A Psychiatrist’s Tryst with Transformation
Benefit of Banana
Benefit of Turmeric
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Managing Diabetes
About Heart Disease
Retirement Planning
Dr. Andrew Mohanraj (right) counselling a client

It has been more than six years since the fateful day of 26 December 2004, when the devastating tsunami struck Indonesia and many other countries in the south-eastern region. Soon after the tsunami, Dr. Andrew Mohanraj found himself in Aceh setting up mental health services for those who survived the tragedy. He was shocked to see the lack of psychiatric services there, especially since the magnitude of the tragedy had been enormous. There was only one public hospital which offered psychiatric care and this was insufficient to help survivors who suffered from acute stress, depression and psychosis. He immediately set up the Aceh Psychosocial Rehabilitation Programme, which saw the establishment of community mental health care in the province. Little did he realise that in addition to those who suffered from psychological conditions as a result of the tsunami, there was a large group of existing psychiatric patients who were kept confined by their families at home.

What was intended to be a six month stint to offer acute care became a more committed mission for Dr. Andrew. He left his comfortable job as a psychiatrist with the Malaysian Ministry of Health and started community services with the help of international funding bodies. Dr. Andrew also started short-term training courses for nurses, village volunteers and lay counsellors in the tsunami affected districts of West Aceh. “Fortunately, the Government of Aceh fully supported me in my efforts by ensuring the nurses trained would be dedicated staff of the newly set up mental health services. They even provided allowances as incentives for the village volunteers. This ensured the sustainability of the mental health services at the community level, without undue burden on the already overloaded hospitals”, says Dr. Andrew. The Acehnese had been fighting a 30-year civil war with the Indonesian authorities when the tsunami struck. Indirectly, this put a stop to the war and all efforts were focussed on rehabilitation.

 

 

Prof. Dato' Dr. Harun Nizam: Born to Serve

The Iron Lady of Malaysia

 

 

Finally a magazine for Senior Citizens has come to the newsstand for the public to read. There are many reading materials published for children, teenagers, men and women and now, it is time to publish one for our golden people.

Although this magazine is meant for the Senior Citizens, the articles contributed are for the benefit of all. All are welcomed to write, contribute, participate and comment. This is the inaugural issue and is packed with a lot of information, activities, events, health tips, interviews and biographies. Wisdom comes with age.

Likewise, senior citizens’ expertise, knowledge and advice are valuable assets to the younger generation. Aging is not only a seniority of calendar years but also an accumulation of wisdom. As we progress technologically, the humanitarian aspect of helping people should not be forgotten.

Progression of arts and science is the acquisition and execution of knowledge and progression of age is the combination of perseverance, righteousness and sense control which produces wisdom. Age is not confined to numbers; aging is a biological process not a psychological one. So long as your psyche is strong, you do not age.

“If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.” - James A. Garfield