Healthcare outreach to the needy

The Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM), in collaboration with the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants-Itinerants of the Archdiocese Office for Human Development, conducted a healthcare outreach to a migrant community in Setia Alam.

Dec 02, 2022

The migrants waiting for the team to perform health checks.


SHAH ALAM:
The Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM), in collaboration with the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants-Itinerants of the Archdiocese Office for Human Development, conducted a healthcare outreach to a migrant community in Setia Alam. This is the second time CDM has organised this mobile clinic for the marginalised community within the vicinity of Shah Alam, the first being held during March 2022.

Malaysia is one of the largest migrantreceiving countries in Southeast Asia. Between 2018 and 2020, the Malaysian government officially estimated that the country hosted approximately 1.4 to 2 million documented migrants, and unofficial estimates of 1.2 to 3.5 million additional migrants (as reported by the World Bank) - thus making Malaysia one of the largest migrant-receiving countries in Southeast Asia. As of end September 2022, a total of 183,430 refugees and asylum seekers were registered by UNHCR. (Source: https://www.iom.int/countries/malaysia)


Accessibility of healthcare services for migrant workers in Malaysia has been questionable. If they cannot access public health care, we can do our best by bringing health assistance to them.

Making present the compassion of Christ, the outreach mobile clinic was not just about providing healthcare, but also, ultimately, hope and courage to these migrant communities. It was heart-warming for the volunteer team, which comprised of doctors, nurses, and parishioners, to spend the day giving out free medical check-ups, advice and medication to the families, welcoming everyone, regardless of the other’s status, whatever their faith or beliefs and providing for his or her needs.

Dr David Kumar, the President of the Catholic Doctors Association of Malaysia, invites all Catholic doctors (especially the young physicians) to come forward and join forces with the Archdiocese (as well as in their own parishes) to serve the poor and the marginalised, and encourages all healthcare workers to also look on their profession as a vocation. He concludes, “May all healthcare workers be nourished and enlightened by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as they continue to be pillars of medical service for the Church, embodying compassion, respect, warmth, and generosity, whilst responding to the suffering of the other.”

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