NILAI, April 8, 2020 – Media practitioners play a key role throughout  the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) as a front-line force to report to the public on the MCO and COVID-19. With the task of covering news at various locations, media practitioners are no exception to being exposed to the Covid-19 infection.

As an initiative to provide additional hygiene to media personnel, the Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) donated 60 bottles of hand sanitizer to media personnel in Negeri Sembilan.

The hand sanitizer is produced by the Faculty Science and Technology Laboratory in a Box (FaST LaB) was presented by the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Professor Dr. Rosalina Abdul Salam, of the Negeri Sembilan Media Club (MANIS) represented by Chairman Arfi Ahmad at USIM today.

“This contribution is a tribute to our media staff, who also dedicate their time, energy and risk their own personal safety in carrying out the task of delivering the latest and accurate news to us all the time. They are also the frontliners to us and to Malaysia ”

“We supply hand sanitizer in a 60ml mini size bottle to make it easy to keep in a bag or pocket and can easily be carried by media personnel at all times when  they are doing outdoor news coverage in particular.” says Professor Dr. Rosalina.

Hand sanitizer produced by FaST LaB USIM is in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) standards and is undergoing tests in USIM’s research lab to determine the effectiveness of this product on microorganisms. The effort is to address the needs of campus and frontline groups as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of transmission of the Covid-19 virus and other harmful bacteria.

Hand sanitizer yang dihasilkan oleh FaST LaB USIM ini mengikut piawaian World Health Organization (WHO) dan turut melalui ujian dalam makmal penyelidikan USIM untuk memastikan keberkesanan produk ini terhadap mikroorganisma. Usaha menghasilkannya adalah bagi memenuhi keperluan warga kampus dan kumpulan barisan hadapan sebagai langkah pencegahan untuk mengurangkan risiko penularan virus Covid-19  dan bakteria berbahaya.

To date, 200 liters of hand sanitizer have been produced with 3200 bottles being distributed to various parties. In addition to meeting the requirements of the campus, USIM also donated this hand sanitizer to the uniformed members of the 508th Regiment Seremban Tactical Forces, the Nilai District Police Headquarter and Nilai Fire Station. It is also supplied for use at the Quarantine Centre Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) and the Aminuddin Baki Institute (IAB) Quarantine Center, Enstek to meet the needs of the staff there.

USIM’s efforts to help the forefront by leveraging on the expertise of the lecturers also earned the praises and recognition from the Minister of Higher Education, Dato ‘Dr. Noraini Ahmad during a visit to the USIM campus last Friday.

Prepared:
Zaini Othman
Pusat Komunikasi Strategik (StraComm)
Aras 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan