Rainbow Bridge (RB) Mobile Medical Team

The number of dependents staying in welfare and shelter homes vary tremendously according to the resources of the management team in terms of number of caregivers, transportation facilities, finances at their disposal. Their highest priorities are always shelter, food, health and education in that order. Given their limited resources, assess to health, although available at minimal cost at the Ministry of Health facilities in Malaysia, taking their dependents to government clinics may not be convenient. Therefore, minor health problems are more often than not, ignored or given self-medication.

Common health issues among welfare homes include head lice among children, reproductive health problems among teenage female, skin problems among the young and old and simple acute respiratory infections. In addition, common household accidents such as cuts, sprains and bruises, burns, scalds can be managed by care-givers and older teenagers.

The mobile medical team is tasked with administering management of these common medical problems, carrying out anthropometric measurements to determine the growth status, teaching the residents on causes and management by providing them with the necessary tools such as medication and first aid kit. Follow-ups can be made by phone plus additional visits by a member of the medical team.

It is planned that initially the mobile medical team will make bi-monthly visits to identified shelter and welfare homes. However, as the team expands with more healthcare professions, monthly visits are planned.

Rainbow Bridge Medical Fund Raising

Treatment given to patients by the RB medical team is FREE, including the medication given to them to complete the course of treatment. Medications given include those commonly used to treat coughs, colds and sore throats, antiseptics and dressings for simple wounds, medicine for intestinal upsets, calamine lotions and various creams for common skin problems and medication for head lice.

In the near future it intended to use the funds raised to provide fully equipped first aid kits for home use after basic first aid knowledge and skills are taught to them.