GEORGE TOWN: Despite the risk she faces as a frontliner at a vaccination centre (PPV), volunteer Ukthai Eh Chom is enjoying her work.
The Malaysian of Siamese descent looks forward to meeting people from various backgrounds.
She remembers helping Uncle Hor who came for his vaccination at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) PPV. He had his head covered in a plastic bag.
“Uncle Hor’s appearance made heads turn.
“It was difficult for him to fill up the forms as there was water vapour in the bag.
“After I helped him with the consent form, he was happy and insisted on giving the frontliners some money for lunch.
“He was a chatty and friendly man. I learnt never to judge a person by his appearance since then,” said the 23-year-old, a third year student at the School of Humanities in USM.
The Star had earlier reported that after his jab, Hor Boon Chung, a 63-year-old cleaner, gave the frontliners RM400 and told them that lunch was on him.
Hor had said that he felt safer using the plastic bag as a shield. He did not care about what people thought of this.
Of her experience, Ukthai said she was happy and proud to be a volunteer at the PPV.
“I speak Thai, Mandarin, Malay and English. That’s my advantage when serving the public,” she said.
Muhammad Zharfan Mohd Zailan, 22, said his communication and management skills had improved since volunteering at the PPV.
“I have learnt to handle different situations and communicate with people, especially the elderly.
“I have to improvise too as there are many last-minute changes,” said the second year construction management student in USM.
He said there was once a woman who threw a fit and struck her head against a wall when she did not get her vaccination shot at the same time as her husband.
“We had to calm her down and explain to her that she would get her turn soon. Luckily, she understood,” he said.
Muhammad Zharfan said he had also picked up better time management skills.
“Since I am having my final exams, I have to juggle between volunteering and studying.
“On days when I’m on duty, I will volunteer from 8am to 5pm, go for an hour’s jog before dinner and the start my revision,” he said.
Final year economy student Moh Nian Sheng, 24, said volunteering at the PPV improved his Penang Hokkien.
“The Hokkien that we speak back in my hometown in Sibu, Sarawak, is slightly different from that in Penang.
“I am happy to be a translator for senior citizens who cannot converse well in Malay and English.
“Before they receive their vaccination, many of the elderly folk share their stories.
“Volunteering at the PPV has helped me grow as a person,” he said.
