MERCY TO DISTRIBUTE HYGIENE KITS TO TYPHOON VICTIMS IN PHILIPPINES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Medical Relief Society (MERCY)
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Caritas Novaliches Cathedral
in Quezon City, Manila to expand its distribution of hygiene kits to victims of
typhoon Ketsana in Philippines.

MERCY Malaysia senior programme support officer Hew Cheong Yew said the
distribution of hygiene kits was essential to curb post-disaster ailments such
as water-borne diseases, vector-borne diseases, respiratory diseases (such as
asthma, bronchitis) and wound infection resulting from improper hygiene care.

"To control the rising number of these ailments, we are engaging with a
local partner to strengthen our logistics component to enable us to reach a
larger number of beneficiaries.

"To do this, we are working with Caritas Novaliches Cathedral which has the
needed resources and capacity to support us," he said in the statement here
Friday.

Last Tuesday, MERCY Malaysia deployed a two-team member to Manila to conduct
on-the ground assessment and distribute hygiene kits to the affected communities
after tropical storm Ketsana lashed the country.

Caritas Novaliches Cathedral, the largest church institution in Philippines
is recognised by 90 per cent of the population, mainly Catholics.

The household institution would support MERCY Malaysia by ensuring the
coordination of local logistical arrangements and availability of manpower so
that MERCY Malaysia could strengthen the distribution of the hygiene kits.

"Initially, we are targeting to reach a total of 15,000 beneficiaries which
will cost a total of RM 210,000. Therefore, we are appealing to the public to
donate so that we can continue to distribute more hygiene kits," added Hew.

The team was also working very closely with local humanitarian partner,
Millet Mendoza, the technical humanitarian consultant for Caritas Manila.

Caritas Manila is a Catholic agency for social services and development in
Manila.

The team was however, on a stand-down mode, in preparation of typhoon Parma
which was expected to hit northern Luzon and Manila, Saturday. The team would
resume operations once the situation was safe and secure.

The distribution of hygiene kits was part of MERCY Malaysia's primary work
of providing WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) facilities to the victims of
the tropical storm.

The kit include basic sanitary items such as toothbrush, shampoo, bath
soap, undergarments, sanitary pads, and bath towels, among others.

An initial RM100,000 (US$28,719) had been allocated from the emergency fund
to respond to this recent disaster.

MERCY Malaysia would continue to monitor the situation through on-the-ground
assessment to look into other areas of humanitarian assistance.

Concerned individuals can donate to the MERCY Malaysia Humanitarian Fund
through MAYBANK (account name: MERCY HUMANITARIAN FUND, account number :
5621-7950- 4126) or CIMB Bank (account name: MERCY Malaysia, account number:
1424-000-6561053).
-- BERNAMA