IPOH: The United States Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has donated about RM124,000 (US$30,000) worth of medical equipment to the Perak Health Department to strengthen the Flying Doctor Service (FDS).
Civil-Military Support Element Malaysia team leader Captain James Adam said the assistance aims to provide healthcare to remote communities.
He said that this is the first of three planned donations conducted through the US Department of War's Humanitarian Defence’s Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster and Civic Aid (OHDACA) programme and part of the US’ 250th anniversary of independence celebrations.
"We are excited to help facilitate these contributions and we know the equipment will be put to excellent use in supporting the quality healthcare provided to the people of Malaysia.
"We specifically looked at FDS and it's a very unique and very critical organisation, within the healthcare realm for the people of Malaysia," he told reporters after the handover ceremony on Tuesday (June 30).
The equipment, which includes an ultrasound machine, medical kits, portable power stations and other diagnostic tools, was handed over during a ceremony hosted by Layang Layang Aerospace today.
Adam said Ipoh was selected as one of the first locations for the donations because it happened to be one of the locations that operated FDS.
“Ipoh is the first of three donation locations. We will be making two similar donations in Sabah and Sarawak towards the end of July,” he said.
He added that the initiative demonstrates the US’ continued commitment to strengthening its partnership with Malaysia through humanitarian assistance.
Also present at the ceremony were Perak Health Department Public Health Development Branch head Dr Muthu Chelvan Mathi Arasu, Layang-Layang Group general manager Shahdon Poong, and assistant group general manager Captain Mohd Nazir Kassim.
