Materia Medica Malaysiana

USM To Help Who Set Up Medical Laboratory In Aceh

PENANG, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) will send a medical team to Aceh on Jan 16 to assist the World Health Organisation (WHO) set up a microbiology and virology laboratory to study infectious diseases in the area in the aftermath of the tsunami disaster.
Its Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said three experts from USM -- clinical microbiologists Dr Azian Harun and Dr Zakuan Zainy Deris and chief medical technologist Rosliza Abdul Rahman -- would be in the initial group.
He said the team, together with another expert from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), would identify a suitable location for the laboratory.
"Two containers of equipment for the laboratory are already ready. USM will provide the planning and manpower for the setting up of the laboratory while WHO will bear the cost," he said.
Speaking to reporters after the opening of USM's Education and Career Expo opened by Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh at the university Friday, he said the USM and UNIMAS team would remain there until the situation stabilised.
Dzulkifli said that shortly after the disaster struck USM had sent a medical team in cooperation with Yayasan Salam to set up the Yayasan Salam USM clinic in Aceh to help survivors of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, USM's Kubang Kerian campus health director Prof Datuk Mafauzy Mohamad said 16 USM medical experts had been stationed in Aceh since Dec 29 and another specialist in Sri Lanka since Dec 30.
He said the first team to Aceh comprised Dr Zainal Abidin Mohamed Ismail and Dr Fazilah Mohd Zin who joined Mercy Malaysia's mission while Dr Yong Chee Tien went on Jan 2.
He said they were among the first on the ground to provide medical and humanitarian assistance and in the process gained invaluable experience in the handling of such a calamity.
According to Prof Mafauzy, another team comprising paramedics, pharmacists and emergency medical specialists will leave for Aceh this Sunday with the Yayasan Salam mission.