Medical Outreach at Pulau Banggi

The Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu together with Wanita UMNO Kudat Division, Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Sabah, Kudat, Klinik Pergigian, Banggi and Sabah Medical Centre Healthcare Sdn Bhd organized Medical Outreach Camp at Kg Limbuak Laut, Pulau Banggi on Saturday 23^rd April 2011.

Rotarian Dr Ravi Mandalam led a team of 14 doctors including a dental surgeon, paediatrician and radiologist took part in the medical outreach ably assisted by a team of pharmacist, sonographer, staff nurses, other hospital and health department staff and Rotarians numbering 25 persons. The medical party consisted of private practitioners, government doctors and staff from Hospital Likas, Hospital Queen Elizabeth I and II and staff of Sabah Medical Health care Sdn Bhd. Medicines for the camp were entirely sponsored by Sabah Medical Healthcare Sdn Bhd. Two visiting medical students from United Kingdom also participated in the Camp.

The medical team arrived at Pulau Banggi a day earlier on 22^nd April after a journey by road from Kota Kinabalu to Kudat and by ferry from Kudat to Pulau Banggi and left on 24^th morning for the return trip to Kota Kinabalu.

Local organization was ably provided by Datin Aminah Ambrose, Chief of Wanita UMNO Kudat Division and her dedicated team who publicized the event in the villages on the island, organized accommodation, transport and food for the visiting medical party and food for the residents who attended the camp. The medical party was hosted at the house of En Jasni Eser, headman (Ketua Kampung) of Kg Limbuak Laut.

The Medical Outreach Camp was conducted at the Community Hall (Balai Raya) of Kg Limbuak Laut. Over 300 patients were attended to which included patients of all age groups. Blood sugar estimation and body mass index (BMI) were conducted by staff of the State Health Department. About 200 dental extractions done and 35 patients underwent portable ultrasound scanning. Patients requiring hospital treatment were given referrals to the Hospital Kudat.

The team also participated in a motivation seminar for the students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Banggi during which Rtn Iskandar Ahmad, Rtn Dr Rashid, En Mohd Azhar and Cik Fia Iskandar gave talks to the students on a range of topics to motivate the young minds.

The entire program was a rewarding experience for both the organizers and the residents of Pulau Banggi. The medical team which consisted of several young doctors got a first-hand experience of life in remote areas of the Sabah, the development undertaken by the Government as well as the standard of good health enjoyed by the village communities. Residents of the community benefited by the service rendered to them at their doorstep. The Camp set the tone for similar future efforts in the same direction.