Under The Patronage of
His Royal Highness Sultan Azlan Shah
The Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan

KUALA LUMPUR, THURSDAY, 29 JANUARY 2009 – MERCY Malaysia’s 7th team consisting of five medical experts has safely entered Gaza to continue the international non-governmental organisation’s mission in giving aid to the affected Palestinians.

Dubbed as the “medical-reproductive health-psychosocial” team, they will focus on primary health, reproductive health and psychosocial intervention in the conflict area. This is apart from ensuring a continuous shipment of medical aid into the Gaza Strip.

As of today, there are a total of thirteen medical and surgical experts from MERCY Malaysia providing specialised medical and surgical services inside the conflict area.

The five, comprising Dr Norherah Syed Omar (Primary Health), Dr Fauziah Mohd Hasan (Obstetrician and Gynaecologist), Ms Reem Saad Osman Bashir (Psychologist), Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan (Physician) and Prof Mohamed Hatta Shaharom (Psychiatrist), will look at the possibilities of starting sustainable programmes in primary health, reproductive health as well as psychological intervention and mental health support programmes as part of a sustainable health sector aid programme.

“We hope to work with other partners, be it local or international, to explore on possible psychosocial and mental health services that can be provided,” said MERCY Malaysia Acting President Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus.

He added that in the primary health sector, MERCY Malaysia will look into providing access to clean water and introducing safer hygiene practices.

“One of the many ways that we can do this is by providing water purification tablets or sachets as well as water filtration systems if there is a specific need,” he said responding to an assessment made by MERCY Malaysia President Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood earlier this month on the lack of clean water.

Besides that, MERCY Malaysia will also be assessing the possibility of the outbreak of communicable diseases such as water-borne diseases and cholera.

“We will also explore the needs on child health such as immunisation programmes,” he further added in a statement.

Plans are also being made to upgrade the current reproductive health services in the conflict area.

“We will be expecting an assessment report from the team in Gaza to further strategise our plans. We hope the outcome will strengthen and intensify our work in the conflict area which will then result in a more sustainable and longer-term plan now that the crisis is in the post-emergency phase,” said Dr Faizal.

On 23 January 2009, a sixth team of eight specialists from MERCY Malaysia did a survey on the damage in the Gaza Strip following the three-week Israeli attacks.

The team had found that most health infrastructure and facilities have been severely damaged. They are now working at the Shahid Annajar Hospital in Gaza where they are providing expert surgical treatment and intervention.

The team has proposed several potential projects that MERCY Malaysia can undertake at the hospital.

Dr Faizal added that MERCY Malaysia was considering several options which include building and equipping a rehabilitation unit at the hospital.

MERCY Malaysia is also considering to support an Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rafah for six months.

Dr Faizal said that where MERCY Malaysia chose to work depended on the people’s needs, the amount of funding available and access to the affected area, among other variables.

The conflict in the Gaza Strip, which began on Dec 27, has killed thousands and injured even more.

To date, MERCY Malaysia has sent in medical supplies and medicines worth USD 400,000 including sedative agents, antibiotics, intravenous solutions, pain killers, as well as a variety of surgical and medical equipment.

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 03-2273 3399 or Hana Kamaruddin at 019-3040420 or log on to www.mercy.org.my .