MERCY MALAYSIA MEDICAL SPECIALISTS GOES INTO GAZA

KUALA LUMPUR, WEDNESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2009 – MERCY Malaysia early this morning sent a team comprising medical specialists into the Gaza Strip to continue its mission to deliver targeted services to those affected in the three-week conflict.

Following the approval by the Egyptian authorities to grant MERCY Malaysia access across the Rafah border, the medical team led by MERCY Malaysia Executive Council Member and Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Heng Aik Cheng, is made up of six specialists and will make their way into Gaza to identify both needs and areas of work for MERCY Malaysia as well as to initiate a direct medical intervention inside the conflict area.

The remaining five are Paediatric Surgeon Dr Lai Fui Boon, Orthopaedic Surgeons Dr Azlina Amir Abbas and Dr Shamsul Iskandar, General Surgeon Dr Hairol Azrin Hj Othman and Anaesthetist Dr Asmarawati Mohamad Yatim, all who are volunteers.

To date, MERCY Malaysia has sent in aid mainly in the form of medical supplies and medicines worth USD 400,000 with the last consignment being made up of medical equipments and surgical sets. Some of the medicine consists of sedative agents, antibiotics intravenous solutions and pain killers, among others.

“Apart from that, MERCY Malaysia is also looking at procuring ventilators, orthopaedic apparatus and ultrasound machines as the current demand is for more sophisticated surgical sets,” MERCY Malaysia Acting President Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus said in a statement to the media.

These efforts are part of MERCY Malaysia’s comprehensive plan of action to deliver humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.

As of 18 January 2009, the World Health Organisation reported that the 22-day conflict has killed more than 1,200 and injured about 5,200.

Dr Faizal said that given the escalating number of injuries, MERCY Malaysia was stepping up its Gaza response.

MERCY Malaysia has been able to work for the Gaza survivors because of the generous contributions of the Malaysian public.

Please continue to donate to the Palestine Relief Fund through MERCY Malaysia. For CIMB users, make cheques payable to MERCY MALAYSIA through account number 1424-000-6561053. MAYBANK users may make cheques out to MERCY HUMANITARIAN FUND at account number 5621-7950-4126. Please indicate “Palestine Relief Fund” on the back of the cheque.

For more information, please contact the Communications and Fundraising Department at 03-22733999 or log on to www.mercy.org.my

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