Mercy Facing Shortage Of Paramedics

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 11 (Bernama) -- Mercy Malaysia (Mercy) is facing a shortage of paramedics which hinders its effort in assembling relief teams, said its deputy president, Dr Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh.
He said paramedics made up less than two per cent of Mercy's 4,000 volunteers.
Dr Mohamed Ikram said of the 4,000 volunteers, 30 per cent were medical personnel.
"Our priority is to enlist more paramedics as well as nurses. We are bogged down whenever we want to assemble relief teams because we don't have enough paramedics and nurses," he told reporters at the state-level World Health Day celebration here Thursday.
The celebration was launched by the state health, unity, consumer affairs and environment committee chairman Toh Chin Yaw. Also present was Terengganu health director Dr Mohd Kamil Hassan.
Dr Mohamed Ikram said a lot of paramedics and nurses failed to turn up for relief work because they were not released by their employers.
"They work on shifts and they couldn't get their colleagues to relief them when we need them," he said.
He said Mercy was planning to spread its wings nationwide to enable it to enlist more paramedics and nurses as volunteers, and Terengganu branch was in the pipeline.
At present Mercy has offices in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Penang, Sabah dan Sarawak.
Those interested to join Mercy can call 03-4256992 for further information.