MERCY Malaysia Signs MoU With Local Partner To Expand Distribution Of Hygiene Kits In Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 October 2009 – MERCY Malaysia has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a local partner, Caritas Novaliches Cathedral in Quezon City, Manila to expand its distribution of hygiene kits to the affected communities in Philippines.

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

 

According to MERCY Malaysia Senior Programme Support Officer Hew Cheong Yew, the distribution of hygiene kits is essential to curb post disaster ailments such as water-borne diseases, vector-borne diseases, respiratory diseases (i.e.; 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.”

 

Caritas Novaliches Cathedral is the largest church institution in Philippines which is recognized by 90 per cent of the population, mainly Catholics. The household institution will support MERCY Malaysia by ensuring the coordination of local logistical arrangements and availability of manpower so that MERCY Malaysia can strengthen the distribution of the hygiene kits.