Our mission at Iskul has expanded beyond our core goals of education. We have built a new space for our Mini Clinic.
This was made possible thanks to the incredible support from Yayasan Gamuda. Dr Carmen from UNSW and University Community Transformation (UCTC) UPM also provided valuable support. This expansion allows us to support the rural and stateless community who are in need of access to medical services.
On the 8th and 9th of June, representatives from the UCTC UPM visited Omadal. They discussed our plans for the Iskul Mini Clinic. They also talked about the training of Community Health Helpers (CHH). Four community members will be selected to go for a health internship with a private clinic in Semporna. This will give them the skills to help their community and sustainably run the clinic. The representatives from UCTC had a conversation with the seaweed entrepreneurs. They are based in Omadal. This meeting was facilitated by our headmistress.
We believe that a person can’t learn to their fullest potential if they are not healthy. But, hospitals and clinics are not a choice for the Bajau Laut. Their lack of citizenship makes it unaffordable to obtain private healthcare.
Iskul thus became a makeshift clinic for students to get medicine and emergency treatment. Ringworm, boils, wounds, fever, and toothache are common ailments we attend to. When necessary, we do seek support from private clinics or government hospitals for treatment of patients from our community.
We assisted the Semporna Health District Office (PKD). They came to Omadal for their preventing cholera and polio campaign.
Preventing Cholera
On August 11th 2020, a health team from the PKD visited Iskul. They provided cholera medicine to the children. Cholera cases in Sabah had increased sharply in July 2020 to a total of 43 cases. Without immediate treatment, Cholera, a normally curable disease can become fatal.
Preventing Polio
Similarly, on December 4th 2020, PKD sent a team to supply polio vaccines to children of Omadal Island. Our team on the ground helped gather the children of the island to be vaccinated. In 2020, there were at least 4 cases of polio in Sabah. This led to a mass distribution of the polio vaccine to children in the state.
