CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS TO SHORTAGE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A CASE STUDY ON CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in declining global economy in many sectors, including the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE), as a result of factory lockdowns, restriction of movement and social distancing. At the peak of infection, the demand of PPE superseded the supply causing an alarming crisis capacity. Contingency plans to ensure continuous PPE availability at hospitals or clinical centres were critical to safeguard health care workers and the front-line personnel. Best practice guidelines from the Ministry of Health were followed and adjusted to local setting to optimise the use of PPE. Many contributions were made by the citizens to overcome this pandemic, and this section discusses the responses from other organizations and communities. Reachout programmes to the community, corporate and non-governmental organisations were part of the strategy to overcome the critical PPE supply. Promotional flyers to attract donation, resources and man power for “do-it-yourself” PPE projects were some of the initiatives taken at our institute. This article highlights the challenges and solutions to PPE shortages, including corporate and community’s rapid and enormous response at the age of COVID-19 pandemic experienced at the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia. © Penerbit UMT