MERCY MALAYSIA HAS SENT SURGICAL AND MEDICAL TEAM TO PADANG

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy
Malaysia) has sent a surgical and a medical team to treat the earthquake victims
in and around Pariaman, about 80km north of Padang, Sumatra.

Its president, Dr Ahmad Faizal Perdaus, said the decision to send the teams
comprising an orthopaedic surgeon, a general surgeon, an anaesthetist, general
practioners and nurses was made after an initial assessment by Mercy Malaysia's
advance team.

The advance team found that Pariaman, with a population of 600,000, was the
second-worst hit area and was in need of medical and relief assistance, he said.

He added the surgical team was now providing treatment to patients with
severe quake-related injuries in Pariaman Hospital.

"The medical team, in the meantime, will perform triaging and treatment of
post-disaster injuries and ailments and identify patients in need of
hospitalisation.

"They will also address the primary healthcare needs of the quake-affected
rural population," Dr Ahmad Faizal said.

The team has brought along surgical sets and primary healthcare kits worth
RM100,000 (US$29,040).

He also said that Mercy Malaysia would need at least RM3 million
(US$871,199) to provide humanitarian assistance to the earthquake victims in
Indonesia and urged Malaysians to donate generously.

Donations can be made to the Mercy Malaysia Humanitarian Fund through
Maybank with the account name: MERCY HUMANITARIAN FUND and account number:
5621-7950-4126 or at CIMB Bank with the account name: MERCY MALAYSIA and account
number: 1424-000-6561053.

For more information, the public can contact Hana Kamaruddin (Media) at 019-
3140420, G Anuradha (fundraising) 019-2215759, Noor Hayati (volunteers) 019-
3116196 or Mohd Radzi (volunteers) 019 3140689 or 03-22733999 or visit
www.mercy.org.my.
-- BERNAMA