Rosnah chats with Netty Jamin 29, who is caring for her 11-day-old son, Khairul Mukmin Abdul Waris Said, at the Embara Budi evacuation centre at Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, yesterday.
LAHAD DATU: Two-year-old Mohd Mirzan Shah Alimuddin was all smiles yesterday, albeit cheekily, while clinging to his mother, Normini Abd Rahim, as he enjoyed the attention showered on him by the cameramen.
Standing next to him was elder brother, Hakim Alimin Shah, five, who remained somewhat oblivious to his surroundings.
He has a slight fever,” said Normini, a 32-year-old mother from Kampung Tanjung Labian, pointing at Hakim, who immediately looked up upon listening to his mother’s voice with his two weak eyes.
Normini added that Mirzan was also suffering from diarrhoea and were waiting for their turns at the makeshift clinic where medical officers are stationed to monitor the health of the displaced villagers at Embara Budi hall, one of the evacuation centres put up following the armed intrusion in their villages.
These children were forced to flee their homes since Feb 12, when armed men arrived at Kampung Tanduo and later made their way to Kampung Tanjung Batu.
Normini said fever and diarrhoea were among the common ailments at the evacuation centre.
“Many of the children had fallen ill, even before we came to this shelter. We are just grateful that medical officers are stationed here,” she said.
They were among the 508 villagers placed at Embara Budi evacuation centre since March 1.
Meanwhile, Dalna Abd Karim, who brought her six-year-old daughter Norfazhana Abdul Mukram, to the clinic, said she could now take a deep sigh of relief as their health was being taken care of.
“The children were given vitamins since we came here but with the medical officers here, it gives us confidence that the people’s health is being taken care of,” said the 31-year-old mother from Kampung Tanjung Labian.
Meanwhile, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said no serious injuries or illness among evacuees were reported at the evacuation centres.
Confirming that most of the children were suffering from mild fever and diarrhoea, she said that some had been referred to the Desa Kencana Clinic in Sahabat 16 for further treatment.
Should there be any serious illnesses, patients would be sent to nearby clinics or the district hospital,” she said.
Rosnah, however, denied claims that there were deaths among babies at the evacuation centres, adding that there were no such reports received.
There was, however, one incident where a baby was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, but that was before the evacuation took place. The baby apparently died due to illness.
“Overall, all the babies and children at the evacuation centres had undergone checkups and treatment,” said Rosnah, who led an entourage from Puteri Umno to visit the evacuees at the relief centres here and distributing food and diapers, among others.