Heard about Pamaguan Island? Hehe,I bet never. I got to know about it few weeks ago and last Monday(27th oct.) I followed a trip there for health screening activity, as part of a 3 days community service project by Amal Foundation & JAKIM.
It was indeed an exhilarating experience…being in an island,30 minutes boat ride from Batu Putih Sandakan (which is approx. 10km from my workplace). The islanders depend on rain for water supply, generators for electricity, no health facility at all…nearest klinik desa being in a neighbouring island…which is almost an hour by boat. They have a surau, an SK…well think that’s all. There are 30 houses in this island…population of about 200 (i guess)Wow…what an adventerous life they brace through every day…
As we arrived, we were served makan (as usual makan comes first). Big group of volunteers…mainly teachers, are already there for 2 nights.After makan, we (my friends…a pharmacist, a teacher & a PA)began our work…seeing patients. Not many…about 40 villagers in total. Few cases had to be referred to HDOK.
Then came the shocking request…pengarah projek asked me to give the officiating speech of the programme! Tergezut, lalu menolak dgn cara yg berkesan…me & impromptu speech…hehe does not match…to officiate an event…hehe…lg susah tu..
Then the adventerous trip back…we had to stroll along a muddy trail to get to our boat at the river bank, as returning boat was a large one,thus can’t reach by the village side.
That was a real “swampy experience”. Our feet was sunk deep into the mud up to knee level!
Nevertheless, it was fun & of course a new kind of experience…as though I’ve been to similar islands before as student, this island is definitely different…and going as a medical personnel is a whole different experience. U get to see the difficulties they face…first hand! I met a man…bed ridden for almost 6 months; an expectant G9P8 mother, whose EDD is just 2 days away, planning to give birth in the island…without knowing the risks she’s facing.
end of the day, I am still wondering, can such a life would ever change to a betterment?
It was indeed an exhilarating experience…being in an island,30 minutes boat ride from Batu Putih Sandakan (which is approx. 10km from my workplace). The islanders depend on rain for water supply, generators for electricity, no health facility at all…nearest klinik desa being in a neighbouring island…which is almost an hour by boat. They have a surau, an SK…well think that’s all. There are 30 houses in this island…population of about 200 (i guess)Wow…what an adventerous life they brace through every day…
As we arrived, we were served makan (as usual makan comes first). Big group of volunteers…mainly teachers, are already there for 2 nights.After makan, we (my friends…a pharmacist, a teacher & a PA)began our work…seeing patients. Not many…about 40 villagers in total. Few cases had to be referred to HDOK.
Then came the shocking request…pengarah projek asked me to give the officiating speech of the programme! Tergezut, lalu menolak dgn cara yg berkesan…me & impromptu speech…hehe does not match…to officiate an event…hehe…lg susah tu..
Then the adventerous trip back…we had to stroll along a muddy trail to get to our boat at the river bank, as returning boat was a large one,thus can’t reach by the village side.
That was a real “swampy experience”. Our feet was sunk deep into the mud up to knee level!
Nevertheless, it was fun & of course a new kind of experience…as though I’ve been to similar islands before as student, this island is definitely different…and going as a medical personnel is a whole different experience. U get to see the difficulties they face…first hand! I met a man…bed ridden for almost 6 months; an expectant G9P8 mother, whose EDD is just 2 days away, planning to give birth in the island…without knowing the risks she’s facing.
end of the day, I am still wondering, can such a life would ever change to a betterment?
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