KUCHING: Three Malaysians will be among 19 recipients of the Outstanding Asian Paediatrician Awards to be presented at the five-day 14th Asia Pacific Congress of Paediatrics and Asia Pacific Congress of Paediatric Nursing beginning Saturday.
They are Asia Pacific Paediatric Association (APPA) president Datuk Dr Zulkipli Ismail, Damansara Hospital consultant paediatrician and neonatologist Datuk Dr Musa Nordin and Ipoh Hospital Paediatric Department head Datuk Dr Amar Singh.
"This is the first time three Malaysians are being honoured at the same time while the rest are from the Philippines, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam," said Dr Zulkipli, who is also KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital consultant paediatrician.
On the congress' theme "Towards Equity in Child Health", he said there was a need to think of ways to bridge child health and paediatrics disparities between countries as well as within a country.
"We have to get the 1,300 paediatricians (attending the congress) to think globally but act locally. To this end, in Kuala Lumpur we've been doing positive parenting programme," he said, adding that the challenges were great, but the lack of political will could be overpowering.
He said APPA was also participating in the Habitat for Humanity Malaysia which focused on building houses for the needy at a cost of between RM26,000 and RM30,000 each.
Meanwhile, a board member of the organisation, Chiew Chung Yee, said 112 modest concrete houses had been built in the Kuching division, including Bako, Siburan and Semenggoh since the programme started in 1999.
He said the house owners needed to pay a monthly instalment of RM200 without interest for a period of between eight and 12 years.
The help is extended to families, whose house was in a deplorable condition or congested, he said, adding that applications for the assistance could be made through churches, mosques or associations. - Bernama
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