A house in Constitucion damaged by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami

On 27 February 2010, at approximately 3.35 a.m. local time, an earthquake of magnitude 8.8 struck Chile. The earthquake generated a tsunami that affect 500km off the Chile coastline. The official death toll was 528. It is estimated that 2 million people were affected and up to 1.5 million houses destroyed.

The extent of the devastation prompted MERCY Malaysia to launch the Chile Earthquake Fund and to send an assessment team to Chile to indentify how MERCY Malaysia could contribute to the response effort. Thanks to the kind donations from the Malaysian public we have managed to raise almost RM 40,000 to date. In addition, MAS sponsored international flights from Kuala Lumpur for our team members. This was part of a long term partnership with MAS where it provides sponsored or discounted tickets for MERCY Malaysia’s emergency response.

An assessment team comprising of Dr Paul Mettler and Dr Heng Aik Cheng went to Chile from 6th to 16th March 2010. The team went to the town of Constitucion which is located approximately 6 hours from the Chilean capital, Santiago. Constitucion has a population of 58,000, 22% of which was severely affected by the earthquake and tsunami. The assessment team identified that public health services were overloaded and there was a need for assistance to set up a proper psychosocial response system to assist disaster affected individuals.

A five-person team was dispatched to Chile on 24 March. The team members were logistician and team leader, Mr. Raja Manickam Krishnasamy; a doctor, Dr. Ho Loon Shin; two nurses, Noor Janah Abdullah and Anita Abd Malek @ Ani as well as a psychosocial counselor, Sharima Ruwaida Binti Abbas. Due to the excessive travelling time involved it was decided it would be a three-week mission.

Dr Ho and Noor Jannah treating a patient at the Cerro Alto Family Health Centre in Constitucion

With the help of a translator, our medical team supported the local medical staff at the Cerro Alto Family Health Centre in Constitucion by providing primary health care coverage to people housed at temporary settlements following the earthquake. All in all, the team treated over 400 men, women and children. The psychosocial counselor worked with local psychosocial teams at the Cerro Alto Family Health Centre and the Constitucion Hospital to develop a local system for psychosocial intervention.

During their stay in Chile, the team’s work was made much easier thanks to the support given by the Malaysian Embassy staff in Santiago, in particular Puan Anil.

The local authorities in Constitucion and the Ministry of Health were highly appreciative of the assistance provided by MERCY Malaysia’s team. The team returned safely to Malaysia on 16 April after more than 24 hours travelling. They were obviously tired, but rightfully proud of a job well done.

Raja Manickam Krishnasamy
Senior Logistics Officer