Programme in the offing to address
shortage of paramedics
news extracted
from TheStar
GEORGETOWN: St John Ambulance of
Malaysia (SJAM) and
Open University are planning to offer a Diploma in Pre-Hospital
programme by January in a bid to address the country’s acute shortage of
paramedics.
Apart from being the first of its kind in
the country, this online programme is the first to be offered by the
non-governmental organisation.
Currently, there are about 100 paramedics in
the country, said SJAM Commander-in- Chief Datuk Dr Low Bin Tick.
He said the university would conduct the
diploma’s theory syllabus, while the students would receive their skills
training from the organisation.
SJAM and Open University are designing the
syllabus, which will be submitted to the
National Accreditation Board and Health Ministry for approval.
For a good
course: Kamal presenting a mock key to SJAM Penang state commander
Datuk Dr Yee Thiam Sun.
Looking on are (from left): Dr Low,Tun Abdul Rahman and state
executive councillor Phee Boon Poh after the
annual marching inspection at Padang Polo yesterday.
“There’s no point awarding a piece of paper
if it’s not recognised by the board and ministry.
“We want our graduates to be employable,” he
said after the annual marching inspection attended by Yang di-Pertua
Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at Padang Polo yesterday.
Dr Low said they hope the programme would be
subsequently developed into a degree.
On another matter, he said SJAM planned to
raise RM1mil by December for the
Sichuan Earthquake
Rebuilding Fund to build an orphanage in Sichuan.
Earlier, Star Publications (M) Bhd
executive director Datuk Seri Kamal M. Hashim presented a new ambulance
to the SJAM Penang branch. The vehicle was bought from the proceeds
collected at the Starwalk Carnival Charity Concert 2006.
EMAS
Penang,
Dynamic, professional, committed to the community
