KKM proposes to open medical post, appoint medical assistant from the Orang Asli community

KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry (KKM) should consider the proposed opening of medical posts like the rural health clinic and revive the medical assistant services among indigenous youths.

Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) director-general, Prof Dr Juli Edo, said medical posts in the Orang Asli settlements would help the local communities get health services faster and more effectively.

"Sometimes in certain areas, there is a mobile health team, and on the advice of this team, the Orang Asli will go to the hospital for further treatment. If it is possible to have a medical post, it is very good for them.

"... and if there is the medical post, it is fair that  the Orang Asli themselves work there as it would be easier,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama, at the Jakoa Headquarters, here today.

Prior to this, the Malaysian Orang Asli Youth Council proposed that the medical assistant services be revived among indigenous youths so that awareness and health services could be more effectively delivered to them.

The proposal was seen as an effective solution as medical assistants from among the Orang Asli community could deliver health information to their tribes in their own languages.

-- BERNAMA