MERCY Malaysia Provides Primary Healthcare to Mentawai Tsunami Survivors in the Southern Part of the Mentawai Islands

The MERCY Malaysia team in the Mentawai Islands has provided primary healthcare treatment to three communities in the southern part of the islands.

“We have visited Lapak, Lakau dan Bulasat on 2 November 2010, and provided primary healthcare treatment and treated about 200 patients in those areas,” said MERCY Malaysia Executive Council member and team leader, Norazam Ab Samah, in Mentawai.

“Apart from providing healthcare treatment to the tsunami survivors, we also distributed food to affected villagers in Lakau,” he added.

Currently, only MERCY Malaysia, the Indonesian Red Cross and SurfAid International are able to travel from one island to another as their boats can withstand the harsh sea and weather conditions.

“With winds up to 60 knots, and waves up to four metres high, we are lucky to have an experienced captain that can navigate the 60-feet Arimbi cruiser,” said Norazam, adding that the MERCY Malaysia team was joined by local NGO, MER-C Indonesia (Medical Emergency Relief Committee Indonesia) on the boat in its relief operation.

“If the weather permits, we will be heading towards Malakopak as we received information that there is a need for primary healthcare for the affected communities in the area,” said Norazam.

Meanwhile, the second team which arrived in Padang on 31 October (Sunday) is facing difficulty getting to the Mentawai Islands due to logistics issue as well as rough waves and unfavourable weather conditions.

“We are exploring every possibility of getting them to Sikakap - either via air with the assistance from the Indonesian military or boat with the assistance of SurfAid International,” said Norazam, adding that in order to fly to the islands, the pilot needs at least 1½ hours of clear sky and calm weather, while it takes about 10 hours by boat.

Concerned individuals and organisations can donate to MERCY Malaysia General Humanitarian Fund through the following bank accounts:

MAYBANK (account name: MERCY HUMANITARIAN FUND, account number : 5621-7950-4126, ABA Swift Code: MBBEMYKLA), or
CIMB Bank (account name: MERCY Malaysia, account number: 1424-000-6561053, ABA Swift Code: CIBBMYKL).

Donations via cheque are payable to MERCY MALAYSIA.

To donate online, please visit www.mercy.org.my.

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About MERCY Malaysia:

MERCY Malaysia is a non‐profit organisation focusing on providing medical relief, sustainable health-related development and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities in both crisis and non-crisis situations. MERCY Malaysia recognises the value of working with partners and volunteers as well as providing opportunities for individuals to serve with professionalism. We uphold the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief and hold ourselves accountable to our donors and beneficiaries. As a non‐profit organisation, MERCY Malaysia relies solely on funding and donations from organisations and generous individuals to continue our services to provide humanitarian assistance to our beneficiaries.

 

For further information, kindly contact:

Mas Elati Samani, Head of Communications and Strategic Engagement, MERCY Malaysia

Level 2, Podium Block, City Point, Kompleks Dayabumi, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50050 KL.

T: 6-03-2273 3999, F: 6-03-2272 3812, E: mas@mercy.org.my W: www.mercy.org.my