temerloh, Hospital Jengka, Peramu Jaya Health Clinic in Pekan and Pekan District Health Centre.

He added that his team also prepared 150 sets for the non-governmental organisations (NGO), Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA), with the collaboration with the Alumni Association of the Mara Junior Science College (ANSARA) for distribution.

“Currently, 1,000 sets of face shields are produced and distributed for free in stages to the frontliners at the government and private hospitals in the state.

“Starting with orders from friends, the face shields are currently being distributed across Malaysia.

“This includes Hospital Pekan, Hospital Kuala Kubu Bharu, Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Hospital Seri Manjung, Shah Alam KPJ Specialist Hospital, Nilai Health Clinic, Mentakab Health Clinic, Kuantan District Police Headquarters (IPD),” he said.

According to Dr. Zamzuri, the RDF face shields are much lighter, smaller in size, and comfortably worn because of the open-top face-shield design.

“The more essential features are they are easily worn and cost-effective as they can be reused.

“The plastic used to cover the face can be easily be replaced with the ones sold in shops,” he said,

He appreciates the support of UMP management, especially the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff and the Dean of FTKPM, Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Faiz Mohd. Turan.

Besides, his team has been in contact with the coordinator of Malaysia 3D Printing Community for Covid-19 in working together to produce face shields via 3D printing technology.

Despite the constraints during the MCO period, his team hopes that the efforts help the frontliners, especially the medical personnel, in handling the Covid-19 cases.

Around Campus Info

UMP receives face masks and jumpsuits from HBU China

Translation by: DR. ROZAIMI ABU SAMAH, FACULTY OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

After a month when Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) contributed medical gloves for medical personnel at Hebei University China (HBU) during the Covid-19 outbreak, UMP received face masks and jumpsuits as one of personal protective equipment (PPE) from HBU for the frontliners on 7 April 2020.

A total of 1,000 face masks and 100 sets of jumpsuits arrived at UMP Health Centre in UMP Gambang Campus and the next aid will be arriving soon in stages.

According to Yong Ying Mei, the Director of UMP Confucius Institute, HBU had sent the face masks and jumpsuits early last month once Malaysia enforced the Movement Control Order (MCO) directive. Still, the delivery was delayed due to certain constraints between the two countries.

“The second batch from HBU is now en route, and HBU hopes that the aid helps UMP as Malaysia is still combating the spread of this outbreak,” she said.

“UMP contributed medical gloves to HBU recently due to the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak in China.

“Now, HBU returns the gesture as the saying says - grief divided is made lighter,” she said while receiving the aid from HBU.

Yong added, the President of the Hebei University of China, Professor Dr. Kang Le had issued an official letter to UMP and prayed for the safety of UMP denizens, as well as hoped that Malaysia will succeed in fighting Covid-19.

“The Vice-President (Academic and International) of HBU, Professor Dr. Shen Shigang also confirms that face masks will be sent to UMP based on current needs.

“Meanwhile, the Vice President (Student Affairs and Alumni) of HBU, Professor Dr. Meng Qingyu appreciates the strategic partnership between UMP and HBU since 2011 via mobility programme until the establishment of UMP Confucius Institute,” she said.

Meanwhile, the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ir. Dr. Wan Azhar Wan Yusoff said that UMP appreciates the aid and contribution from HBU in strengthening the relationship.

“A heartfelt gratitude to HBU for the donation to UMP.

“Face masks are scarce in the country, and this donation will be used primarily by the frontliners who are still working on the campus,” he said.

Malaysia is the world’s largest medical glove producer, and UMP took the initiative to send medical gloves to Hebei University when they lacked medical supplies due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

China is now free from Covid-19 when no new domestic case is reported in the Hubei province, which is the epicentre of the outbreak.