MEDICAL OUTREACH PROGRAM 2023

MEDICAL OUTREACH PROGRAM 2023

In collaboration with Raleigh Kuala Lumpur  (RKL), Malaysia Relief Agency (MRA), and MAMSA Victoria (Malaysian Medical Students and Alumni of Victoria), DRSForAll successfully completed the mission to extend healthcare services to 4 remote Orang Asli villages in Pahang.

Reducing Healthcare Disparity

Throughout the 4-day, 3-night mission, the medical team and volunteers navigated through logistical challenges and worked hand-in-hand to deliver free health assessments and interventions to villagers who lack proper healthcare facilities in the village.

Youth Development

On-site experience in rural settings allowed the young volunteers to cultivate various skills and adaptability while executing the program without modern conveniences.

Community and Connection

Engaging with local villages throughout the program formed connections and established trust with the community to create sustainable impact. Human connection is, after all, the core of all outreach efforts.

Day 1

We began our journey at  our assembly point in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, where we met up with the volunteers from Raleigh KL and DRSForAll. The journey to our destination took 4 hours in total, which was a memorable experience as we traversed the rough terrain in four-wheel drive vehicles. We had meaningful conversations with the doctors and other volunteers, during which we were briefed about what to expect at the various villages.

We briefly stopped at the base Medik OA post in Kampung Dayok, where we loaded up medical equipment.

Upon arrival at our homestay, we were amazed by the picturesque landscape of the Ulu Lipis mountains. It was located next to rushing waters, which we were surprised to find was the only source of our water supply. 

For most of us, it was our first time staying in traditional bamboo houses, and although we were told that there would be very basic facilities, we were able to shower and sleep comfortably, as well as have access to electricity  provided by a generator. The day ended with a delicious dinner and sharing experiences with other volunteers and doctors.

Day 2

We woke to the gentle murmur of river currents as the morning light filtered through the fine mesh of our mosquito nets. After prepping our essentials and joining the rest of the team for a simple breakfast, we took a moment to appreciate the vibrant foliage that surrounded us before mounting our convoy of four-wheel drives.

Arriving at our first destination,Kg Cincin, we equipped gloves and litter pickers to clear a patch of land for our temporary clinic. Soon, groups of locals began strolling up the hillside to receive their check-ups. Doctors split up to handle tasks such as handling registration, seeing individual patients, and tending our portable pharmacy. At the same time, we moved from station to station eager to help out and learn what we could.

Following our first clinic, we returned to base camp for lunch and a brief rest before departing to Kg Pagar for an afternoon clinic. Upon arrival, we saw little more than a few traditional bamboo chalets constructed alongside a dense jungle wall. We hurried to set up our makeshift clinic under the branches of an overhanging jackfruit tree as groups of Orang Asli children and adults began to line up. As we listened in with stethoscopes, measured blood pressures, and distributed medications, children watched on with a cautious curiosity. Here, outsiders are undoubtedly a rarity.

Our day of hard work was rewarded with a refreshing “mandi sungei”, a welcome relief from the sun and humidity. Soon, another delicious meal was ready for us, and after we had our fill of food and socialisation, we settled in for the night.

Day 3  

Just when rising to the sound of the roaring river and the comfort of each other’s company grew familiar, we had to bid farewell to four of our doctors who had to leave early. It was encouraging to see them in good spirits despite having to make the extensive journey back to KL. After waving our final goodbyes, we set off to set up our final clinic of the trip at Kg  Cerewes. 

The scorching heat was nothing in comparison to the warmth of the community at the kampung. The little, inconspicuous church, housed a magnitude of altruism. Besides assisting where we could, MAMSA was allowed to present our pre-prepared, handcrafted poster on dengue to the community in Bahasa Malaysia — a feat that could only be achieved by half of us. 

After the clinic, we were treated to a hearty meal at the village head’s (Batin) home before returning to our homestay to pack up all our possessions for the next destination. Hanging out in rivers continued to be our favourite way to pass time. The refreshing feeling of the currents hugging you on their journey downstream seemed to carry with them the worries we brought with us from the city.  

Our last stop for the day was another homestay. There, we enjoyed a dinner with freshly barbecued chicken and a supper of roasted marshmallows under the starry night sky. Our third and final night of the trip was spent in the serenity of nature that we would soon come to miss. 

A doctor’s duty of care continues beyond the consultation. I distinctly remember one of the doctors sending us a positive prognosis update of one of the children he saw this day after we had already returned to our fast-paced, city lives. It would be a great misconception to believe that the Orang Asli have poor health. Compared to us, the most common diseases presented among them were largely due to environmental factors. It was rare to find anyone with say cardiovascular problems. This makes me wonder if we are the ones who take health for granted.

Day 4

On the final day, we were greeted with a home-cooked breakfast while enjoying the beautiful scenery at our homestay. It was a bittersweet experience reminiscing on memories from the past few days. We packed up our remaining supplies and headed back to Kuala Lumpur.

Reflection and Acknowledgements

Through this program, we were offered a unique opportunity to experience the life of the Semai people, an Indigenous group (Orang Asli) in the Peninsula. We were introduced to a welcoming community of diverse cultures, and an eye-opening experience of practising medicine in a resource-limited environment. We’ve become more aware of the struggles and needs of the Indigenous people in Malaysia, and how crucial it is for us to provide aid to these communities. Furthermore, we have realised the importance of not only helping these communities but also allowing these communities the opportunity to support themselves. DRsForAll does this by training interested OA volunteers to be medics, who are then able to provide fundamental medical care to the people in their villages. We would like to thank DRsForAll and MRA for their role in making this medical outreach trip possible, and for all the guidance and knowledge they’ve passed down to us. We would also like to thank Raleigh KL for their amazing support in organising the logistics of this whole trip, and for their hospitality. This trip has truly shown us the value of community and we were all incredibly inspired by the enthusiasm shown by all the volunteers. We hope to be able to participate in these trips again!

Annex

DRsForAll is a community-based program by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations, Malaysia, (FPMPAM) which aims to bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility for remote communities.

Raleigh KL is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on youth development through  adventure, community, and the environment projects. The tagline ‘Get Out There!’ encourages young people to get involved in meaningful causes to make a difference. 

Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA) is a humanitarian non-profit organisation with the primary goal of assisting those affected by natural disasters or armed conflicts, both locally and abroad. 

MAMSA Victoria (Malaysian Medical Students and Alumni of Victoria) is a non-profit student association that aims to unite Victorian medical students and alumni from Malaysia and beyond.