MERCY Malaysia To Deploy Emergency Medical Team To Nepal

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Medical Relief Society (MERCY) Malaysia will be deploying an emergency medical team to help Nepalese communities affected by the earthquake that struck Nepal Saturday. MERCY Malaysia President Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said MERCY's eight-member medical team led by Dr Heng Aik Cheng, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon and Traumatologist was ready to be deployed anytime. This medical team will be part of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) comprising medical personnel, logisticians, doctors, surgeons and complete with a field hospital set-up to serve the affected community. "A field hospital will be set-up with mini-surgery facilities, an out-patient department (OPD) and a pharmaceutical service to serve the affected community in Nepal. MERCY Malaysia is preparing its medical teams for sustained medical assistance for at least one month. On Saturday, an earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale with the epicenter about 77 kilometres from Nepal's capital city of Kathmandu, devastated the country and sent strong tremors across Northern India. The Nepali government confirmed the death toll so far as 2,263 with another 5,580 reported to be injured. Meanwhile, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is mobilising an urgent response to meet the needs of children affected by the disaster. UNICEF representative to Malaysia, Wivina Belmonte said together with their partners they were rushing to deliver critical supplies to children and families in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. "UNICEF's first priory is focused on life-saving interventions – finding and caring for survivors with essential medicine, nutrition, safe water and hygiene kits for children and families. She said UNICEF Malaysia had launched the "Nepal Earthquake Children’s Appeal" to respond to the needs of children and families most affected by this tragedy and those who wished to donate to the Appeal in Ringgit Malaysia can visit https://unicef.my/donations/emergency to make a secure online donation via credit card; or issue a crossed cheque or bank transfer payable to 'UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND-EMERGENCY'. -- BERNAMA