Health Ministry mobilises workforce to promote healthcare awareness

The Health Ministry mobilised 320 trainees from its training institutions and 330 members of its workforce as well as Putra and Puteri UMNO members to promote its "Ziarah Kasih Sayang" programme and instil awareness in the society on the importance of starting healthcare early.

In this regard, Health Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the group would be visiting as many houses in the parliamentary constituencies as it could manage.

At the same time, the group would provide health examination to the villagers, and residents found to have serious medical issues would be referred to the nearest clinic for further treatment, he told reporters today after launching the programme for the Muar parliamentary constituency here.

He said Muar was the group''s fourth destination after the parliamentary constituencies of Balik Pulau in Penang, Pekan in Pahang, and Bagan Datuk in Perak.

Meanwhile, Muar Member of Parliament, Datuk Razali Ibrahim said the programme proved that Barisan Nasional was earnest in providing the best health service to the people in the country.

"While the other side (opposition) are saying that the number of civil servants should be reduced to cut costs, we are still training new nurses to provide health services because this is important in people development," he said.

He said Muar alone has 1Malaysia Clinic, four health clinics and 16 rural health clinics, which are manned by a workforce of 653.

-- BERNAMA