KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA), Qatar Charity (QC) and the National Welfare Foundation (YKN) have jointly launched a Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) static clinic in Sungai Petani, Kedah to cater for the healthcare needs of refugees in Malaysia.
MRA secretary-general Dr Shahrizal Azwan Samsudin said this is the second QFFD static clinic in Malaysia after the first clinic in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur started operations last year.
“Besides the QFFD static clinic in Kedah, MRA, QC and YKN have collaborated and launched two mobile clinics which have been operating in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu since July 2020 to help refugees get healthcare services.
“This initiative is expected to benefit the healthcare needs of some 35,000 refugees in northern Malaysia and 17,000 refugees in the East Coast states.
“Overall, the programme, which is funded by donations from Qatar, comprises five static clinics and four mobile clinics which operate nationwide, in collaboration with two other medical non-governmental organisations, namely the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) and the Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia (Imaret), to reduce the burden on Malaysia’s healthcare system,” he said in a statement today.
Dr Shahrizal said the clinics provide holistic healthcare services which include general medical check-ups, outpatient treatment, care for pregnant mothers, vaccination and healthcare education programmes at a minimal cost.
Besides the static and mobile clinics, he said, MRA also provide temporary resting stations in Sungai Petani for refugee families who travel far for the services at the QFFD static clinic in Kedah.
“MRA hopes that this clinic can ease the burden shouldered by government hospitals in Kedah and Kelantan.
“We thank QFFD for their contributions to assist the healthcare needs of refugees in Malaysia,” he said.