When Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim was first invited to join a community volunteer group, he doubtlessly agreed.
It was his first volunteering experience in a project called IMARET, or Imam Relief and Response Team which is part of the Islamic Medical Association Malaysia (IMAM) involved in providing food and clothes for flood victims, treating the sick and injured as well as other community work for displaced communities.
“It is different, as I have to leave the conventional treating pattern beyond the air-conditioned walls and step outside to reach for the unfortunate and needy patients,” said Dr Munawwar, 32, who is a medical officer in Malaysia Sports Institute (ISN) in Selangor.
With less than 10 volunteers, the group first got involved in helping victims in a flood relief programme at the east coast in 2014, and since then, it has been involved in more than 50 missions around the country.
Special attention is also given for Orang Asli as according to him, many of them do not have easy access to clinics and hospitals, especially in places such as Pos Kuala Mu in Kampung Bersia which is so distant, the group has to do overnight stints.
Dr Munawwar said treating the natives is a lovely experience as they are warm and sincere people and many of them do grueling hikes for up to three hours just to reach IMARET’s response medical team.
“The sight of kids having gone through such long treks to reach us makes us even more determined to give our best,” he said.
There were times when Dr Munawwar had doubts about accomplishing tasks but the thought of the natives waiting for them kept him going.
Mohamad Syakir Jamali, 24, believes that through IMARET, he will get firsthand experience in carrying out medical practices before committing himself in the actual job.
The final year student of UiTM Selayang said he has seen how some of his friends who were assigned to become at rural places failong to perform as a practitioners because they lack the passion and understanding locals.
“I am making sure I am treating them with all my hearts as I am a student with no money but all I can offer is a bit of my time and energy amidst my busy schedule,” he added.
For those who are interested, IMARET is still on the looking for doctors, pharmacist, MAs, nurses andstudents as well as those from non-medical background to join their team.
New volunteers can check out and register themselves at their website: www.imamrelief.com or contact/SMS: Ahmad Fansuri tel:0125235315.
Any public contribution and donation for outreach funds can be done through cash transfer to their Maybank account-Persatuan Perubatan Islam Malaysia (562834623415) and notify any transaction at imamrelief@gmail.com