As part of its initiatives to help southern Thailand, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP) has designed a certificate programme to train 40 young Thais to become Assistant Nurses in its campus. The youths will be undergoing the programme for one year and will be awarded a certificate upon completion of the programme that qualifies them as Assistant Nurses.

The programme was officially launched by Yang Amat Berbahagia Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah in a simple but yet a memorable event on August 30, 2008 in Ipoh, Perak. In her officiating speech, Datin Seri Jeanne lauded the initiative which will certainly help to develop the human resource capital in southern Thailand. She encouraged all the youths to take full advantage of the programme; to gather as much knowledge and develop as many skills as possible for them to contribute to their country in return. She also urged young men to take up nursing courses. She stressed that young men should realise that they can become good nurses.

The Assistant Nurses Programme is an effort spearheaded by TASK FORCE 2010 (Malaysia), formed on January 8, 2007 and was entrusted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to assist in the effort to bring peace to southern Thailand. Together with its counterpart, TASK FORCE 960 (Thailand), 40 youths from the districts of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, were selected for the programme where they will be taught nursing care in surgical, emergency treatment, obstetric, gynaecology and community health care.

Also present at the ceremony were Left. Gen. Dato’ Wan Abu Bakar Omar, Director General of TASK FORCE 2010 (Malaysia), General Kasem Yuktavira, Director General of TASK FORCE 960 (Thailand), Datuk Zamani Md Noor, Chairman, Board of PCM Sdn. Bhd. and Dato’ Hj Mohamad Rais Hj Zainuddin, Chairman, Board of Unitek MARA Sdn. Bhd. All distinguished guests were also accompanied by 40 parents and family members of the youths, coming all the way to be part of this significant event. Many shed tears when they bid farewell with their loved ones when the launching ceremony ended prior to them returning to their homes in southern Thailand.

 Datin Seri Jeanne signing the guest book

 The youths briefing Datin Seri Jeanne during a tour in the Clinical Skills Lab

The youths and their family members took a photo opportunity with Datin Seri Jeanne during the ceremony