‘Take care of B40 group’
SUPPORT: Doctors in private practice should cooperate with govt, says PM
yesterday.
THERE is a need for strong cooperation between the government and doctors in private practice so that the people can get good medical services.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday the government could not shoulder the role
hosing down participants in alone without the involvement of doctors in private practice, especially to cater to the medical needs of the low-income group.
“The government has always looked after the wellbeing of the people, especially the B40 (bottom 40) group. They (B40) have been the focus of government efforts, including in the areas of education, public transport and health programmes, as well as in addressing the rising cost of living,” he said at the launch of the Sunathon Perdana (mass circumcision) programme here.
Present were Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Malaysia Muslim Doctors Association president Datuk Dr Ahmad Shukri Ismail, who is also Pulau Tawar assemblyman.
Najib urged the people to equip
in Putrajaya themselves with health knowledge and to consider modern medicine.
“During my visit to a governmentrun autism centre, I asked its director how public response was towards the facility. I was told it has been lukewarm as many parents attributed their children’s conditions to the work of black magic and witchcraft.”
He urged parents not to deny their children the best help from the perspective of modern science and medicine, which had been proven to be effective.
Later, Najib joined the parents of 1,250 boys in witnessing the ceremony. He said the programme was for orphans and children from poor families residing in the federal territories.
Najib said he had launched many programmes but yesterday was his first time launching a circumcision programme of such a scale.
“Maybe it can earn a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records.”
He said traditional circumcision services performed by the Tok Mudim were becoming a thing of the past as the latest techniques were simpler and less painful.
“In the past, boys were told to take a dip in a pond or river to numb themselves before getting circumcised, which could be traumatic. Now, the latest methods, such as the Tara-Klamp and laser circumcision, have made the procedure simpler... and it only takes about 20 minutes.”
At the ceremony, Najib calmed the boys, telling them not to be afraid as the new method was less painful and he ensured them a speedy recovery.