IPOH, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Health (MOH) has approved an immediate allocation of RM500,000 to upgrade facilities at the Kemar Health Clinic in Gerik to strengthen healthcare services for the Orang Asli community in the area.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said part of the allocation would be used to construct a new Boat Storage Facility.
"This facility plays a major role in delivering healthcare services to the Orang Asli community, who depend heavily on it.
"The existing facility, which is more than 11 years old, is getting dilapidated and can only accommodate one boat, making it difficult to protect and maintain this important asset," he said in a Facebook post.
Dzulkefly said part of the allocation would also be used to procure assets such as a four-wheel-drive vehicle to replace the existing ageing vehicle.
It would also cover the purchase of critical medical equipment such as a Video Laryngoscope, which is essential to facilitate intubation procedures when handling emergency cases.
Dzulkefly also stressed the MOH's commitment to expediting the construction of the new Kemar Health Clinic (Type 5) so that residents could soon enjoy much more comfortable, comprehensive and modern healthcare facilities.
Earlier, Dzulkefly inspected the health facility and met its staff during his visit to Hulu Perak.
In another post, he said that during the visit, he also officiated the Medik 8 Boat at the Belum Rainforest Resort Jetty to shorten emergency response times for more than 4,500 Orang Asli residents around the RPS Kemar settlement, who rely entirely on waterways for transportation.
He said the 12-passenger multipurpose boat, costing RM350,000, would complement the MOH's existing fleet of six boats.
"However sophisticated government assets may be, they are meaningless without the sacrifices of our personnel on the ground," he said, while expressing appreciation to healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and boat operators, who are always ready to brave river currents and bad weather to fulfil their duty.
He said the principle under Malaysia MADANI was clear, namely that healthcare was an equal right for all, and that challenging terrain and remote geography would never be a barrier to ensuring that all Malaysians had access to the best healthcare.
Dzulkefly also visited the Community Feeding Programme (PCF) Centre at RPS Kemar, an initiative providing targeted nutritional intervention for Orang Asli children aged six months to six years.
"It includes active feeding, the provision of full-cream milk, multivitamins, as well as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) treatment for cases of malnutrition.
"Alhamdulillah, its implementation over a decade from 2015 to 2025 at Pos Kemar has produced very positive health outcomes and impact. The stunting rate has been drastically reduced from 75.2 per cent to 50.8 per cent," he said.
At the same time, he said the underweight rate also recorded an encouraging decline from 43.7 per cent to 25.2 per cent.
-- BERNAMA