Graduates urged to fulfil duty
By Achong Tanjong

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (C) and other senior officials at the function

"Officials and staff of the Ministry of Health have a duty to help the public. Working in the Ministry of Health is unique in that it requires staff members to think of constructive steps to face unexpected scenarios." This was stated by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Zainal bin Haji Momin at the opening of the orientation programme for local graduates at the Ministry of Health. The programme was held this morning at the Ministry of Health Building in Berakas.

Dato Paduka Awg Hj Zainal said to deal with such unanticipated problems, "we should have quality management and clear objectives based on guaranteeing public satisfaction and giving service that can fulfil the patients' needs and expectations."

In view of this, he reminded health officials to ensure quality management in order to cope with problems related to patients.

"Services given should be defect-free or zero defect," he stressed.

The Permanent Secretary said all the ministry's employees should be alert and careful in handling their jobs, for example making sure they understood the prescriptions given by doctors.

He also urged the new graduates to contribute towards a higher standard of work. He encouraged them to strive to exceed the expectations of the government and to prove the benefits of the government having sponsored the cost of their studies.

The Permanent Secretary informed the graduates that their success has proved that the government's plan to employ more locals with good qualifications has been achieved.

He added that the new graduates were the nation's hope and reminded them not to neglect their responsibility in helping to upgrade and strengthen the quality of service in the ministry.

With the increasing number of qualified officials at the ministry, said the Permanent Secretary, national development in the field of health can be broached.

The two-week orientation programme for local graduates is aimed at exposing them to teamwork and the National Health Care Plan for 2000 to 2010. The orientation programme is therefore conducted to enhance and build a team among officials and staff from various capabilities to unite toward the one positive objective of implementing the National Health Care Plan.

Earlier, the Director of the Policy And Planning Department at the Ministry of Health, Haji Md Mahdi Hj Abd Rahman said that the Orientation course has become one of the training programmes organised each year by the Human Resources Development, not only for the graduates but also for nurses and the staff who serve at Section IV and V. Since 1999 a total of 600 officials of the Ministry have been involved in the orientation programme.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin