Healthcare accessibility is limited to some community from remote areas in
Sabah due to the challenging geographical and road conditions.
Volunteerism work by non-governmental organisation
such as Mercy would certainly be significant for them especially those who come
from low socioeconomic background.
People at Kampung Inarad in Kinabatangan are one of
the communities who rely on herbs and plants from jungle or consume expired
medicine to treat minor ailments.
Its JKKK chairman Mandun Linopas, 57, said the
people, despite being well, they would still attend the medical services. For
them, it is now or never!
The Murut villagers, who are either work as
plantation workers or farmers, have to fork out at least RM200 per person to
charter a four-wheel drive vehicle to go to nearest health clinic in Tongod.
Mercy’s recent mission had benefited 234
villagers who got basic health screenings on hypertension, diabetes,
caries, visual problems and reproductive-related diseases.
The people are having the once-a-year medical
services due to the willingness of volunteers to go to their far-flung place
and generosity by corporate such as UMW Holdings Bhd to fund the expenses.
Mercy team comprised of more than 20 volunteers of
various backgrounds was led by a young doctor Dr Anbarasu Ramalingam.
The mission with convoy of 11
four-wheel-drive cars took the lead from Dr Anbarasu despite there were other
more experienced off-road drivers who knew better shortcut to access the
village.
As said by the Mercy Sabah Chapter chairman Dr
Helen Lasimbang prior to flagging off the convoy: “Heed the decision made by
team leader and voice out any dissatisfaction directly to the right person, as
the main priority is to deliver the services to the people,”.
Volunteer cum driver Francis Aniu, 44, who has
served as a medical assistant officer in the health ministry, invested almost
RM150,000 on his personal four-wheel-drive car to access to places impassable
by other vehicles.
The team also has a newly joined member Dr Timothy
Cheng from Orthopedic department at Lahad Datu hospital who was willing to
squat and wash everyone’s cutlery after meals.
Not to mention there were also retirees,
businessmen, orchid lover who endured the cold night and slept on the hard
surface floor at the village head’s modern longhouse.
UMW Investor and Media Relations manager Tengku Nor
Azah Tengku Mahmood said it was inspiring that more young people were into
volunteerism work and hoped more people to join in the good cause.
The corporate had sponsored total of RM150,000 for
similar medical missions in Sabah and Sarawak this year.
On average, a medical trip would require about
RM15,000 to cover the logistics cost and medication supplies.
Nor hoped more organisations would come forward and
contribute to the rural community for basic health services.
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