Medical Relief
The hallmark of MERCY Malaysia is in emergency medical response during the early emergency phase of disasters and complex emergencies. MERCY Malaysia also conducts training in Rapid Assessment and Emergency Response to achieve faster and quality deployment through good coordination and planning processes.
Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)
In the recent years, the humanitarian sector has recognised the importance of MHPSS, both for people affected by disasters and humanitarian workers. Skilled volunteers are part of the emergency response team deployed after disasters to provide psychosocial intervention, support and guidance.
Once the critical phrase of a disaster has settled, the people affected need assistance to get back to normal life. MERCY Malaysia began providing Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in its humanitarian relief operations in 2005.
Since then, a range of safe water provision strategies were conducted in Johor and Pahang (2006 and 2007 floods), Pakistan (2005 South Asia earthquake), Indonesia (2006 Jogjakarta earthquake), Bangladesh (2007 cyclone), Myanmar (2008 Cyclone Nargis) and in ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Palestine and Sri Lanka.
During the 2007 Pahang floods, MERCY Malaysia distributed Pur sachets sufficient to treat 1.7 million litres of water to an estimated 8,200 flood-affected people in Mengkarak, Kuala Bera, Port Iskandar, Chenor, Pesagi, and Serengkam.
MERCY Malaysia also worked on an Arsenic Mitigation Project in the village of Kabarikhola, Bangladesh, to make safe and arsenic-free water available to the public. The project features a man-made well locally referred to as Indara, and extensive pipeline network that brings free water to households.
Medical Outreach Clinics
Our mobile and dental clinics provide free basic medical services and basic dental treatment to vulnerable communities as well as the underprivileged. Medication is given free of charge, and patients requiring follow-up treatment are referred to the nearest hospital/medical centre.
Cleft Lip and Palate Project (CLIPP)
Cleft lip/palate is a congenital deformity formed before birth during the gestation period. Clefts are a major problem in developing countries, where there are millions of children as well as adults who are suffering from unrepaired clefts. They are often subjected to social stigma and many live a life filled with isolation and shame if left untreated.
The CLIPP programme provides free reconstructive surgery to correct cleft lip and palate defects for underprivileged populations in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Malaysia.
Maternal & Reproductive Health
Pregnant women have specific needs to ensure they and their unborn babies are of good health. In vulnerable communities, especially in remote areas, these needs are often not met because of poor facilities or a lack of skilled staff. MERCY Malaysia provides reproductive health services through mobile clinics, as well as other capacity development projects such as supplying medical equipment and training for ultrasound technicians.
Cataract
Cataract is a condition which afflicts the eye, where the lens becomes cloudy and vision becomes limited or severely impaired. Cataract tends to be prevalent among the aged, and in vulnerable communities, especially in remote areas, optical services are severely constrained. MERCY Malaysia provides optical services through mobile clinics and cataract camps.
DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (DRR)
Disaster Risk Reduction involves activities that protect communities from hazards and minimise their vulnerability to disaster risks. It moves beyond the traditional disaster management that mainly focuses on response, rehabilitation and rebuilding post-disaster.
For DRR projects to achieve meaningful and sustainable reduction in disaster risk, all stakeholders need to be involved. MERCY Malaysia’s Building Resilient Communities is targeted at 5 main segments of society, providing a holistic scope of disaster risk reduction education.
Every workshop gets stakeholder participation to identify, analyse, treat, monitor and evaluate potential risks within their environment, thereby empowering them to implement solutions that they develop themselves.
Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM)
Targeted at at-risk communities at disaster-prone areas, to equip locals with the knowledge and skills to identify capacities and hazards, and be better prepared in the event the next disaster happens.
School Preparedness Programme
To generate a culture of disaster awareness and response among students, teachers and staff.
Health Infrastructure
Hospitals need to be highly resilient as they are the main focus point whenever a disaster happens. RHI training involves preparedness training for medical and non-medical staff to increase their resilience levels.
Private Sector
Prepares private and corporate sector with disaster risk education and business continuity plan to face any ineventuality.
Local Government Units
Often, a top-down approach is necessary to make disaster risk reduction possible. Policy-makers and local authorities who are trained in disaster risk reduction will have a heightened awareness of disaster preparedness, hazards and capacities, which will help in making informed decisions.