Institution seeks to raise RM3 million for ‘silent mentor’ centre

KUCHING: The Academy for Silent Mentor (AFSM) Sarawak is seeking to raise RM3 million for its centre at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas) campus in Kota Samarahan.

AFSM chairman Prof Dr Chin Kin Fah said the one- storey centre will be located next to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Unimas and will house ‘silent mentors’, which refer to individuals who pledge themselves as body donors upon death.

“Upon death, their bodies are preserved in deep freezers and are later used by medical students and professionals to carry out medical procedures.

“The most important component (of the centre) is the freezer. If we can raise RM150,000 now, I can transport a deep freezer from Germany in three months,” said Dr Chin, adding there are currently only five deep freezers in Malaysia.

Dr Chin was speaking to reporters following the launch of the ‘i- Silent Mentor Programme’ by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian here yesterday.

He explained that the programme aims at promoting consented body donation for the advancement of medical education as well as helping to facilitate the development of humanity among healthcare professionals.

Dr Chin said about 900 individuals throughout Malaysia have so far pledged themselves as silent mentors since AFSM was launched in 2012.

Yesterday’s launch, meanwhile, saw 10 Sarawakians pledging to donate their bodies for the advancement of medical education.

According to Dr Chin, those who choose to become silent mentors are not just donating their bodies, but are also sharing their life stories as a teaching tool.

He also pointed out that AFSM is an independent and non-profit learning institution, stressing that “it is a public entity which nobody owns.”

Donations can be made to AFSM’s Public Bank account 3202116429. For enquiries, call 0391315523 or email afsmexecutive@ gmail.com.