a day ago
Remembering MA days in Baram
A photo from Boniface's album shows him attending to a Penan patient at Long San Clinic, during one of the 'Flying Doctor' service trips to Baram. Assisting him at the time was Sister Flora.
THE term 'dresser', back during the colonial days, was really something to be proud of.
In the 1960s, being one was regarded almost as respectable as being a doctor.
However, as medical care became more and more specialised, the term 'dresser' gradually fell out of use.
Today's equivalent is a medical assistant (MA).
'The name has undergone quite a few changes; at one point, we were called 'hospital assistants (HAs).
'I think it's a good thing – to me, a 'dresser' sounded 'too colonial',' said a former dresser, Boniface Seman, now in his mid-70s.
'Wearing many hats'
Retired as assistant medical officer, Boniface now wears many hats.
He likes to describe himself as a local historian, having undertaken research works for several years since his return from overseas in 2018.
His years of experience have made him very knowledgeable in the areas of public health and safety, as well as clinical procedures, and also made him a much sought-after consultant in the oil and gas industry.
'Today, I am still in the health business, giving lectures and providing consultancy, but during my spare time, I do historical research.
'It is always my pleasure to share my stories with people.
'I write a lot nowadays, and I now have the means to travel.
'My 4WD (four-wheel drive vehicle) is very roadworthy.
'I guess my years as an 'ulu' (rural) dresser had really toughened me up, and I know many of these places where I do my research – it's like going for a good revisit,' he smiled.
A relatively recent photo of Boniface.
Life in Lutong
Boniface was born in Ulu Niah in 1949.
His family moved to Lutong after his father landed a job in the Shell Company in the 1950s.
Boniface's mother was from a prominent Iban family at Suai River, where her father TR Gawan was the longhouse chieftain.
'I went to the Good Shepherd Primary School in Lutong and later, St Columba's primary and secondary schools. Being the children of Shell employees in those days was quite fortunate, as we boarded the Shell bus to go to school.
'Miri back then was an expatriates' town, full of foreigners working.
'Businesses were booming too, which encouraged local migration.
'My classmates hailed from Betong, Simanggang, Kuching, Singapore and even the UK.
'We all spoke English, and our teachers were quite international lots,' he recalled.
Upon completion of his Form 5, Boniface was selected to undergo a three-year course under then-Sarawak Medical and Health Department, in Kuching.
He graduated in 1970, with a qualification that would be recognised as a diploma today.
Rascom days
The Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) was a security area established on March 26, 1972, in response to communist insurgency in the Rajang Basin of Sarawak.
The core objectives were to maintain law and order, preserve public security, and get the local population to support the government's fight against communist threats.
It was where Boniface was assigned to after his graduation, where he served from 1971 to 1973.
'It was a turbulent period in Sarawak – I'm just glad to have come out of it, relatively unscathed,' he said.
Throughout his time in Rascom, Boniface travelled everywhere with the Armed Forces troops, providing medical and healthcare services to the people in rural villages and longhouses in the daytime, and giving health talks at night.
'Security was very tight, and rightfully too as we were exposed to danger.
'Imagine you're travelling on board a longboat and bullets were flying past you.
'Anytime, it could be the end of you!
'It was really risky, but we were determined to serve the people – there was little room for fear!'
This photo, taken back in the 1980s, shows Boniface getting ready to carry out a health talk at a longhouse in Long San, Baram.
In 1973, Boniface was transferred to the health clinic in Kapit.
'People came to Kapit via longboats from settlements across the Batang Rajang tributaries such as Baleh, Balui and even Ulu Belaga.
'With increased government funding, more personnel were transferred to Kapit to serve the growing population in the district.'
However, in 1975, Boniface was sent to Sibu to serve as facilitator of basic medical auxiliary training.
This post was assigned to him as he was recognised as a talented trainer with excellent speaking and teaching skills, which he could deliver in both English and Malay.
'I was really passionate about serving the 'ulu' folks, but I also had my civil responsibility of training the young dressers in medical auxiliary,' he said.
Shortly after that, Boniface was posted to the School of Paramedics in Kuching as a MA teacher, where he stayed for five years.
He and a few of his colleagues were regarded as invaluable assets at the time as the population of Sarawak was growing rapidly, and this resulted in health and medical facilities, including the manpower, being in high demand.
'Flying Doctor' service
In 1980, Boniface was promoted to senior MA, and also a district supervisor.
This brought him to be regularly assigned to the Flying Doctor' service, which was on-going for about a decade before his retirement.
There were times when in the absence of a doctor, he would be leading the team, which also comprised an assistant and a nurse.
'We had a schedule of visits to all the villages across Baram, some on a monthly basis.
'The Flying Doctor service, at the time, was always busy.
'We must keep to our schedule; otherwise, our patients in these rural settlements would run out of medicines.
Another photo from Boniface's album shows him (crouching, right) meeting the Penan villagers during a 'Flying Doctor' visit to a remote settlement in Baram.
'Today, the patients go to the hospital to see doctors and collect their medicines, but in the old days, the doctors and medical personnel brought the medicines to the villages.
'Many patients waited one or two days for the 'Flying Doctor' team, camping by the river side.
'So, how could we ever disappoint these folks? Regardless of the hurdles and obstacles, we must deliver our services to them.'
Boniface said he and his colleagues had experienced several near-death incidents.
'There were times when the doors of the helicopter suddenly flung open in mid-air.
'Then there's the weather, where we were forced to land on a hilltop during a downpour.
'Turbulence was a norm whenever the flight dashed through thick clouds.
'In remembering this, I must thank the experienced pilots who helped us go through all these situations so many times!'
'An amusing legacy'
Boniface was smiling when asked about the legacy of the profession.
'Well… If you, by any chance, met some men named Boniface, born in the 1980s and the 1990s in the Baram area, you should not be surprised if they told you that their parents had named them after a MA who always came to their villages by a helicopter.
'I'm quite proud of that,' he chuckled.
Dr Loh Yunn Hua was one of the doctors who was often assigned with Boniface during the height of the 'Flying Doctor' days.
'How can I ever forget Boniface?' said the Mirian.
'He's that cheerful and ever-chatty senior MA – always entertaining us with his longhouse anecdotes.
'That said, he's also a great MA. He did a marvellous job attending to the sick folks, giving health talks – and taking us fishing after office hours!' she laughed.
An old photo provided by Boniface shows Dr Loh shaking hands with a representative of a Penan village during a 'Flying Doctor' stop in Baram.
On the 'Flying Doctor' service, Dr Loh hailed it as a very beneficial programme.
'It actually helped a lot in implementing the village health team programme, to train the community health representatives or leaders in the rural areas.'
After more than a decade with the 'Flying Doctor' service, Boniface was posted to Miri Hospital where he managed the Accident and Emergency Unit and later, the Outpatient Department.
He retired in 2005.
'All is good'
Boniface, however, did not stop working after retirement.
He was later engaged in conducting healthcare and safety training for the oil and gas industry, which took him to Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
This was when he picked up photography.
Even today, in his mid-70s, Boniface is still not retired – he is often called up to do consultancy work with some oil and gas companies.
'My life is very fulfilling nowadays.
'Besides working part time, I get to have quality family time.
'I look after my grandchildren, and get to go out and take photographs and do research.
'Sometimes, my sporting wife would join me and become a co-driver.
'All is good,' he smiled.
Boniface (left) in a photo-call taken at Pustaka Miri, where he often goes to do his research work.
* The last part of this series will be out next Sunday, highlighting a Kayan dresser and his many anecdotes about his years of service in rural Baram. Baram Boniface Seman flying doctor MA sarawak
