IPOH, Sept 20 (Bernama) — MERCY Malaysia is preparing to deploy its sixth and seventh Special Medical Teams to Gaza soon to continue humanitarian missions despite facing technical and security challenges.
Its president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said the teams are expected to depart once all requirements are fulfilled, with the number of members depending on the situation in the war-torn territory.
“If the ceasefire holds as before, we can send a larger team comprising six to eight members.
“However, if the situation persists (with the Israeli blockade), the team will be limited to four to five people, consisting of medical specialists to assist the people there,” he said in a press conference after the handover ceremony of medical equipment from MERCY Malaysia to Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun’s (HRPB) Neurosurgical Critical Care Unit (NCCU), here today.
The ceremony was graced by the Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim.
Also present was Perak health director Datuk Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha.
Ahmad Faizal said MERCY Malaysia’s humanitarian missions in Gaza have never ceased, with the support of local partners who help deliver various forms of assistance.
“For aid missions, we do have local manpower. In Gaza, for instance, we run small-scale farming programmes led by locals to help supplement food supply,” he said.
He added that MERCY Malaysia also collaborates with the United Nations (UN) and several other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to channel aid into areas inaccessible to its own team.
“The situation in Gaza is now reported to be worsening following the latest Israeli attacks, making the delivery of humanitarian aid an urgent priority,” he said.
At the same time, he said MERCY Malaysia is not involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission but supports the noble efforts of more than 1,000 volunteers from Europe, Asia, South Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Earlier, Ahmad Faizal presented medical equipment worth RM340,200 to HRPB deputy medical director II, Dr Yu Fai Ying, for the hospital’s NCCU.
The equipment comprised portable ventilators, intensive care unit (ICU) patient monitors, fluid management systems, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention pumps.
Ahmad Faizal said the contribution was made in response to the urgent need for specialised equipment to facilitate patient treatment and strengthen the functions of the NCCU.
He said the initiative was also part of MERCY Malaysia’s health mandate to support the public healthcare system, particularly in medical and health services.
“This is the second time HRPB’s NCCU has received support from MERCY Malaysia, following a contribution of more than RM200,000 in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dr Feisul Idzwan said HRPB recorded one of the highest numbers of neurosurgical patients in Malaysia, with 1,025 cases reported between April and August this year, including patients from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, and northern Selangor.
“Therefore, the contribution from MERCY Malaysia is expected to improve treatment for stroke and critical neurosurgical cases in Perak,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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