JOHOR BARU: Hundreds of people participated in a blood-and-organ donation campaign held at a free mobile clinic at Sutera Mall here recently.
The Bangkit mobile clinic was sponsored by Yayasan Bakti Nusa Malaysia (YBNM), whose executive adviser is Pandan MP, Datuk Ong Tee Keat.
Four Chinese physicians and some 20 people volunteered their services at the mobile clinic, which was open from 10am to 3pm.
A total of 80 people sought free consultations and medicines at the clinic. Officials said many of these people displayed a wide range of medical ailments.
During the opening ceremony, YBNM deputy president Eng Hiap Boon said YBNM began in Pandan constituency in 1997 as a body to provide sponsorships for students to study overseas and consultations for students who wanted to enrol for skills training.
He said the foundation took a bold step in 2009 by setting up a mobile clinic to provide medical treatment for the sick in this constituency.
"Due to the enthusiastic response, we set up the same clinic here in April last year, followed by another in Butterworth one month later.
"In January this year, we added another new one in Ipoh, as well as another clinic in Padang Serai and Jitra in Kedah the same month.
"Next month, we will open another in Kuala Lumpur, and move across the South China Sea to open one in Kuching. Whenever we have the resources and volunteers, we will set up more mobile clinics to benefit the people," he said.
According to Eng, the foundation is in the process of opening a shelter home soon in the Klang Valley to provide food for homeless people.
YBNM is currently manned by 25 Chinese physicians and 400 voluntary workers.
The Chinese physicians and volunteers will offer their services at the mobile clinics, which are open about twice a month at designated locations.
The staff will arrive in a van, which functions as a treatment room. They will set up tables and chairs for consultations and prescriptions.
Funding for the clinics mainly comes from members of the public who are touched by the foundation's outreach programme aimed at helping the needy.
During the campaign, the Johor Motorcycle Traders Association, the Bao Lian Temple management and the Rumah Berhala Tian Koh Kung management donated RM10,000 to YBNM in support of the mobile clinic. The mobile clinic operation in Johor Baru is led by James Wu.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Red Crescent Society (MRCS) Johor branch chairman, Chong Ah Ng, said it was an honour to be jointly sponsoring the event which benefited the local community.
He noted that the MRCS would always cooperate with other non-governmental organisations during blood and organ donation campaigns.
"So far, MRCS is playing a crucial role in organising the campaign to ensure that hospitals in Johor Baru do not run out of blood," he said.
During the campaign, a total of 148 people donated blood while 30 people pledged to donate their organs.
To learn more about the mobile clinic, call Jackson Tiew at 016-744-3300 or Chan Tong Sink at 012-708-8894.
They can also be found in Rakan Bangkit Mobile Clinic's page on Facebook, or email to bangkit_mobileclinic@hotmail.com.
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