THIS IS A POST OF MINE FROM MY PREVIOUS BLOG. ORIGINALLY POSTED IN FEB 2009
I was sitting in peace and tranquility in my ward today, when my HOD asked me to join him for a meeting next week. Guess what...a district level meeting!
What surprised me was the reason for the meeting..."masalah pesakit pendatang tanpa izin(non-local)" and the meeting is kind of to find "solution" or to get some "resolutions" perhaps:)
The main agenda being hospitalization payments of these non-local patients, which were hardly collected and end up as "hutang hapus-kira". My concern is : what we...at Sandakan level can do to overcome this matter? Isn't a STATE-level issue? Isn't to be discussed by our "intelligent" leaders...particularly of Sabah?
Illegal immigrant influx in Sabah is a nationwide-known issue. But not all knows to what extent the trouble has gone to...To simplify matter, I would like to categorize them as follows:
1. We have newly-arrived illegals.
2. Those who have resided in Sabah for years, have brought up families in Sabah...with no valid documents. They are neither Malaysian citizen nor citizens of their homeland.
3. Illegal immigrants with "valid" MYKAD. Need not ask how they obtained it.
(P/S: remind me to add if there are any other categories;)
Malaysia (particularly Sabah) has become kind of free-for-all country. Last year I had patients from Bakungan Island (of the Philippines) coming into Sandakan with no restriction. Again early this year I got a patient with Typhoid from one of the small islands of the Philippines. Of course on humanitarian basis, we treat them.
But where are our authorities...so-called guardians of our borders? Ok they may say difficult to monitor all the possible entry point to Malaysia..."acceptable"...BUT how about those walking around in the centre of town with no pasports/documents? Another case which happened in my ward last year...a lady(non-local with no documents) admitted for para-suicide (allegedly took overdose syabu!). We've already reported to our "great" police on the day of admission. She has done double crime - being illegal & possesing+consuming syabu. But our "superb" police never came during her 2days stay in the ward & had the courage to sound my nurse for not informing them again before patient gets discharged! If only the police had spoken to me...I would have got the chance to screw them to earth!
My utmost sympathy is for those whom are with "no homeland". Last year I had 2 twelve-years old girls diagnosed as AML & CHD (uni-atrium) respectively. Not eligible for subsidized treatment in Malaysia, they are from poor family (one brought up by single mother; the other girl by siblings) AND they are not eligible neither to get treatment in their mother-land because no proper documents. Born in Sabah, bred in Sabah but they are not Malaysians & the Philippines won't accept them neither. Where can they go for treatment?
These are the trouble going on in Sabah...I've no idea about the statistics..but trust me this matter is really serious! We can't deny basic, life-saving medical treatment based on nationality their financial status. We can't say, "you pay as you arrive, only then we'll treat your MI,AGE etc".
Though I applaud the initiative taken by Jabatan Kesihatan office of Sandakan & HDOK to organize the meeting involving the Immigration & police depts as well, I STILL STRONGLY CONDEMN the government of the day for not walking the talk & for not executing convincing measures to tackle this matter. They should not be at helm if they are not keen to get to the root of it.
Consensus regarding immigrant patients not paying up their bills should come from the federal KKM level with discussion with state govt + hospital authorities. But this would be best dealt, if the government of the day put in REAL, TRUE effort to get to the bottom of this Illegal immigrant matter at least bit by bit.
February 2, 2010
Pamaguan...here I was...
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 the 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...pegarah 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?
TRIP HELD ON 27th OCTOBER 2008
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 the 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...pegarah 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?
TRIP HELD ON 27th OCTOBER 2008
January 31, 2010
Welcoming myself back to blogging
Salam & good day.
gosh...it has exactly 8 MONTHS today, since I posted something on this blog page of mine...
with rejuvenated determination (haha...kunun)i'l be starting to put something on this blog from time to time + few exported stuff from my "officially defunct" FS blog.
hope I can fill up with some beneficial stuff + whatever I wish to "express".hihi
gosh...it has exactly 8 MONTHS today, since I posted something on this blog page of mine...
with rejuvenated determination (haha...kunun)i'l be starting to put something on this blog from time to time + few exported stuff from my "officially defunct" FS blog.
hope I can fill up with some beneficial stuff + whatever I wish to "express".hihi
May 31, 2009
Under the reigns of a Great govt
Terkejutnya aku jumaat lepas pabila mendapat tahu induksi kami yg sepatutnya bulan depan ditunda & mungkin ke tahun depan! Alasan = pengumuman govt yg tiada lagi kursus yg akan dibuat di hotel2. Apa ke halnya masalah depa ni tak tau lah…
Nak tukar tempat, buat lah untuk kursus2 yang belum plan lg…ni yg da plan pun ditimbal-balik…so infirm, inconsistent & incompetent. Patutlah depa pun dok dalam keadaan kalut lani…
Tak pikiaq ka…kalo tunda thn dpn, kesian lah kami semua…lambatlah pengesahan dalam jawatan, lambatlah nak sambung study…sedangkan member yg pi mei aritu dah selesai.
Tak pikiaq ka…bukan senang nak atur pelepasan…dah elok2 atuq,mai pulak crita xjadi…apa nak jadi dgn depa ni,ntah la…
Lani…tunggu jelah bila depa nak buat…bising tara mana pun bukan ada guna…
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Nak tukar tempat, buat lah untuk kursus2 yang belum plan lg…ni yg da plan pun ditimbal-balik…so infirm, inconsistent & incompetent. Patutlah depa pun dok dalam keadaan kalut lani…
Tak pikiaq ka…kalo tunda thn dpn, kesian lah kami semua…lambatlah pengesahan dalam jawatan, lambatlah nak sambung study…sedangkan member yg pi mei aritu dah selesai.
Tak pikiaq ka…bukan senang nak atur pelepasan…dah elok2 atuq,mai pulak crita xjadi…apa nak jadi dgn depa ni,ntah la…
Lani…tunggu jelah bila depa nak buat…bising tara mana pun bukan ada guna…
No Comments yet
Pamaguan…i was here
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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