The COVID-19 pandemic betokens the greatest challenge in global health crisis of our time. Globally, countries are hastening up efforts to contain the infection from making the headlines by prioritising and improving their diagnostic capacities. The Clinical Research Centre of Sarawak General Hospital (CRC SGH) has recently set up a diagnostic laboratory at Sarawak Heart Centre (SHC), Kota Samarahan to expand the COVID-19 testing capacity in Sarawak. As part of the corporate social responsibility, two of our Swinburne Sarawak academicians, Associate Professor Dr. Hwang Siaw San (Head of School from School of Chemical Engineering and Science) and Dr. Xavier Chee Wezen (lecturer from the same school) are volunteering to provide technical supports for diagnosis of COVID-19. Both are volunteering for two months (June & July 2020). Together with other volunteers from various institutions such as Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC), UNIMAS and Agriculture Research Centre, the team of volunteers will be working closely with members from CRC SGH to expand the local testing capacity for COVID-19. COVID-19 is yet another keepsake for us to ponder the importance of early disease diagnosis beyond uncontrollable crisis. Regardless, it takes solidarity to overthrow COVID-19.


Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hwang in full PPE before entering the Molecular Laboratory