Deployed Goes Online!M A Y 2 0 1 4

4Disaster Risk Reduction Projects for Typhoon Haiyan’s affected populations

4Bosnia Flood Disaster Relief Fund

4MERCY Malaysia’s Flood Fund received donations from Young Ambassadors4Booth at Al-Munawarah Luncheon Show

4Stories from Our Volunteers

4School Preparedness Pogramme

4Message from the President

4How To Donate4About MERCY Malaysia

4Logistics and warehousing spring cleaning activities

4Stress Management Workshop for Malaysia Airlines’s (MAS) Staff

4Intervention Group for Alcohol Misuse (IGAM) Workshop

4Updates from MERCY Malaysia Medical Teams in Sittwe Rakhine

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

BOARD OF TRUSTEESTan Sri Dato’ Ajit SinghTan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul RazakToh Puan Dato’ Seri Hajjah Dr. Aishah OngTan Sri Professor Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul RazakTan Sri Datuk Johan JaaffarMrs. Gaik WongMs. Elizabeth Lee Fuh Yen

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

PRESIDENTDato’ Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus

VICE PRESIDENT (MEDICAL)Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh

VICE PRESIDENT (NON-MEDICAL)Hj. Norazam Ab Samah

HONORARY SECRETARYYM Raja Riza Shazmin Raja Badrul Shah

ASSISTANT HONORARY SECRETARYDr. Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid, PhD

HONORARY TREASURERIr. Amran Mahzan, PMP

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSDr. Heng Aik ChengMr. Sam Tee Kam BeeProf. Dr. Shalimar Abdullah

CO-OPTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSDr. Jitendra Kumar S.N. TejaniDr. Shahridan Mohd. FathilAssoc. Prof. Dr. Helen Benedict Lasimbang

SECRETARIAT

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORAhmad Faezal Mohamed

GENERAL MANAGERCOMMUNICATIONS AND FUNDRAISINGMegawati Rashidi

EDITORIALNorehan SallehNur Atiqah Mohd NadzlimNur Hanis Mahad

DESIGN & LAYOUT BY:Triknight Creative Sdn. Bhd.

NOTE:News reported is as of May 2014. However, due to space constraints, not all news could be captured in this issue.

For more information, please log on to• www.mercy.org.my• www.facebook.com/MERCYMalaysia• http://www.youtube.com/user/ mercymalaysiahq• Twitter.com/@MERCYMalaysia

Our official condolence on the passing of His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah D.K., D.K.M., D.M.N., D.K.A.

AL-FATIHAH

SEMBAH TAKZIAH

Dengan dukacitanya patik mewakili MERCY Malaysia ingin merakamkan sembah takziah Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Permaisuri Perak, Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd. Ali, D.K. , D.M.N, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, Sultan Perak ke 35 D.K., D.K.II (Selangor), D.K.S.A, S.P.C.M, S.P.T.S, S.P.M.P. (Perlis), Ph.D (Harvard) dan seluruh rakyat negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan di atas berita sedih kemangkatan Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah.

Patik dan seluruh warga MERCY Malaysia, sesungguhnya turut bersedih dan berdukacita di atas kemangkatan Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak yang ke 34, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah D.K., D.K.M., D.M.N. , D.K. (KELANTAN), D.K. (TERENGGANU), D.K. (PERLIS), D.K. (JOHOR), D.K. (SELANGOR), D.K. (KEDAH), D.K.M.B. (BRUNEI), D.K. (NEGERI SEMBILAN), D.K. (PAHANG), S.S.M., P.M.N., P.S.M., D.K.S.A., S.P.C.M., S.P.T.S., S.P.M.P., S.I.M.P.

Sesungguhnya Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah semasa hayatnya sememangnya merupakan seorang Sultan yang sangat prihatin terhadap seluruh rakyatnya. Al-Marhum amat dikenali dengan sikap ramah, baik hati, pemurah dan segala sifat terpuji sebagai seorang pemimpin dan ketua turus agama bagi negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan. Sepanjang Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah menaungi negeri Perak, terbukti negeri Perak berada dalam keadaan aman, makmur dan membangun dengan sebaik-baiknya. Bukan sahaja negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan yang kehilangan peneraju bahkan negara juga turut kehilangan seorang Sultan yang sangat berjiwa rakyat.

Adalah merupakan satu penghargaan yang sangat besar bagi MERCY Malaysia mempunyai kesempatan berada di bawah naungan Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah. Sesungguhnya, segala sokongan yang tidak berbelah bahagi yang telah dizahirkan oleh Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan sekeluarga, secara tidak langsung telah mendorong MERCY Malaysia untuk meneruskan usaha-usaha kemanusiaan di dalam dan luar negara selaras dengan visi dan misi organisasi. Dengan ini, seluruh warga MERCY Malaysia sangat terkesan dengan kehilangan seorang penaung yang berjiwa besar dan mempunyai semangat yang tinggi dalam arena kemanusiaan.

Namun, di atas ketentuan Yang Maha Kuasa, patik serta rakyat jelata hanya mampu mendoakan kesejahteraan Al-Marhum Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah.

Patik serta warga kerja MERCY Malaysia, juga berharap agar seluruh kerabat di raja negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan serta rakyatnya tabah menghadapi ketentuan dari Yang Maha Kuasa ini.

Sekian Sembah Takziah dari MERCY Malaysia.

Ampun Tuanku.

Terima kasih

Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd PerdausPresident, MERCY Malaysia

LOCAL STORIES

LOCAL STORIES

School Preparedness Programme

Students of SK Kampung Nangka playacting duck, cover and hold technique

MERCY Malaysia’s volunteer helping schoolchildren in one of the activities during SPP

StatesKelantan

Terengganu

Labuan

Schools• SMK Rantau Panjang• SMK Gual Periok• SK Sri Rantau Panjang (1)• SK Kampung Besut• SK Tengku Ampuan Intan• SK Kampung Nangka• SK Patau-Patau• SK Bebuloh• SM Sains Labuan

No. of participant424040404039214041

No. of volunteer554454444

School Preparedness Programme (SPP) is one of the core MERCY Malaysia’s Disaster Risk Reduction Projects. This programme has been conducted across Malaysia since April

2014. It is designed to raise awareness amongst students on the potential and recognition of hazards they face and to help schools to minimise the risks posed by natural disasters, such as the seasonal floods in many parts of Malaysia. School children are taught simple, hands-on activities to prepare them to take responsibility for their own safety in the event of an emergency.

MERCY Malaysia has reached Kelantan, Terengganu and Labuan in May. The following table outlines the schools and support where the programmes have been conducted.

LOCAL STORIES

Stress Management Workshop for Malaysia Airlines’s (MAS) StaffA two-day workshop for MAS’s staff was conducted on the 29th and 30th April 2014

by MERCY Malaysia to provide psychoeducation on stress management. MERCY Malaysia’s EXCO member Dr. Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid, cum psychosocial advisor, was the speaker for the workshop.

There were 50 MAS staff including pilots, management staffs, MAS volunteers as well as cabin crews who attended in the programme. Participants were given education

on signs and symptoms of stress, the effects of stress on psychological and physical wellbeing. Relaxation techniques were also shared with participants.

MERCY Malaysia’s EXCO Member, Dr. Hariyati Shahrima Abdul Majid and some of the participants after the workshop

Participants practising progressive muscle relaxation exercise

MERCY Malaysia’s fundraising team promoted the ‘Yasmin Ahmad Children Fund’ at Google Malaysia premise. This exciting event was held on 28th April 2014 and was made possible

through the strong support from Leo Burnett. There were laughter and tears during the screening of Allahyarham Yasmin’s unforgettable commercials. ‘Yasmin How You Know’ books, T-shirts and frames were sold to raise funds.

Staff of Google Malaysia posing beside the portrait of Allahyarhamah Yasmin

Ahmad with her book, ‘Yasmin How You Know’

at MERCY Malaysia’s booth

A Yasmin Day at Google Malaysia

LOCAL STORIES

Logistics and warehousing spring cleaning activitiesTen volunteers were called to help out with our spring cleaning activities organized by our

Logistics Department held at MERCY Malaysia’s headquarters. The activities that started at 11 am until 4 pm saw volunteers helping in setting up the Pakistani tents in order to check for any defects on the tents. They also cleaned the shelter boxes and finally re-sorting the items in the shelter boxes.

A ‘Day of Fun’ at Rasmi Jaya Warehouse on 22nd May 2014 had 6 volunteers involved in cleaning up, sorting out, itemizing, discarding and relocating the medical and dental equipments in the warehouse. MERCY Malaysia would like to thank the volunteers who were willing to contribute their time and energy to help with this spring cleaning exercise.

The volunteers and staff of MERCY Malaysia busy cleaning up the shelter boxes

The volunteers and staff of MERCY Malaysia working together to organize and categorize the items in the shelter box

The Pakistani tents were rectified and cleaned by the staff and volunteers of MERCY Malaysia

LOCAL STORIES

Booth at Al-Munawarah Luncheon Show

Al-Munawarah Boutique provided a complementary booth for MERCY Malaysia during the Al-Munawarah fashion show held on May 1, 2014.

Communications and Fundraising team set up a booth at the courtyard of the Royale Chulan Hotel to promote our merchandise and also collected donations from the guests. The Royal guest was Her Royal Highness, Sultanah Nur Zahirah of Terengganu.

Our merchandise displayed at the Luncheon Show

A brief of MERCY Malaysia’s humanitarian efforts was disseminated to Her Royal Highness, Sultanah Nur Zahirah

LOCAL STORIES

Intervention Group for Alcohol Misuse (IGAM) Workshop

Alcohol misuse in Sabah continues to be an alarming problem in the category of substance abuse. Easily available, cultural

acceptability and the lack of awareness remain as issues of primary focus in combating alcohol misuse. Thus, Intervention Group for Alcohol Misuse (IGAM) under MERCY Malaysia Sabah Chapter together with Sabah Health Department conducted a workshop on the 10th May 2014 as an initiative to cater to this problem. The objective of the workshop is to develop grass root leaders who would have the capacity to organize community base alcohol intervention program in their respective locality. 60 participants attended the event. These potential leaders were provided with published resources material and some financial aid to conduct alcohol intervention programmes in their respective village.

Facilitators at the workshop included Dr. Sivakumar Thurairajasingam (Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer of Monash University), Dr. Wilfred J Samuel (Sabah Theological Seminary) and Dr. Helen B Lasimbang (Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Medicine School of Universiti Malaysia Sabah also MERCY Malaysia’s EXCO Member).

In addition, this IGAM workshop also included a forum which focused on alcohol intervention needs and issues at the grass-root level. The forum was co-chaired by Dr. Lee Kuok Tiung (Senior Lecturer of Social Science School, Universiti Malaysia Sabah) and Dr. Mohd Nazri Bin Mohd Daud (Family Medicine Specialist, Sabah Health Department).

Participants who attended the workshop acknowledged the programme as especially helpful and provided a meaningful experience in combating alcohol misuse. They also suggested that more training of this nature should be organized to induce capacity development for alcohol intervention in other places in Sabah.

IGAM Committee and Participants of IGAM Workshop

Motivational Interview by Dr Sivakumar, a consultant psychiatrist

APPRECIATION TO DONORS

MERCY Malaysia’s Flood Relief Fund received donations from Young Ambassadors

Even the young can empathize towards those affected by disasters. Having learnt about the floods in Pahang and Terengganu last December 2013, they naturally urged their parents to support MERCY Malaysia’s cause for

humanitarian aid. Hence, these are our young fund-raising ‘volunteers’ who raised RM 1000 for MERCY Malaysia. Kudos to Young Ambassador Kindergarten located in Keramat Permai for handing over a check for the beneficiaries

Students of Young Ambassadors handing over a cheque to the General Manager of Communications and Fundraising, Megawati Md Rashidi

Group photo of Young Ambassadors’ students,

Teachers and staff of MERCY Malaysia

Two of Young Ambassador’s students presenting the art work they made for

MERCY Malaysia

of Malaysia Flood Relief Fund. MERCY Malaysia would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Young Ambassadors Kindergarten for their generous donations.

INTERNATIONAL STORIES

Disaster Risk Reduction projects for Typhoon Haiyan’s affected populations

Typhoon Haiyan first hit the islands of Philippines in November 8, 2013 affecting over 13 million people. MERCY Malaysia has been helping the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Ormoc, Leyte

Island since 13 November.

While the immediate emergency response support have been achieved and the communities have already recovered from the negative shocks of disaster, the likelihood that the same communities will be affected with the onset of another typhoon with the same magnitude as the 2013 typhoons is very high, particularly in Leyte, Philippines.

Thus, a Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CBDRRM) project was carried out in Ormoc City, Philippines from 8th to 11th May 2014 to help the communities to be aware and

Community Based Disaster Risk Management Training at Mercy Malaysia House, Ormoc City

A participant presenting her findings after village watching activity

prepared before a natural disaster strikes. This project hopes to build Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacity of local government units, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and communities that will significantly contribute in preparation plans for disaster and mitigating its effects.

In partnership with Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN), this project included 4 selected local (CSO); Exodus from Child Labor to Integration Play, Socialization and Education (Eclipse), Hayag Family Development Center (Hayag), Rural Development Institute Leyte Inc (RDI), Pagthinabangay Foundation Inc (Pagthinabangay). The selected local CSOs were trained together with MM local staff.

INTERNATIONAL STORIES

Updates from MERCY Malaysia Medical Teams in Sittwe RakhineSince 2012 MERCY Malaysia teams have served the affected communities of Rohingya, Hindu and the Buddhist due to

the inter-communal riots. The expulsion of the INGOs, UN agencies and foreign aid workers in Sittwe on April 2014 has caused shortages in health services in terms of manpower, medical supply as well as transportation.

Despite the tensions, MERCY Malaysia teams (2 medical doctors and drivers) from Rakhine continue their health services to the IDP camps together with the Myanmar Health Assistant Association. Due to the said shortage of health services to the local communities, the operation is conducted in a rotation basis in order to serve all camps.

Mobile clinic services was scheduled on dates determined by the State Health Department which is held every once a week. On 4th April 2014, MERCY Malaysia has deployed its team to serve in both Muslims IDP camps and Rakhine IDP camps.

MERCY Malaysia Medical team is the first INGO to return to Sittwe from Yangon on 23rd April 2014, after the Water Festival and operates the health service comprising of 6 Medical Officers, 3 Nurses, 1 Health Assistant, 3 Drivers, 3 Vehicles and medical supplies. MERCY Malaysia medical teams face a challenge in serving the camps due to the exclusion of the INGO and UN agencies with very limited resources. It is anticipated that the upcoming raining season

At Ohn Taw Gyi Camp Clinic

Baw Dhu Pha Camp Clinic

At Set Yone Su (3) Camp Our Medical team wearing MOH Vest due to security measures

Camps served

will affect the health status of the local community due to their location being in low areas which may be affected by floods and its consequences. There is an urgent need for the health service to be extended for the 90,000 IDP in Sittwe.

As a result of the rioting, the Government of Rakhine formed the Emergency Coordination Committee (ECC). This committee is responsible in the investigation on the cause of the riot and identifying the persons involved. The committee led by the Minister of Security and Border Affairs advised the agencies to stay within the same compound for safety reason.

Muslim IDP camps

1. Dar Paing

2. Thet Kel Pyin

3. Kaung Doke Khar (1)

4. Kaung Doke Khar (2)

5. Say Tha Mar Gyi

6. Baw Du Pha

7. Ohn Taw Gyi (1)

8. Ohn Taw Gyi(2)

9. Aung Mingalar

10. Pauk Taw

11. West San Pya

Rakhine IDP camps:

1. Sat Yone Kya

2. Sat Yone Su

3. Det See Dan

4. Rakhine Kyar Nyat

5. Rakhine The Chaung

6. Thar Yar Gone

7. Zaw Puu Gyar

8. Pa Lain Pyin

9. Daw Pyauk Kay

10. Aung That

INTERNATIONAL STORIES

Bosnia Flood Disaster Relief FundMERCY Malaysia in collaboration with theSun is appealing to raise funds for the affected population of

Bosnia - Herzegovina. On June 1, 2014 MERCY Malaysia deployed a response team to mainly conduct a need assessment and look at potential recovery projects in the affected areas and will plan for intervention based on the current needs of the community.

The number of displaced communities has reduced compared to the early emergency phase and we may be intervening at the institutional level by providing support in term of supplies or manpower to local hospital or health centres especially those who have been overwhelmed by the flood situation. The team will also be looking to assess the capacity of the local health provider in providing their services whereby, if the need arises the team can propose an intervention that will enable the existing health actors to increase and strengthen their capacity.

Finally, based on assessment and report of damaged infrastructure, the team can identify critical services that may have been affected badly due to lack of infrastructure and proposed a solution to enable these

From Left: MERCY Malaysia’s response team to Bosnia, Mr. Zullaili Zainal Abidin, Dr. Mohamad Iqbal Omar and Ms. Nur Hilda Hanim with theSun journalist Ms. Vathani Panirchellvum, theSun photographer Mr. Raj Kumar Soman and MERCY Malaysia’s Executive Director Mr. Ahmad Faezal Mohammed

services to be operationalized as soon as possible.

“To enable the organization such as MERCY Malaysia to bring to task the above, we humbly appeal to generous Malaysians to again dig deeper into their pockets to help us, help these people to somewhat lessen their hardship and especially with the holy Muslim month of Ramadhan around the corner,” said MERCY Malaysia president Datuk Dr. Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus.

MERCY MALAYSIA ACCOUNTS Announcements

As a non-profit organization, MERCY Malaysia relies solely on fundings and donations from organization and generous individuals to continue our services to provide humanitarian assistance to our beneficiaries. Your contribution could make a difference in someone’s life. No matter how small, it goes a long way.

MERCY Humanitarian Fund MERCY MalaysiaMBB 5621 7950 4126 CIMB 1424-0006561-05-3Swift Code: MBBEMYKLA Swift Code: CIBBMYKL

For online donations, please visit our website, and

Malaysian Medical Relief Society (RN: 1155)No.4, Jalan Langgak Golf,Off Jalan Tun Razak,55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Tel No.: +603 2142 2007Fax No.: +603 2142 1992

Medical Unit Pharmacy Room

Calling for volunteers!

If you have a medical and pharmaceutical background, help us manage our pharmacy. MERCY Malaysia’s Logistics Department is planning to relocate the medicines from our warehouse to our Headquarters. This will help in cutting down response time during emergency and disaster. Your duties will be to assist us in stock management of the MERCY Malaysia Medical Unit Pharmacy.

This exercise is tentatively scheduled for mid-June 2014. Please e-mail to or for more information.

www.mercy.org.myseringgitsehari.org.my

ain@mercy.org.my azril@mercy.org.my

ABOUT US Stories From Our Volunteers

MERCY Malaysia focuses on providing medical relief, sustainable health-related development and risk reduction activities for vulnerable communities, in both crisis and non-crisis situations.

We provide emergency medical and humanitarian aid wherever we are needed. We carry out sustainable development, in terms of:

• Helping the communities find ways to prepare and protect themselves in the event of natural disasters,

• Rebuilding and refurnishing hospitals and health clinics, and • Providing health training and health education.

Our aim is to build resilience in all the communities that we touch.

Attending to a little patient

MERCY Malaysia in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Yayasan Chow Kit held a Dental Outreach Clinic at the Chow Kit Children’s Activity Centre on the 17th May 2014. During the programme, MERCY Malaysia communications team took the chances to ask the children and volunteers about their experiences joining the Dental Outreach Clinic. The following were the excerpts from our interview:

Why did you like this programme?“I love this programme because I get to meet and play with a lot of friends and get to meet new brothers and sisters.”

Azizul

Aishah

Nur Faezza Mahad

How many times did you brush your teeth per day?“Hmm...5 times a day” Do you like coming to this programme?“Yes, because I get gifts for coming to this progamme such as packet drink, toothbrush, toothpaste and many more. When will you give me the gift for today?”

Is this your first time volunteering to a programme like this?“No, actually i frequently join programmes similar to this because one day I am going to be a dentist so, volunteering helps me to build my experiences with different kind of people.”

What do you think about volunteering for today’s programme? “I think it is a great exposure for me because usually, I am involved in programmes that deal with adults but today, I had the chances to serve children. Dealing with children is a bit challenging and requires patience so, if I could handle the children today I believe i would be able to deal with people regardless of age in the future.”

MuhammadRazwan Ruslan