Sabah Medical Camp. Documenting a journey.

2. 4th FPMPAM Sabah Medical Camp
23rd-25th Nov. 2017
Our Journey
On the foothills of Gunong Trusmardi, the second highest peak in Sabah.

3. The Klang Valley team landed in BKI late as the AA flight was delayed. When the
baggage came out, 3 of our luggage were badly damaged. That necessitated filing
a claims report at BKI / AA counter. That delayed us another 45 mins. We left BKI
for lunch nearby, at about 3 pm. In the meantime, the Kedah Team had already
left, as the journey to Kg Sinua ( our first Camp site ) was estimated at about 5-6
hours, depending on traffic across the Crocker Range.

4. After a quick lunch at a nearby chicken rice shop, we proceeded to cross
the Crocker Range and proceed to Kg Sinua at the foot of Gunong
Trusmardi, a journey which took about 5+ hours.

5. Roads were good. The journey was uneventful, apart from water buffaloes crossing
the road or gathering in the middle of the road. The van driver was good. Despite
the darkness, he managed to avoid all these big animals.

6. This is our temporary residence at
Kg Sinua, pic taken the next
morning. We arrived at about 9pm,
and the locals with the Kedah Team
was waiting patiently for us. Dinner
too was waiting.
Simple delicious dinner. Boy we
were hungry.
Sleeping quarters were upstairs ( 5
rooms ) as well as hall downstairs.

7. This is Kg Sinua, with a school in the
background. About 200 homes.
It is sited by the main road to Ranau
and Kundasan.

8. Gunong Trusmardi at 6.45 am. Quite
scenic. Perhaps the only tourist
attraction here.
I am standing at the residence
compound. Trusmardi provides the
back drop.

9. Almost 8.45 am. Getting ready for
the Camp.
This is actually the St Francis
Church at Kg Sinua, Trusmardi.
Large space.
Large compound.
Actually we were suppose to be
sited at the Kg Dewan. The Impian
team negotiated with the
Kampong chiefs, but again was
refused permission.So we decided
to hold Camp at this Church. We
are getting used to these last
minutes changes.

10. Before the Camp starts at 9 am. A group photo, as we did not have the
opportunity in KK.

11. Registration begins.
The crowd was already waiting for us when we arrive.

12. Camp began at 9 am. Layout is the same. Standard. After registration, patients
seen at the diagnostic station. BMI, BP check and Glucometer.

13. Then clinical assessment by the primary care doctor.
Dr Tajuddin is an International Medical Care Giver.

14. This time, we had some donations, so team bought some children fun
items and conducted some children activities. Having fun during the
middle of the Camp.

15. Wefies with uncle Carrot, the Impian boss.

16. The modern Dentist hard at work.
Headgear and smart dental gown.
This team performed admirably.
Many satisfied customers. Some opted
to have one extraction, to test to see if it
is really painless, and return in the
afternoon for the second. Quite smart,
ya?

17. The dental team also brought tube
balloons for the kids, making shapes
and figurines for them. Of course a
few balloons burst and caused us a
fright.

18. I was wondering what was happening behind the curtains, behind me?
A children’s party.

19. Amazing photography. When did they take this shot? Amazing.
So it was not all work. They was time for a bit of fun too.
Behind them is the Trusmardi mountain range.

20. At about 4 pm, we journeyed from K Sinua, to Kg Mantanid. One van had no
air-con and the timber road was dusty. That caused problems, of adequate
ventilation. As usual, we were scheduled to hold Camp at Kg Mateo.
Permission was denied at the last moment and we had to shift Camp site to Kg
Mantanid. This and many other surprises await us. For a moment, I thought
that we had to withdraw. However, we found a way out. We survived and
successfully carried our work. I learned many lessons here.

21. The first replacement Camp site found for us was in the basement of a house on stilts.
The basement was still clutted with wooden planks everywhere and not adequate for
a Medical Camp. Besides all that, it was also next to a muddy field with water
buffaloes bathing in the mud pool. I was most upset. On second thought, I managed
to convince Tuan Rumah Sebastian to allow us to hold the Medical Camp in his hall
which was originally meant to be the ladies sleeping quarters. Tuan Rumah Sebastian
kindly agreed and so we held the Camp at his hall.

22. The hall was small, so the Impian team managed to erect a canopy outside
to serve as registration and holding area.
Here the Impian team is preparing the small goodie bags. Getting ready to
start.

23. The Canopy also served as a
holding area, as we had no space
for them to wait inside. It worked
out OK. Just barely.

24. Dermatologist cum primary care doctor hard at work.

25. Even found some time to show interesting cases to members of the team.
We learn all the time. Even in deep Sabah.

26. I suppose Dentist Amy is explaining to the mother what she intends to do for the
kid on the couch.

27. Eye station where the tumbling E
was being used to test Visual
Acuity.
The man in red is the owner of the
house behind. His wife cooks well,
delicious dishes for lunch and
dinner.

28. This pic is for the toothbrush
sponsors. Something simple. The
kids got balloons and biscuits too.
We also gave out reading glasses
and eye drops at the eye station.

29. Camp over. Senior members of the team restoring the Hall to its original
state, as promised to Tuan Rumah Sebastian.

30. From Kg Mantanid, we travelled out towards Keningau, to Kg Biah. This journey was
shorter and in better condition. Kg Biah is about 40 mins from Keningau, but living
condition was still poor.

31. Our Camp site cum temporary residence at Kg Biah
Please notice the big blue drum container to store water. No pipe water. So we have
to bath at the water available hours.

32. This is the new bathroom cum water
toilet ( just outside the house ). They
have just constructed this bathroom
for us.

33. This is their simple dining hall
adjacent to their kitchen.
The staircase on the right leads up
to the main hall.
We slept in the main hall. The girls
in two rooms and the men in the
hall.
This staircase is steep and has no
rails to hold on to.
This prove to be a danger to us, as
we are not use to it. One team
member, slipped down this stairs at
2 am in the morning whilst trying to
answer nature’s call.
She sustained a left Colles’s fracture
which was well attended to in
Keningau Hospital. She is well now.
I hate to think what may have
happened if this had occurred in
Pensiangan or Kg Babalitan, in deep
deep Sabah. Thank God.

34. The people were already waiting for us to start. The injured nurse was on way to
Keningau Hospital and another nurse had to accompany her. So we started Camp,
two staff short.

35. The eye station was really busy at this Camp. We screen about half the crowd (105 of
the 183 patients seen ). There were many cases of pterygiums and cataracts.
Reading glasses were snap up by many. We gave away 81 pairs. I think some just
took it for a free gift. One man took an extra pair, just for spare.

36. After she had her Colles’s fixed under
sedation, she came back to help, despite
the POP and pain. She knew that we
were busy and needed her help.

37. Quiet please. Dentist at work. Blowing balloons for the kids.

38. Besides blowing balloons for kids, the dental team also did some serious work.

39. At about lunch time YB Lim and YB Wong came a calling.
One for the album.

40. The final station. The pharmacy was ably handled by Dr Tan PT, and supported by Dr
Amy Wong and Master Tan. They had to battle the heat and sun, the whole day.

41. 3.30 pm. Camp over. Tuan Rumah told me that there should be no more people
coming. We packed up and Dr Tan did the stock taking. Finally a group photo of the
whole team with Tuan Rumah and some of the locals. Thereafter, it was time to say
goodbye. At all the 3 camp sites, they asked us when will we return. The one question
that I could not answer as I do not know. There has to be some soul searching.
Back to Keningau, for dinner and nice warm bath and soft beds. Home tomorrow.

42. YB Stephen Wong ( MP Sandakan ) threw a simple farewell cum Thank You dinner
for us on 25th Nov night. Guest of honour was YB Lim Kit Siang ( MP Gelang Petah ).
Simple but meaningful. Time to say TQ and goodbye, all round.

43. Time to return back to Semananjung. Back across the Crocker Range. Back to family
and work. 4th FPMPAM Sabah Medical Camp mission accomplished,
despite many challenges. Well done team. SYABAS. It is an honor to lead you all.
You all were great.

44. Camp Site Age Gender BMI (kg/m2) Glucometer ( mmol/L )
< 12 13 – 65 > 65 Male Female No
Gender
< 20 20 – 24 25. – 30 > 30 No
value
< 5.6 5.6 - 7.0 >7.
0
No
value
Kg Sinua
169 Patients
63 108 4 59 104 6 77 44 36 10 2 38 41 18 73
Kg Mantanid
171 Patients
45 109 17 73 92 6 68 37 38 23 10 60 36 14 59
Kg Biah
183 Patients
34 123 7 58 106 19 41 50 52 12 14 56 32 26 50
Camp Site GP Dental Eye
Check-up Extraction Scaling screen specs Eye drops
Kg Sinua 169 20 38 1 61 28 18
Kg Mantanid 171 45 25 0 70 27 20
Kg Biah 183 26 61 0 105 81 32
Total 523 91 124 1 236 136 70
4th FPMPAM ( Impian ) Sabah Medical Camp.
23th- 25th November 2017
Final Camp Statistics