Malaysian field hospital catering to Rohingyas

On Friday afternoon, eight-year-old Basir Mia broke his arm while playing with his friends at Kutupalong refugee camp in Cox's Bazar.

The next morning, his father Ziaur Rahman took him to a hospital in Ukhia upazila.

The doctor X-rayed Baisr's arm and found that it was broken. He put the arm in a plaster cast and also fixed February 24 for a follow-up.

Like Basir, around 100 patients have received treatment at the 55-bed field hospital, which is set up by the Malaysian government in response to the Rohingya humanitarian crisis.

A total of 4,326 patients, 41 percent of whom are Rohingya refugees while others are Bangladeshis, have received treatment at the hospital since its inauguration on December 1.

The temporary hospital has seven specialised doctors, five medical officers, including psychiatrists for rape and trauma victims, 18 nurses, 140 staff and one operation room.

Team leader of the hospital, Dr Fatahul Laham Mohamed, yesterday told The Daily Star that a total of 140 operations, mostly hernia surgeries, had been performed at the hospital till now.

The healthcare facility regularly receives hernia and maternity cases while the outpatient section, which remains closed on Friday, mostly gets gastroenteritis cases.

The tents, in three rows, have medicine, paediatric, general surgery, orthopaedic, gynaecology and obstetrics and emergency sections. Besides basic medical equipment, the field hospital has air-conditioned facility.

FOCUS ON HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

A special delegation, led by Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor and Hollywood actress Michelle Yeoh, yesterday visited the Malaysian field hospital and talked to the patients.

The delegation also distributed relief items like medical equipment, medicines and food in response to the escalating need of medical care among the refugees.

The delegation made the visit to evaluate the impact of aid provided till date and ensure that the Malaysian field hospital is equipped with adequate resources to tackle and provide good care to the Rohingya refugees.

Talking to the media, Affandi said the Malaysian prime minister is concerned over the humanitarian issue and the plight of the Rohingyas.

When asked whether he would contact the Myanmar generals to solve the problem, he said, “My concentration is purely on assistance, humanitarian assistance. We are here today just to pursue what we can do in this regard.”

UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh said, “I would like to extend that our prime minister wants to send his sincere gratitude to all our Malaysian heroes who have been coming in and out of the field hospital here.”

“I think it is very important for us to see the exchange, the holding out of the hand and to show that there is hope because together we can build a better future, but we have to do it together.”