Over 500 Patients Treated At Malaysian Field Hospital In Myanmar
KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- More than 500 outpatients have received treatment at the Malaysian Field Hospital (HMM), operated by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) in Myanmar's Sagaing district, following the powerful earthquake that struck that country on March 28.
Chief of Defence Force General Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar said the hospital is expected to operate for one month, though the period may be extended if necessary.
'There was a slight delay in the field hospital's departure due to pending diplomatic clearance, but we eventually received the green light, and all personnel have been safely deployed,' he said.
'We are sending this HMM as part of the government's commitment to assist our ASEAN neighbours, especially as Malaysia chairs ASEAN this year,' he told reporters during the ATM Aidilfitri gathering at Wisma Perwira ATM, here today.
Meanwhile, ATM Health Services director-general Lieutenant General Datuk Dr Zulkeffeli Mat Jusoh said the HMM operation, now in its third day, is progressing smoothly with strong support from the Myanmar authorities.
He added that so far, the HMM has successfully performed 13 surgeries, including orthopaedic procedures for earthquake victims who suffered broken bones as a result of the disaster.
'Apart from the experts we sent, the Myanmar authorities have also contributed by providing medical experts, including gynaecologists, as well as nine translators, which I believe is a very important support,' he said.
'Alhamdulillah, the morale of our officers and personnel is very high, despite being informed that the hot weather could reach 40 degrees Celsius,' he added.
On April 18, Malaysia dispatched an ATM medical team to Myanmar to carry out Operation Starlight III, a post-disaster humanitarian aid initiative.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
We must move beyond silos for the planet's health
AT the 46th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur in May 2025, regional leaders adopted 'Asean 2045: Our Shared Future' – a comprehensive vision for the region's development over the next two decades. It is a carefully crafted document that reflects a welcome sense of ambition and confidence. But even as it aspires to build a more 'resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred Asean', it leaves important questions unanswered about the foundations upon which such aspirations rest. Having spent much of my career working on regional and global challenges, and as a firm believer in the importance of international and regional cooperation, I recognise the value of vision-setting. It galvanises collective effort. It signals priorities. It invites us to imagine a future worth striving for. But the real measure of such a vision lies not in its length or elegance, but in its capacity to reckon with complexity, to centre people meaningfully, and to commit to structural change. On these fronts, 'Our Shared Future' offers both promise – and pause. The document's most visible structural feature is its division into four strategic pillars: political-security, economic, sociocultural, and connectivity. While this reflects Asean's established architecture, it is increasingly out of step with the interlinked challenges we face today. Issues such as climate change, pandemic preparedness, digital governance, and rising inequality do not respect institutional boundaries. Yet 'Our Shared Future' gestures only briefly towards integrated, cross-pillar responses – confined to a single, isolated bullet point on 'a green Asean' straddling the economic and sociocultural pillars. Entirely absent is the need for a unified approach that places health and wellbeing at the core of regional prosperity, peace, and the structural transformations essential for long-term security. Planetary health determines the wellbeing of all life in this region, yet this essential relationship is not acknowledged in the document. It outlines aspirations for coordination but offers no mechanisms to deliver it. If Asean is serious about addressing the systems-level threats it identifies, including climate, conflict, and displacement, it must move beyond working in silos. The economic ambitions are clear: to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2045. There is pride in this trajectory, and rightly so. The region's dynamism is a global success story. But the blueprint's economic narrative leans heavily on traditional growth indicators – productivity, integration, scale – without enough interrogation of their sustainability or inclusiveness. Environmental concerns are addressed, but often as secondary considerations. One paragraph on the 'green economy' does not compensate for the lack of clear commitments to decarbonisation, circular economy models, or phasing out fossil fuels. Nor is there an explicit recognition of planetary boundaries. In a region already bearing the brunt of climate impacts, from sea-level rise to extreme heat and biodiversity loss, this is not just a technical omission. It is a strategic gap. Economic planning for 2045 must be built on ecological realism, not market optimism. The document rightly reaffirms Asean's commitment to democracy, good governance, and human rights. These are essential values for any future that seeks to be genuinely people-centred. But as the region continues to navigate complex political dynamics, including the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, it is striking that the vision does not address how Asean will respond when these values are under threat within its own community. Avoiding difficult issues may (arguably) keep the peace, but it erodes Asean's credibility, both at home and abroad. A resilient Asean must live its charter, not just cite it, and must stand for something more than branding in calm times and silence in crises. 'People-centred' is one of the most repeated phrases in the vision – welcome, and long overdue! But the document would be stronger if it showed how people's voices shaped its development or how they will be included in its implementation. There is little indication that Asean's citizens were consulted in any structured way in preparing this vision. Meanwhile, across South-East Asia, people are already building the future – through climate activism, informal care networks, and digital innovation. The 4th Asean Youth Statement reflects this energy, explicitly calling for planetary health to bridge existing divides. But it raises a question: is this vision only the youth's, and why is it missing from the 'Asean 2045 Vision'? Asean's political class must see people not as passive recipients of policy, but as co-creators of regional identity and progress. Without that, 'people-centred' risks becoming a slogan, not a principle. The call to strengthen the Asean Secretariat is, by now, a familiar one. It features in almost every major regional declaration. Yet little progress has been made in translating that sentiment into real investment or reform. If Asean is to deliver on the commitments laid out in this document, it needs an institutional engine that is fit for purpose – analytically robust, politically empowered, and properly resourced by its 10 member states. This is not about bureaucracy. It is about credibility. 'Asean 2045: Our Shared Future' is an important and timely document. It articulates a vision of prosperity and cohesion and reflects a maturing regionalism that many of us who have worked across Asean for years welcome. But it also reflects the challenges of a multilateral system that remains cautious – sometimes excessively so – in confronting hard truths. A shared future cannot be built through declarations alone. It requires difficult conversations, courageous leadership, and deeper engagement with the people whose lives these plans will shape. It demands a willingness to shift power, not merely reassert process. If Asean can rise to this challenge – by investing in institutional reform, embracing ecological stewardship, and engaging its people more directly – it will not only chart a path for itself but could also offer the world a compelling model of regional cooperation fit for our turbulent times. That is a future worth striving for. And one Asean still has time to realise. Prof Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, a physician and experienced crisis leader, is the executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. She is the founder of Mercy Malaysia and has served in leadership roles internationally with the United Nations and Red Cross for the last decade. She writes on Planetary Health Matters once a month in Ecowatch . The views expressed here are entirely the writer's own.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Malaysia can lead in medicine security in Asean
THE recent declaration by Asean member states to bolster regional drug security, particularly under the Asean Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR) initiative, is a significant and commendable step forward. This commitment, adopted during the 46th Asean Summit under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship, resonates deeply with the Malaysian pharmaceutical industry, which is well equipped to contribute significantly to this regional aspiration, particularly through its strength in high-quality generics and biosimilars manufacturing.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Living with HED: Unable to sweat, shadowed by stigma
KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Born with the rare genetic condition Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia (HED), Mohamad Syafiq Zulkarnain has grown accustomed to the curious stares he often attracts. While he has come to terms with his distinctive appearance — marked by sparse hair and widely spaced, pointed teeth — these features are not his greatest concern. What troubles him most is the relentless heat he must endure every day. 'HED prevents my body from producing sweat, which exposes me to the risk of heat stroke if my body temperature exceeds the normal range. So I have to frequently wet my body and avoid staying out in the sun for too long,' the 35-year-old man told Bernama recently. HED is a genetic disorder that affects the development of ectodermal tissues such as skin, hair, teeth, and sweat glands. According to the World Health Organisation, HED is among more than 7,000 rare diseases identified so far and affects about 3.5 to 5.9 per cent of the global population. However, HED patients in Malaysia face even greater challenges due to a lack of medical specialists to manage this incurable condition. This has led to delayed diagnoses, which in turn increases life-threatening risks. Early diagnosis Mohamad Syafiq, the eldest of four siblings, said he was fortunate that his mother, who worked in healthcare, recognised early on that something was amiss when he was still a baby. 'When I was a baby, my mother and grandmother noticed that I was always fussy in hot weather, crying every night, and only calm when I slept shirtless under a fan. 'They also noticed I would tire easily in the heat, did not sweat, and still had no teeth by the age of two. That was when they began seeking a diagnosis for my condition,' he said, adding that his first tooth only appeared when he was two and a half years old. This early diagnosis allowed his family to take preventive steps, especially during hot weather — measures that ultimately saved his life. 'I once lost a fellow HED patient to heat stroke during an outdoor activity. Like me, he couldn't sweat, and his body temperature spiked suddenly during a hike,' he said, adding that the incident made him extra cautious. This is why Mohamad Syafiq, who hails from Seri Manjung, Perak, doesn't mind the odd looks he gets when he sprays himself with water, even in public. 'I always carry a wet towel and a spray bottle wherever I go. The water spray acts as 'artificial sweat' to help cool me down when my body temperature rises,' he explained. His inability to sweat also makes his skin prone to severe dryness and eczema, requiring him to routinely apply moisturising lotion and steroid cream. He also has to be careful about what he eats due to his dental condition. 'I can't eat hard foods like nuts or chewy foods. Sometimes my speech is unclear. Many patients need special dentures or implants to overcome this limitation,' he added. Mohamad Syafiq Zulkarnain, the eldest of four siblings, said he was fortunate that his mother, who worked in healthcare, recognised early on that something was amiss when he was still a baby. — Bernama pic Stigma Recalling his school days, Mohamad Syafiq said that unlike his peers, he couldn't participate in sports and was given 'special treatment' — such as being seated in a classroom near the toilets so he could cool down and wet his body more easily. 'I rarely joined outdoor or sports activities that lasted long in the sun, due to the risk of heat stroke. Sometimes classmates thought I was the teachers' 'favourite' because of this,' he said. The stigma has followed him into adulthood. Even with a degree, finding a job has been difficult. 'I was unemployed for a long time because it was difficult to find a job suited to my condition. I often failed interviews as employers struggled to understand my speech, and when I explained my HED, they assumed I wasn't strong or productive enough,' said the holder of a Master of Science in Information Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA, who now works as a freelancer. The stigma isn't limited to the public; it also exists among professionals. 'I was once told that my life wasn't 'interesting enough' to be featured in the media because I didn't 'look bad enough',' said Syafiq, who also serves as a coordinator for the HED support group under the Malaysian Rare Disorders Society (MRDS). He added that public awareness of rare genetic diseases, including HED, is very low, with some patients only diagnosed in adulthood — missing the chance for early treatment and support. Strengthening the treatment system Meanwhile, Clinical Geneticist and Paediatric Consultant Dr Tae Sok Kun said one of the biggest challenges for patients with rare genetic diseases like HED is getting an accurate diagnosis early. 'I see this delay in getting an accurate diagnosis as a 'diagnostic odyssey' — a long and exhausting journey emotionally, mentally, and financially. 'Many parents don't realise that symptoms like delayed tooth growth or lack of hair are important signs. They think it's just normal delay and don't seek early treatment,' said the specialist from the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). She added that Malaysia also lacks specialists — currently only around 13 to 15 clinical geneticists nationwide — and the referral system is still unstructured. 'In fact, many general doctors themselves don't know where to refer cases like HED, which shows an urgent need to strengthen the referral structure and early exposure to rare diseases in medical training,' she said. 'In terms of treatment, HED is a genetic disease with no cure, but early interventions and symptomatic treatment can help improve patients' quality of life. Managing body temperature is critical since patients are prone to hyperthermia due to a lack of sweat glands. Skin treatment, eye dryness management, nutrition, and activity monitoring are also recommended,' she said. The situation is further complicated by the fact that genetic testing needed to confirm a diagnosis still has to be sent overseas, adding cost and delaying treatment, said Dr Tae, noting that while Malaysia has basic facilities, local capacity remains insufficient. Social support Dr Tae also emphasised the importance of genetic counselling for at-risk families, as well as the use of technologies such as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) through In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) to prevent the transmission of the HED gene to future generations. This counselling, she said, not only helps couples understand their risks and options, but also provides critical emotional support in facing this genetic challenge. With this approach, it is hoped that new cases can be reduced, thereby improving the quality of life for patients and their families in the long term, she added. In addition to medical challenges, HED patients also face a lack of social support, with most relying on general organisations like MRDS, which covers various rare diseases. Dr Tae also noted that the physical appearance of HED patients — such as sparse hair and missing teeth — has a significant psychosocial impact. 'Although patients' intellectual ability is normal, their appearance often leads to misunderstanding and marginalisation, causing emotional distress. In fact, there have been cases where patients required psychiatric treatment and incidents of suicide due to prolonged social pressure,' she said. Dr Tae further explained that although the government has listed rare diseases including HED in its official registry, related policies are still in draft form, hindering the allocation of special funding for treatment and support. 'Treatments like dental implants, which are vital for HED patients, are not fully covered by the government. Treatment costs can run into the thousands of ringgit, which is a heavy burden for patients and families,' she added. Another burden is that most health insurance providers do not cover congenital conditions. Dr Tae stressed that it is time for the government to take a systemic approach in managing rare diseases — covering policy, specialist training, social support, and financial protection. 'While the focus is often on major diseases like diabetes and cancer, the voices of rare disease patients can no longer be ignored,' she said. As for Mohamad Syafiq, he simply hopes the government will help provide treatment and targeted support for people like him — including job opportunities. 'We don't want sympathy, just a fair chance to be independent and contribute,' he said.
