The Malaysian Emergency Medical Support Association (MEMSA) is a non-governmental organistion that promotes health and well-being among street people, the Orang Asli, the stateless, the poor and needy in the peninsula.

The acronym, MEMSA not only represents the initials of the organisation name, but it also stands for Mercy, Education, Medical, Social Involvement and Aid to the poor and the needy.

 

MEMSA was founded by Dr Patrick Teo and a group of professionals trained in emergency or medical crisis on 30 January 2005.

After the December 2004 tsunami, MEMSA has networked with groups in Cambodia, Thailand and Sumatra to provide medical training for disaster, crisis and emergency situations.

MEMSA has also visited the Orang Asli in the interior of Perak and Pahang to offer medical care and provisions such as rice, oil, biscuits, drinks, baked beans, soup and sardines. Additionally, they are also training the Orang Asli to be healthcare providers to their communities, while equipping stateless people for jobs in old folks homes. This is an example whereby MEMSA is assisting them to obtain or hone a skill so that it can be useful for their future careers when resettled in a third country.

MEMSA is located in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang. It is not only their office, but also is a half-way nursing home for the critically ill. They already have a waiting list. Priority will be given to Orang Asli from the interior. Patients from these remote areas can recuperate and rest there when they go to nearby Sungai Buloh or Selayang Hospital for treatment. MEMSA also wishes to help them by housing outstation family members who are their primary caregivers in their home.

Currently, MEMSA is raising funds to buy 20 beds and has already provided basic training for caregivers. These trained caregivers get to use their training skills by doing 120 hours of ‘practical’ in a home for people living with HIV, an old folks’ home and another hospice.