Friday, April 29, 2011 comments (0)

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.

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give" We are measured as a manager by what we produce. We are judged as a leader by what we give."..Winston Churchill

Life flows through us, and we simply play our role. Our real job is to serve all the constituencies in our life and, in the process, to appreciate genuinely the fact that only through our interdependence with others do we create value. the more we serve and appreciate thers, the more we co-operatively generate value-added contribution. As leaders, if we live for ourselves, we will have only ourselves for support. If we live for our organisation, we will have people for support. If we live for the world, the whole universe will support usl serve with purpose and you will marshal far-reaching resources.

A friend of mine had been seeking an opportunity to teach her son about the value of service and giving. The opportunity presented itself after the young boy's birthday party as he prepared to devour one of his gifts: a multi-layered box of cholocates. approaching her son, my friend asked, "Are you happy with this gift?" Wild-eyed, he immediately responded, "Oh, Yes!" My friend probed, "What would make you even happier?" her son had no idea what could possibly add to his joy. His mother then said, "If you gave someone else a chocolate, they would be as happy as you are, and you could feel even happier." The young boy hesitated for a minute. Then, he said, "Let's go see grandma at the nursing home." Off they went to the nursing home. When the child saw the joy on his grandmother's face and felt how it multiplied his joy, he was hooked. Before he left the nursing home, the entire box was gone, and the boy learned the power and joy of service.

Understand that some of us are fortunate to have this particular role. Appreciate it: then let your talents and gifts come forth.

"Service is the virtue that distinguished the great of all times and which they will be remembered by. It places a mark of nobility upon its desciples. It is the dividing line which separeates the two great groups of the world- those who help and those who hinder, those who lift and those who lean, those who contribute and those who only consume. How much better it is to give thatn to receive.

Service in any form is comely and beautiful. To give encouragement, to impart sympathy, to show interest, to banish gear, to build self-confidence and awaken hope in the heart of others, in short: to love them and to show it... is to render the most precious service.

activities during the month of Ramadan

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 comments (0)

One of the many beauties of Islam is that it is a way of life that corresponds with a human being's natural disposition in every aspect of life. Amongst these things that a human naturally feels is mercy and compassion for the sick. Hence, Islam has placed a great deal of emphasis on bringing these qualities into our lives. The Holy Prophet stated in one hadith: “Show compassion to those on earth, the One in the heavens will show mercy upon you.”
Visiting the sick is from amongst those responsibilities and duties that a Muslim must fulfil. Imam Bukhari has transmitted a hadith in his Sahih from Sayyidina Abu Huraira May Allah be pleased with him that our beloved Prophet Peace and blessings upon him said: “The rights of one Muslim over another Muslim are six.” Someone asked, “What are they?” The Holy Prophet Peace and blessings upon him replied, “When you meet him you greet him with salaam (peace), when he invites you, you accept his invitation, when he consults you in a matter, you give him sincere advice. When he sneezes and praises Allah, you ask Allah to have mercy on him. When he is sick, you visit him and when he passes away you accompany him i.e. you join in his jenazah (funeral).”

These actions create love of bonding within the Muslims. Furthermore, the Muslims in essence are like one body as mentioned in an authentic narration of Rasulullah Peace and blessings upon him. If one part of the body hurts the entire body hurts. Our consolation will not take away the sickness from our Muslim brother or sister, but it may lift his spirits and make him happy.