Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) has approved an immediate allocation of RM500,000 to upgrade facilities at the Kemar Health Clinic in Gerik to strengthen healthcare services for the Orang Asli community in the area. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that part of the allocation would be used to construct a new Boat Storage Facility.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the facility plays a crucial role in delivering healthcare services to the Orang Asli community, who rely heavily on it. The existing facility, which is more than 11 years old, has become dilapidated and can only accommodate one boat, making it challenging to protect and maintain this vital asset. Dzulkefly added that part of the allocation would also be used to procure assets such as a four-wheel-drive vehicle to replace the existing ageing vehicle.
Moreover, the allocation covers the purchase of essential medical equipment such as a Video Laryngoscope, crucial for facilitating intubation procedures during emergency cases. Dzulkefly emphasized the MOH's commitment to expediting the construction of the new Kemar Health Clinic (Type 5) to ensure that residents could soon access more comfortable, comprehensive, and modern healthcare facilities.
Earlier, Dzulkefly inspected the health facility and met its staff during his visit to Hulu Perak. In another post, he mentioned officiating the Medik 8 Boat at the Belum Rainforest Resort Jetty to reduce emergency response times for over 4,500 Orang Asli residents around the RPS Kemar settlement, who rely entirely on waterways for transportation.
The 12-passenger multipurpose boat, costing RM350,000, will complement the MOH's existing fleet of six boats. Dzulkefly expressed appreciation for healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and boat operators, who are always ready to face river currents and adverse weather conditions to fulfil their duties. He highlighted that under Malaysia MADANI's principle, healthcare is an equal right for all, and difficult terrain and remote geography will not hinder providing the best healthcare to all Malaysians.
Dzulkefly also visited the Community Feeding Programme (PCF) Centre at RPS Kemar, an initiative aimed at providing targeted nutritional intervention for Orang Asli children aged six months to six years. The programme includes active feeding, provision of full-cream milk, multivitamins, and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) treatment for malnutrition cases.
He noted the programme's positive health outcomes over a decade, highlighting that the stunting rate has drastically reduced from 75.2 per cent to 50.8 per cent, while the underweight rate declined from 43.7 per cent to 25.2 per cent.