2000 VISITORS TURN OUT AT THE CHILDREN’S DAY CARNIVAL

KEPALA BATAS, October 5th, 2019 – The World Children's Day Carnival, Seberang Perai Utara 2019 was recently held by the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has garnered the attendance of nearly 2000 visitors.

The one-day carnival was a corporate social responsibility effort which aims to appreciate the role of children in families and communities and to promote healthy and beneficial activities for children.

The ceremony was officiated by the Penang Deputy Chief Minister I, YB. Dato Ir. Haji Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abd Rahman.

Also present at the officiating ceremony were the Director of AMDI, USM, Professor Dr. Syed Azhar Syed Sulaiman; Program Chairman, Dr. Suria Emilia Suhana Othman Tan; President of Malaysian Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiency (MyPOPI), Mr Bruce Lim; Pediatric Immunology Specialist of Women and Children Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Prof. Dr. Lokman Mohd Noh; representative for Director of Penang Public Library Corporation, Mdm Nuraisyah Hajjar Ismail; Chairman of Tadika Perintis Kecil Network, Mr Ahmad Basirun Abu Bakar and CSL Behring Manager, Mr Gary Lim.

According to the Program Chairman, Dr Suria Emilia Suhana Othman Tan who is also an AMDI Paediatrician, the program provided an opportunity for the surrounding community to join the children in various curated activities.

"The program is expected to broaden the minds of the parents and the local community on the importance of nurturing and educating children so that they became dedicated citizens that will contribute back to the community, religion, nation and nation," she said.

“In addition, the program celebrates the special needs and disadvantaged children so they too feel appreciated and loved by the community. Many of the activities we carry out today are intellectual stimulating whilst strengthening family’s bonding” adds her.

Among activities held at the carnival were the Bunny Kids Fun Walk which drew almost 700 participations. This 3 km walk involves the participation among parents and children and they were entertained throughout the walk by the presence of costume cartoon characters.

There were also activities that hone children's talents such as Basic Robotic Workshops, Batik Drawing, Children Performances, Bintang Aulad Competition and more. Concurrently, a premiere screening of a movie titled ‘Do Something’, organized by the Primary Immunodeficiency Group, IPPT and MyPOPI, attended by 210 visitors.

In the same program, Deputy Chief Minister I had also launched the Primary Immunodeficiency Disorder (PID) Treatment & Diagnostic Services. In short, PID is an inherited disease affecting the immune system leading to reduced or absent immunity protection. The disease requires early diagnosis and treatment in order to treat and save the life of the patient. At the time being, AMDI is the first institution in Malaysia with a comprehensive group of PIDs specialist comprising Clinical Paediatric Immunologist, Dr. Intan Juliana Abd Hamid, and Scientist in Immunology, Dr. Zarina Thasneem Zainudeen and Dr. IIie Fadzilah Hashim. Hence, AMDI became a reference centre for the disease in the northern region as well as from Kelantan and Terengganu.

Subsequently, the Primary Immunodeficiency Seminar 2019 was co-organized by PID Group, IPPT and CSL Behring on October 3, 2019, participated by 45 physicians, medical personnel and trained nurses from hospitals in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia. This seminar aims to increase awareness among medical practitioners to the primary immunology deficiency diseases so the disease can be detected early.

Article by: Mohd Faisal Jamaludin | Photo : Norizan Ishak & Amir Zaidi Abu Hassan