Bringing healthcare to islanders
A PROGRAMME to check the general and dental health of the residents of the islands off the east coast of Johor was enthusiastically received by the islanders.
The Kembara Pulau -- Jom Jaga Gigi dan Kesihatan 2013 programme, which took place between June 25 and 27, was the brainchild of Johor Health Department director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub.
Unfortunately, he was unable to head the team of 36 doctors, dentists, staff nurses and medical assistants, as he had to deal with the haze situation.
The team was led by the department's dental health division assistant director Dr Sabarina Omar.
They travelled in three boats. Each boat carried 12 passengers. They brought equipment such as a compressor which provides water pressure needed in dental work.
Dr Sabarina said the programme was introduced in 2008 and had become an annual event where Health Department medical representatives visited Orang Asli villages in the state. This was the first time the programme was extended to islanders.
"Such programmes are part of the department's efforts to reaching out to those who do not have the means or live in rural areas," she said.
They set off from the Mersing Jetty. The first island they visited was Pulau Pemanggil.
The island is home to 57 people. The medical team had breakfast with the islanders before they conducted the health checks.
They had to work on a tight schedule as they might not be able to leave during low tide.
"It was an eye-opening experience. The islanders did not want to be referred to as villagers. They are proud that they are islanders," Dr Sabarina said.
During the two hours they spent on the island, the team conducted health and dental checks on seven children and 10 adults. They made house calls to ensure that there were no old folks who were unable to come for the checks.
They showed the children how to brush their teeth properly and organised a colouring contest before leaving for Pulau Aur.
At Pulau Aur, which has a population of 170, the team members unpacked and checked into their chalets.
Later that night, they conducted health and dental talks. To ensure that the islanders did not get bored, the talks included visual aids, a quiz and a lucky draw.
There was also a talk on how medicine should be stored. The team's pharmacists distributed air-tight pill boxes and checked the islanders' medical supplies. Some had stocked up medicines, which had expired by then, or forgotten what they were for.
To break the ice and encourage more islanders to attend the dental and health checks planned for the next day, the medical team joined the islanders in a karaoke session.
On the following day, they carried out health scans, home visits, demonstrations and organised a colouring contest and other activities.
At 3pm, they left for Pulau Tinggi, where similar activities were conducted. They spent the night at the Kampung Tanjung Balang chalet. The next day a series of checks and other activities were conducted.
They gave health talks and carried out interactive demonstrations.
Dr Sabarina said they distributed toothbrushes, toothpaste, vitamins, pill boxes, masks and medicines for common illnesses.
They also showed the islanders how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitations and brush their teeth properly.
They screened more than 200 islanders and gave medicines to those who needed them.
Dr Sabarina said most of the islanders did not have dental problems even though they did not practise good dental hygiene. She said sweets were hard to come by because they received their supplies once a week.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
