Laying a solid foundation

Uggah (left) and Cardinal Peter Turkson (right) striking gongs to open the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants’ 20th congress in Kuching. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUCHING: The “pioneering spirit” of the church and early missionaries contributed to Sarawak’s social and human development, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

He said the missionaries had ventured into the jungles of Borneo to help the rural population by setting up schools for education and small clinics for health-care.

“I am one of the beneficiaries of such a school. If it had not been set up, I might not be standing here today,” he said when opening the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants’ (CICIAMS) 20th congress here yesterday.

He added that the clinics set up by the missionaries, which were staffed by sisters and laypersons trained as nurses and midwives, became the backbone and foundation of government medical clinics as the state developed.

“The state government acknowledges this contribution and thus gives our support for this international congress to be hosted in Kuching,” he said.

Archbishop of Kuching Simon Poh (left) presenting a souvenir to Uggah at the congress in Kuching.

The four-day congress is being held for the first time here with over 200 participants from Malaysia and 18 other countries.

Uggah told the participants that Sarawak was a multicultural state where people of different ethnic groups and faiths lived harmoniously among themselves.

He said the state leaders pursued a policy of inclusiveness as seen in the establishment of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) under the Chief Minister’s Department.

“Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia to have a formal government agency looking after non-Muslim affairs, such as repairing houses of worship and facilitating applications for land for religious buildings,” he said.

On the congress, Uggah said its focus on issues affecting children, youth and the elderly would provide tools for education, sustaining life and promoting human development through the nursing and healthcare profession.

“I hope the findings of the congress can be shared with us as we move towards sustainable development for Sarawak,” he said.