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Home 8 THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2020
Rokiah Mahmud & Lyna Mohamad
The National Welfare System or
Sistem Kebajikan Negara (SKN)
revealed recently is aimed at
aligning the assistance with a more
comprehensive welfare system.
A more simplified application
process will be implemented for
those in need of assistance from
the Community Development
Department (JAPEM), Brunei Is-
lamic Religious Council (MUIB)
and Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassa-
nal Bolkiah.
According to a statistic shared
by Minister of Culture, Youth and
Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato
Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin
Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful
Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin
in a press conference, more than
9,400 family heads in the country
are receiving the Monthly Welfare
Assistance (BKB) from JAPEM or
the Asnaf Fakir Miskin Assistance
from MUIB as well as assistance
from Yayasan.
In an interview with the
Bulletin, Acting Village Head
of Kampong Kulapis Mohamad
Asyramisyanie bin Kamis said the
system will provide more facilities
especially for villagers who do not
Thumbs up for
new national
welfare system
FROM LEFT: Legislative Council member, Penghulu of Mukim Berakas ‘B’ and Acting Penghulu of Mukim Berakas
‘A’ Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Ali bin Pengiran Maon; Acting Village Head of Kampong Kulapis Mohamad
Asyramisyanie bin Kamis and Acting Village Head of Kampong Lambak ‘B’ Azizi Fakri bin Noorazalie during the
interview. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR & LYNA MOHAMAD
From Page One
“I self-medicated as I usually
would and took some paracetamol.
As the news on the COVID“19 was
blowing up that time, I called our
company helpline and mentioned
my symptoms, where I answered
a typical questionnaire checklist
and whether I travel recently, have
I been in contact with a COVID“19
patients, etc.”
He was advised to see a doctor
and a few days later, had to come
back because his fever symptoms
didn’t subside and was only
prescribed with paracetamol.
It was then a few con˜irmed
positive cases were reported in his
of˜ice, and he called the help line
again. “They called the Ministry of
Health (MoH). They got in touch
with me immediately for the test
and I was told that I was COVID“19
positive the next day.
On receiving the news,
Sudheep couldn’t believe what he
was just told. “That’s like a shock
and I’m not expecting it, especially
when I have been reading about it
since January. I have a lot of notes
about the disease, conditions and
complications and so yes, when
they told me my brain almost froze,”
he said.
“The ˜irst thing that came up to
mymindwaswhy? I havenever been
in contact with those people who
tested positive.. I started worrying
about my wife and daughter
because I’m here with them.. so if I
havebeen infected for the last ˜ive to
COVID-19: Recovered patient still worried over unknowns
have transportation to apply for
assistance as application can be
made online.
The system is currently
updating data and information of
recipients while new application
will be available on July 15.
He said he disseminated
information shared during a
roadshow held at the Ministry of
Finance and Economy (MoFE) with
residents. A resident fromKampong
Kilanas, Mohamad Bajuri bin Haji
Yusof said the system will provide a
comprehensive platform for those
who want to apply for assistance.
“Under one database, the
relevant agencies could monitor
the applications status, review
and make assessment without
any duplication.
“Not only the system will help
monitor the development and
progress of the assistance, it will
also help the government to make
in-depth analysis and appropriate
intervention, including the
management of unemployment,
job seeking and life skills for the
applicants and their dependents to
end the poverty cycle.
Legislative Council member,
Penghulu of Mukim Berakas ‘B’ and
Acting Penghulu of Mukim Berakas
‘A’ Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji
Ali bin Pengiran Maon expressed
his appreciation for the newly-
digitalised welfare system as it will
facilitate assistance ef˜iciently and
with more clarity.
He urged fellow penghulus,
village heads, acting penghulus
and acting village heads to carry
out the responsibilities entrusted
to them to assist those who are
eligible for assistance.
Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji
Ali also expressed his thanks to
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah
ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar
‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi
Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-
Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for
the development of the system.
Meanwhile, Acting Village
Head of Kampong Lambak ‘B’
Azizi Fakri bin Noorazalie saw SKN
as an ef˜icient system. “Some-
times, we overlook those who are
eligible for the assistance, but this
new system, it will help them gain
access and apply directly for the
BKB or Asnaf Fakir Miskin.”
As acting village head, he is
helping to disseminate informa-
tion by brie˜ing BKB recipients re-
siding in Kampong Lambak ‘B’.
He also collects details and
contact numbers of the BKB and
Asnaf Fakir Miskin recipients un-
der his jurisdiction.
As a former Community Devel-
opment Of˜icer under the Employ-
ment and Entrepreneurship (PNK)
unit at the Ministry of Culture,
Youth and Sports, he believes the
system will encourage and em-
power recipients to venture into
entrepreneurship.
six days staying at the same house,
chances of infection gets higher
as well,”
Health of˜icials arrived at his
doorstep to transport him to the
National Isolation Centre (NIC)
in Tutong.
“I had not seen my daughter
in the last four to ˜ive days at
that point of time because I asked
her to be isolated so I called my
wife.. I walked to my living room
and on my way out, my daughter
was standing around 10 feet away
she was crying and I told her
don’t worry I will be back.. in my
mind I don’t know what is going
to happen.”
Even when he was at the NIC,
for the initial two to three days, he
was still in a state of shock.
“Because I’m trying to process
the information, especially the time
when I got the infection and things
which can go wrong.
Since his discharge two weeks
later after conducting three
consecutive swab tests, Sudheep
said life has returned to normal for
him but he is being extra careful.
“It is more of a mental attitude
rather than physical, it’s dif˜icult
because there is no cure for
the virus yet.. reading what’s
happening around the worldmakes
you nervous,” he said adding that
he feels ˜ine and doesn’t have any
complications.
As a recovered COVID“19
patient, Sudheep said he is coping
with the worries of the virus might
infect again and what effects it
brings in the long-term. “Because
this is a relatively new disease, no
one knows what are the long-term
effects,” adding that despite the
commendable Brunei’s Ministry
of Health’s tireless efforts in
containing the virus and prevent
further spread and treating
patients, he would like to see a
follow up on patients general
well-being to see how they cope
post-COVID“19 infection.
He said that these days, every
little things he experienced, such as
a pain in his hand, he felt is related
to the virus. “But then again it could
most probably not be the case.”
He said that he is constantly
thinking about it, even when
everything is ˜ine.
“I have a couple of things I
want to talk to doctors and all but
not sure this just my thinking or is
it happening.. initially when I was
discharged, I had issues with my
sleeping pattern, so I can’t sleep
well even now.. I don’t know if it’s
just because I’m over thinking
about it or some other reason.”
He also said that he tried
starting running again in April but
since then, he thinks that he cannot
bring himself on a distance and
pace like he would normally do.
“I also have breathlessness
but then again, I’m not sure if it is
related to this or its just that I have
not been active for that month,”
although he said physically he does
not feel generally different.
On the issue of the social
stigma surrounding recovered
COVID“19 patients, Sudheep said
that It is understood for a small
population inBrunei that an infected
person would be reluctant to
identify themselves.
“It’s the kind of society and
that’s how it is.. things like people
don’t talk about.”
He said he has heard stories
from local Bruneians who were
infected or swabbed that some of
their close relatives refuses to meet
them for fear of the infection. “But
there’s nothing you can do but just
keep an open mind and carry on
normal lives,” he said.
These days, he said he is trying
to get on with his normal life as
possible but has to reduce activities
and take extra precautions. “I
usually go to the shop a few times
a week but I do minimum once a
week these days and I use a mask,
wash/disinfect my hands regularly
and disinfect my things before I
come home and take a shower after
going out,” he said.
He said now, he is behaving as
if he can get infected again. “Even
when I’m cleaning something, I
ask myself, am I missing any parts?
And start cleaning again although
it’s almost impossible to clean 100
per cent.
He also commended the MoH,
for what he said a fantastic job
controlling the COVID“19 situation
In Brunei. “It’s not only them but
most of the publicwho are following
instructions, rules and guidelines
and it worked, even though we had
to endure hardships and sacri˜ices.
The National Isolation Centre in the Tutong District. PHOTO: BAHYIAH BAKIR