By: Norezzati Md Hanafiah

KUALA SELANGOR, Sept 23 – The Counselling and Medical Social Service Unit, Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital, through volunteers from the “Empowering Charity through Hospital Charity Volunteers Programme” (KASIH), in collaboration with Putra Bakti and the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (WAZAN), UPM, has organised a volunteer programme, "Plogging@Pantai Remis", at Pantai Remis, Kuala Selangor.

This programme was attended by a total of 30 volunteers from HSAAS, consisting of clinical and clinical support staff. The objective of the programme was to increase awareness of social responsibility toward loving the existing ecosystem for its sustainability. In addition, this programme was also held to develop volunteers’ skills in the field to continue contributing to various community and social activities.

Rafidah Sadarudin, Head of Counselling and Medical Social Service Unit, HSAAS UPM, said this kind of volunteer programme was the first of its kind among HSAAS employees.

The programme emphasised the importance of maintaining environmental cleanliness for a comfortable coexistence and also for the benefit of future generations. This programme also indirectly fostered teamwork and self-identity among HSAAS employees from various disciplines.

She added, "Pantai Remis was specifically chosen for this plogging programme because of the importance of the human responsibility to preserve the environment.

This is because the waste brought from the sea to the land is waste that humans discard, and most of it is non-biodegradable and cannot be naturally degraded. Therefore, such initiatives can have an impact on providing a cleaner and healthier ecosystem to live in."

It is hoped that this programme will be a catalyst for nurturing the spirit of volunteering and love for the environment among HSAAS employees, and, more broadly, among UPM employees. A programme such as this deserves attention as it aligns with one of UPM’s core values, which is sustainability. - UPM

Date of Input: 26/09/2023 | Updated: 29/09/2023 | hairul_nizam