How To Boost Your Ramadan Spirit?

By Sound Vision Staff Writer

Ramadan, the month of the Qur’an, represents an invaluable opportunity for all believers to recharge the batteries of faith and draw close to their Lord. A wise Muslim should be keen to make best use of these blessed moments. If Muslims are unable to undistractedly focus on the hereafter all the time, let them at least do so during this short, yet boundlessly blessed, period of time. Below are some tips on how to boost your spirit during this longed-for month:

1- Du`a’

Ask Almighty Allah to make this the most inspiring, spiritually uplifting Ramadan you have ever had. Allah is the Only Who can make this happen and complete reliance on Him completely is the major step in boosting our spirits.

2- Clear Your Mind

Turn off the TV, the computer, the radio, your cell phone, pager, iPod, etc. You need not do so all day long, but for at least 10 minutes a day. Find a quiet place where you can close your eyes, remember your Lord and think deeply about your relationship with Him. At first, your mind will swirl with the useless and not-so-useful thoughts in your head. Force them away and focus your thought during these few minutes on three things: Almighty Allah, your purpose in life, and whether you are making due efforts to achieve that purpose. Do this every day of Ramadan, if you can. Should this be not possible, do it at least three times a week.

3- Learn About Great Muslim Figures

Even if you have read it or listened to it before, again read or listen to `Abdul-Wahid Hamid's Companions of the Prophet during this Ramadan. Read about or listen daily to a Companion's story. Well-written and short, these stories inform us in a wonderful way about these noble personalities and about how they maintained the strength of their faith against incredible odds. What a sure-fire spirituality booster!

4- Connect to the Qur’an

The noble Qur’an is the means whereby Almighty Allah talks to us. Indeed, it is the most important key to spiritual upliftment. During this Ramadan, connect to the Qur’an in a new way. If you already recite the Qur’an regularly, you can choose a new theme to focus on or select a particular Surah you have not read for a while. If, however, you are not a frequent reader of the Qur’an, you can start by reciting it for only two minutes a day; recite from the first page you encounter when you open the mushaf (copy of the Qur’an). It is also recommended that you keep a Qur’anic journal in which you can record your reflections, questions, thoughts, etc., about what you recite.

5- Take Care of Others

Whether it is a person who is away from his family, a person who is having problems with his or her spouse or kids, or fellow students struggling with their grades, make an extra effort this Ramadan to help others out. The spiritual boost you get in return is well worth it.

6- Feed the Hungry

While your stomach shrieks in protest, give that panhandler some change, volunteer at a soup kitchen, get involved with your local food pantry or make a couple of bag lunches to give to the hungry you meet on your way to school or work.

7- Give Up One Lifelong Bad Habit

Ask yourself what your fundamental defining traits are. Then decide which is the worst of them. Is it a hot temper? Apathy? Laziness? Impatience? Whatever it may be, utilize this Ramadan to get rid of it. Practice the opposite of this bad habit of yours every day until the end of the month. By then, in sha’ Allah, you will look back and be amazed at the change you have made for the better.

8- Use Those Nights of Power

The last ten nights or Ramadan are not called the Nights of Power for nothing. Use these precious times for deep, heartfelt du`aa’, self-analysis, reflection and serious thought.

Source: Islam Online

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Laman Web Ramadan

Ramadan 1430.. Most Precious Day
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Ramadan/1430/index.shtml

Islamic Holy Cities: What You Don't Know
http://www.islamonline.net/English/Multimedia/Library/HealthScience/Islamic_City/index.shtml

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Objektif Ramadan

What Is Your Objective in Ramadan?

By Ali Al-Halawani
Deputy Editor in Chief — English IslamOnline.net

For one’s life to be meaningful, it has to have a goal that is worked toward or striven for. If one leads all of one’s life without a goal to be achieved or an end to be reached, all of one’s life goes with the wind. This is true of all people, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. But for a Muslim, this issue has much more value, as the end-goal is to attain Allah’s pleasure and to be granted admission to Paradise in the Hereafter.

Based on this, true Muslims should have an objective for both their whole life and their individual deeds during every minute that they stay on earth.

No one can deny the fact that Allah designed and subjugated the creation in order for man to fulfill the objective he was originally created for, which can be seen in Allah’s saying in His Ever-Glorious Qur’an:

[And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures).] (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56-57)

In addition, Allah Almighty gives man one chance after another to come back to Him and seek the straight path. As for Muslims, Allah gave them the month of Ramadan as a great opportunity to increase their potential good deeds and decrease their sinful ones, to help them attain Paradise in the Hereafter. Ramadan is the month where the reward for good deeds is multiplied manyfold by the grace of Allah. Thus, it is a real opportunity to overcome the obstacles of life and the malicious schemes of Satan.

Set a goal for yourself in Ramadan which you will do your best to achieve. Let that goal be to save yourself from Hellfire and to enjoy Allah’s pleasure and salvation during that noble month.

In order for you to achieve that lofty goal, you will have to stop with yourself at some important stations. These stations go as follows:

With Fasting

Let your objective this Ramadan be that you abstain from all that is prohibited for you by Allah. So do not cheat or lie or backbite or usurp others’ properties or gaze at what Allah has prohibited (the opposite sex). It is well-known that fasting is of three degrees:

1. Abstaining from food, drink, and intimate intercourse.
2. Keeping your ears, eyes, tongue, hands, and feet, and all other bodily organs free from sins.
3. Avoiding occupying your heart with unworthy concerns and worldly thoughts, and upholding nothing in your heart but Allah the Almighty.

So, what holds you back from drawing nearer to Allah and being one of those very few people who observe fasting of that third and special degree?

With Standing in the Night in Prayer

Have an objective this Ramadan to perform a minimum of eight rak`ahs in Prayer after `Isha’ and before Fajr in addition to Shaf` and Witr. Do not let anything prevent you from performing these precious rak`ahs every night in Ramadan. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said the following:

It is highly recommended for you to observe Qiyam al-Layl (Night Prayer), for it was the practice of your righteous predecessors. Qiyam al-Layl brings you closer to your Lord, atones for your sins, drives disease from your body, and stops transgression. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

With the Qur’an

Be keen on finishing reading the whole Qur’an at least once during the month of Ramadan. Recite at least one of its 30 parts every day. What if you are not that good at reading the Qur’an? You should not despair or be disappointed, for there is still a chance for you to gain reward from Allah. This can be achieved by listening directly to one who has better recitation, listening to a recording, or listening to a radio station. Spending your time listening to Qur’anic recitation is also good and rewarding.

With Ties of Kinship

During Ramadan, you should be keener on being connected with your family and relatives, especially those whom the vicissitudes of life prevent continual communication with. Spend some money on getting reconnected with them. You may assign, let us say, $10 for this purpose. Imagine, this tiny sum of money could bring you together with all your relatives! It will also bring you nearer to Allah the Almighty.

Also, in so doing, try to remember the hadith in which Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person said this:

“Allah’s Messenger, I have relatives with whom I try to have a close relationship, but they sever (this relation). I treat them well, but they treat me ill. I am sweet to them but they are harsh towards me.” Upon this he (the Prophet) said, “If it is so as you say, then you in fact throw hot ashes (upon their faces) and there would always remain with you on behalf of Allah (an angel to support you) who would keep you dominant over them so long as you adhere to this (path of righteousness).” (Muslim)

With Charity

Let there be a charity that you give to in Allah’s cause every day in Ramadan. The reward for charity and all other good deeds is multiplied manyfold in Ramadan. This is one of the blessings of this auspicious month. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Give out charity, for it guarantees your salvation from Hellfire” (At-Tabarani). However, what if you do not know one or it is not that easy for you to access a charity every day? You could try to gather and combine your charity every 10 days, for example, and then give it out at once.

With Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)

Keep your tongue wet with the continuous remembrance of Allah. Remembrance of Allah is one of the best kinds of worship that is due for Allah, as well as one of the easiest kinds of worship for those for whom Allah makes it easy. The story of Hudair, one of the Prophet’s Companions who was persistent in remembering Allah during one of the great battles of early Islam, is a good example of the reward Allah Almighty has set for those who remember Him very frequently. It is reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forgot to give Hudair his provision for the journey, but the remembrance of Allah removed his need for food for several days, till the Angel Jibreel descended to inform the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about his case. The Prophet sent another companion after Hudair carrying the necessary provision for him.

With Supplication

A true Muslim should be keen on using “the believer’s weapon,” du`aa’ (supplication to Allah), in every situation. This is true of every situation that occurs for a Muslim in daily life. During fasting, stick to making du`aa’, because in this state you are nearer to Allah and your supplications are more likely to be accepted. Thus, you should make du`aa’ to Allah all the time and not forget that Allah responds to the invocations of the supplicant when he or she calls on Him sincerely from the heart. Allah says in His Ever-Glorious Qur’an:

[And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad—peace be upon him) concerning Me then (answer them) I am indeed near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.] (Al-Baqarah 2:186)

Finally, let your other objective in Ramadan be to set your head free from things that can take you to Hellfire, by doing all the aforementioned things; they are so easy for those for whom Allah makes them easy.

Ali Al-Halawani is a Ph.D. Student, the managing editor of the Shari`ah Department (English), and Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of the English IslamOnline Web site. He graduated from Al-Azhar University and got his MA in religious translation from the Faculty of Al-Alsun (Languages), Al-Minia University. He writes occasionally for Islamonline.net. You can reach him at ali.halawani@iolteam.com

Source: Islam Online

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Timeline: Malaysia

A chronology of key events:

14th century - Conversion of Malays to Islam begins.

1826 - British settlements of Malacca, Penang and Singapore combine to form the Colony of Straits Settlements, from where the British extend their influence by establishing protectorates over the Malay sultanates of the peninsula.

1895 - Four Malay states combine to form the Federated Malay States.

1942-45 - Japanese occupation.

1948 - British-ruled Malayan territories unified under Federation of Malaya.

1948-60 - State of emergency to counter local communist insurgency.

1957 - Federation of Malaya becomes independent from Britain with Tunku Abdul Rahman as prime minister.

1963 - British colonies of Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore join Federation of Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia.

1965 - Singapore withdraws from Malaysia, which is reduced to 13 states; communist insurgency begins in Sarawak.

1969 - Malays stage anti-Chinese riots in the context of increasing frustration over the economic success of the ethnic Chinese.

1970 - Tun Abdul Razak becomes prime minister following Abdul Rahman's resignation; forms National Front (BN) coalition.

Positive discrimination for Malays

1971 - Government introduces minimum quotas for Malays in business, education and the civil service.

1977 - Kelantan chief minister expelled from Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), triggering unrest, a national emergency and the expulsion of PAS from the BN coalition.

1978-89 - Vietnamese refugees benefit from unrestricted asylum.

1981 - Mahathir Mohamad becomes prime minister.

1989 - Local communist insurgents sign peace accord with government.

1990 - Sarawak communist insurgents sign peace accord with government.

1993 - Sultans lose legal immunity.

Financial crisis

1997 - Asian financial crisis spells end of decade of impressive economic growth.

1998 - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sacks his deputy and presumed successor, Anwar Ibrahim, on charges of sexual misconduct, against the background of differences between the two men over economic policy; Ibrahim arrested.

2000 - Ibrahim is found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to nine years in prison. This is added to the six-year jail sentence he was given in 1999 after being found guilty of corruption following a controversial trial.

2001 February - Government decides to proceed with construction of huge Bakun hydroelectric power project on island of Borneo despite serious environmental concerns.

2001 March - Dozens arrested during Malaysia's worst ethnic clashes in decades between Malays and ethnic Indians.

2001 April - Demonstrations against the Internal Security Act following the detention without trial of supporters of Anwar Ibrahim.

2001 September - Malaysia, Singapore resolve long-standing disputes, ranging from water supplies to air space. They also agree to build a new bridge and tunnel.

Mahathir bows out

2002 August - Tough new laws against illegal immigrants come into effect, providing for whipping and prison terms for offenders. Laws prompt exodus of foreign workers.

2003 October - Abdullah Ahmad Badawi takes over as prime minister as Mahathir Mohamad steps down after 22 years in office.

2004 March - Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi wins landslide general election victory.

2004 September - Former deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim freed after court overturns his sodomy conviction.

2004 December - Scores of people in Malaysia are killed in the Asian tsunami disaster. Malaysia delays planned deportations of many thousands of illegal immigrants, most of them from Indonesia.

2005 January - Malaysia, Singapore settle a bitter dispute over land reclamation work in their border waters.

2005 March - Round-up of illegal immigrants follows a four-month amnesty which sees an exodus of hundreds of thousands of illegal workers. Those remaining risk jail, a fine, or whipping.

2005 August - Acrid smoke, from forest fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, engulfs central areas and prompts a state of emergency.

2006 April - Malaysia shelves the construction of a controversial bridge to Singapore.

2006 December - 60,000 displaced by flooding in the south.

2007 January - Some 70,000 evacuated as second wave of floods hits south of country.

2007 February - Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam sign deal to protect 200,000 square kilometres of rainforest on the island of Borneo.

2007 March - US tells Malaysia it will not be able to conclude free-trade deal in summer of 2007.

2007 May - Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan Rakyat loses a bitterly contested by-election to the government. The result is seen as a blow to his efforts to revive his political career.

2007 May - Malaysian, Indonesian and Saudi Arabian partners move a step closer to building a 193 mile (310km) pipeline to bypass the Malacca Strait, so oil tankers can load crude away from the busy and often dangerous waterway.

2008 March - Elections. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition suffers its worst election result in decades. It loses its two thirds parliamentary majority and control of five state assemblies.

2008 July - Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is arrested over allegations of sodomy, in a move that elevates political tensions.

Economic downturn

2008 October - The government unveils a raft of measures to prop up the stock market and attract more foreign investment in expectation of slower growth in 2009.

PM Abdallah Ahmad Badawi, under continuing political pressure, announces that he is to resign in March 2009.

2009 January - Malaysia bans the recruitment of foreign workers to protect its citizens from unemployment during the economic downturn.

2009 March - The government unveils a $16bn economic stimulus plan as it seeks to stave off a deep recession.

Source: BBC News

“Memartabatkan Kesetiaan Bangsa, Mengimbau Sejarah Silam”

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Isu Perubatan Mesir Dan Tempatan

Belajar perubatan di Asia Barat lebih mudah

SAYA sangat menghargai hasrat kerajaan untuk mempertingkat bilangan doktor di negara ini sehingga kepada nisbah seorang doktor mengendalikan 500 pesakit atau 1:500.

Apa yang saya musykilkan ialah syarat kelayakan pelajar untuk mengikuti program perubatan di negara ini terlalu ketat dan tinggi. Bagi peringkat Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), pelajar perlu mendapat gred A dalam empat mata pelajaran sains dan gred A juga dalam subjek Bahasa Inggeris barulah pelajar itu dipilih mengikuti program matrikulasi perubatan.

Dalam program matrikulasi, pelajar perlu pula mendapat gred purata sekurang-kurangnya 3.7 CGPA barulah pelajar berkenaan dipilih ke program ijazah perubatan. Tidakkah ini membebankan pelajar? Beberapa tahun dulu, saya dapati sesetengah institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) terus menawarkan program peringkat ijazah bagi pelajar yang cemerlang dalam SPM. Mengapa program seperti itu tidak lagi ditawarkan kepada pelajar sedangkan sesetengah negara luar seperti Asia Barat, Russia, pelajar kita belajar di sana masih meneruskan lagi program sedemikian.

Universiti di Asia Barat yang mendapat pengiktirafan daripada kerajaan Malaysia seperti Universiti Tanta, Universiti Mansoura, Universiti Iskandariah dan beberapa universiti lagi yang menjadi tumpuan pelajar tajaan Mara dan Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) mensyaratkan kepada pelajar yang berminat mengikuti program perubatan perlu mendapat gred sekurang-kurangnya 3B dalam subjek sains pada peringkat SPM.

Kesannya ramai pelajar Malaysia yang berminat menjadi doktor belajar di Asia Barat. Ada sesetengah pelajar menggunakan keputusan percubaan peperiksaan SPM 2008 pun diterima belajar di sana. Mereka sudah pun hampir mengakhiri tahun pertama ijazah perubatan. Menurut pelajar yang belajar di universiti, mereka tidak berdepan dengan tekanan dalam mengikuti pengajian mereka kerana kurikulum pengajian perubatan di universiti berkenaan hampir sama dengan apa yang ada di IPTA Malaysia.

Saya berasakan pihak IPTA dan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi (KPT) perlu duduk semeja berbincang perkara ini. Saya pernah mendengar rintihan pelajar perubatan di IPTA keadaan pengajiannya begitu tertekan dan ada setengahnya hampir hilang akal kerana sistem pengajian yang begitu membebankan pelajar.

Mengapa pelajar perubatan di Asia Barat (Mesir) tidak stres dalam pembelajaran mereka? Sistem pengajian di sana adalah sistem pengajian pondok. Pensyarah di sana tidak mengejar untuk menghabiskan sukatan pelajaran sebaliknya pensyarah akan beralih kepada tajuk pengajian baru selepas semua pelajar benar-benar menguasai dan memahami tajuk yang lalu. Penjadualan peperiksaan tidak begitu padat iaitu selang antara kertas peperiksaan adalah sekurang-kurangnya seminggu. Dalam tempoh ini, pelajar dapat membuat persiapan yang cukup untuk menghadapi kertas peperiksaan seterusnya. Pendekatan pengajiannya banyak dalam bentuk amali. Pelajar tahun pertama sudah menyatakan mayat sudah menjadi 'rakan baik' mereka.

Oleh itu saya mencadangkan pihak IPTA dengan kerjasama KPT perlu menyemak semula kaedah pengajaran dan penjadualan peperiksaan supaya tidak membebankan pelajar. Buatlah lawatan ke universiti di Asia Barat, cuba belajar dengan mereka bagaimana mereka mengajar pelajar yang berkelulusan rendah iaitu 3B berjaya juga dianugerahkan ijazah perubatan.

Biarlah semua pelajar berasa seronok untuk belajar perubatan. Jarang pegawai perubatan yang saya temui menggalakkan pelajar supaya mengikuti kursus kedoktoran. Kebanyakan mereka menggalakkan pelajar memilih bidang pengajian lain dengan alasan belajar bidang perubatan susah, tiada masa secukupnya untuk rehat, penat dan on call sepanjang masa.

BAPA BAKAL DOKTOR,
Pasir Mas,
Kelantan.

Sumber: Berita Harian 11 Ogos 2009(Selasa)


Calon pelajar perubatan di Asia Barat biar ikut saluran betul, layak

SAYA ingin merujuk surat yang ditulis 'Bapa Bakal Doktor', Kelantan, mengenai 'Belajar Perubatan di Asia Barat lebih mudah' yang disiarkan ruangan ini, kelmarin. Saya amat bersetuju dan menyokong segala fakta diutarakan penulis.

Memang benar, sistem pembelajaran bidang perubatan di Asia Barat seperti di Mesir amat baik dibandingkan negara kita. Namun, satu fakta yang ingin saya kongsi bersama ialah, adakah benar dan relevan untuk kerajaan untuk terus menghantar ribuan pelajar ke Asia Barat? Apakah ini langkah yang dikira bijak? Mahukah kisah yang berlaku di Ukraine berlaku di Asia Barat?

Kita mahu melihat anak Melayu mampu bergelar doktor? Mahu menjadikan bangsa Melayu tidak ketandusan doktor hebat? Namun, apakah kita sanggup melihat bangsa kita dipandang rendah lantaran mahu kita melihat anak bergelar doktor?

"Tidak apalah, anak saya minat hendak jadi doktor, saya ada duit, maka itu saya hantar anak saya ke sana. Salahkah saya?"

Mungkin kata-kata ini sudah lazim didengari. Ada duit, hantar anak ke luar negara. Walaupun tidak mencapai kelayakan sepatutnya digariskan negara kita. Segelintir itu pantas juga menyalahkan kerajaan yang mengenakan syarat terlalu ketat kepada pelajar untuk masuk ke bidang perubatan. Peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) perlu mendapat semua A, di matrikulasi pula perlu mendapat CGPA 4. Persoalannya, salahkah apa yang dilaksanakan sistem pendidikan negara kita selama ini? Adakah kita mahu melihat mereka yang tidak layak, hanya berpegang pada status 'minat' sudah mencukupi untuk bergelar seorang doktor, adakah ini betul?

Mahukah kita melihat suatu hari nanti, doktor lepasan Mesir dilabel sebagai 'doktor kelas kedua'? Usah samakan bidang perubatan dengan bidang lain. Memang benar JPA menetapkan syarat sekurang-kurangnya 3B dalam mata pelajaran Sains pada peringkat SPM untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang perubatan ke luar negara. Tetapi, realiti sebenarnya hanya mereka yang beroleh 1A yang mendapat tawaran. Kini, sudah ramai pelajar kita yang cemerlang pada peringkat SPM dihantar pulang kerana tidak lulus ketika menuntut di Mesir.

Memang sistem pengajian di Asia Barat agak mudah dan santai berbanding negara kita. Namun, cuba kita lihat pelajar yang dihantar ke sana bukan melalui JPA atau Mara, tetapi secara persendirian. Mereka rata-ratanya tidak pernah mempelajari bahasa Arab lantas terus menyambung pengajian di sana.

Tahun praklinikal (Tahun 1, 2 dan 3) mungkin tiada masalah bagi mereka. Tetapi, apa akan jadi pada pelajar ini apabila menjejakkan kaki ke tahun klinikal (tahun 4, 5 dan 6). Tidakkah ini akan menimbulkan sejuta satu kesukaran yang teramat buat mereka untuk berkomunikasi dengan pesakit tempatan di Mesir.

Saya dan rakan-rakan senior lain yang sudah mempelajari bahasa Arab sejak di bangku sekolah ditambah dengan kuliah berbahasa Arab sejak di tahun satu juga mengalami kesukaran berkomunikasi dengan pesakit di sini. Apatah lagi bagi mereka yang tidak pernah mempelajari bahasa Arab sejak sekolah ditambah dengan kuliah mereka di sini juga yang mula dijalankan dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Di manakah ada ruang untuk mereka mempelajari bahasa Arab? Kita tidak mahu ada yang belajar separuh jalan. Tahun Pertama dan Kedua mungkin tidak mendatangkan masalah. Tetapi, di Tahun Ketiga terpaksa dihantar pulang kerana gagal. Tidakkah ini suatu pembaziran wang ringgit dan masa.

Saya menyahut seruan kerajaan untuk menghantar ribuan pelajar ke Asia Barat. Datanglah beramai-ramai. Ramaikan doktor Melayu, namun biarlah melalui saluran yang betul dan hanya benar-benar layak diberikan tempat.

KEMBAR 86,
Fakulti Perubatan, Universiti Ain Shams,
Kaherah Mesir.

Sumber: Berita Harian 12 Ogos 2009(Rabu)


Syarat ketat kursus perubatan di IPTA hasil pelajar berkualiti

SAYA ingin merujuk kepada tulisan saudara 'Bapa bakal doktor' dari Pasir Mas, Kelantan bertajuk 'Belajar perubatan di Asia Barat lebih mudah' yang disiarkan ruangan ini, 11 Ogos lalu.

Untuk makluman saudara, saya graduan doktor perubatan dari IPTA yang sedang menjalani latihan housemanship di sebuah hospital kerajaan.

Saya amat menghormati pandangan mengenai perbandingan sistem pembelajaran kursus perubatan antara universiti tempatan dan universiti di Asia Barat. Ada kemungkinan pandangan itu betul, tetapi biarlah saya selaku seorang doktor yang melalui proses latihan perubatan di IPTA tempatan dan kini merasai sendiri bagai-mana cabaran yang dihadapi doktor yang perlu bertugas di hospital tempatan.

Mengenai syarat kelayakan yang ketat untuk memasuki kursus perubatan di IPTA tempatan, kita perlu faham, kursus perubatan adalah antara kursus paling sukar di universiti. Disebabkan graduan perubatan dijamin peluang pekerjaannya, maka tidak hairanlah permintaan untuk mengikuti kursus ini sangat tinggi.

Untuk menjamin kualiti graduan perubatan yang dihasilkan adalah tinggi dan perlu menepati standard Majlis Perubatan Malaysia (MMC) maka bilangan tempat yang ditawarkan adalah terhad dan dikawal. Jadi tidak hairanlah syarat untuk mengikuti kursus perubatan di dalam negara sangat ketat. Kalau diturunkan syarat kelayakan yang perlu dipenuhi untuk mengikuti kursus perubatan, maka kualiti graduan yang dihasilkan mungkin terjejas. Sebagai contoh, jika hanya 500 tempat disediakan, tetapi yang memintanya mungkin 5,000, maka logiklah jika 500 terbaik saja dipilih.

Seterusnya mengenai hujah pelajar perubatan di Asia Barat tidak menghadapi tekanan dalam pembelajaran mereka. Dari segi teori, apa yang diajar di sekolah perubatan di seluruh dunia memang sama. Tetapi apa yang membezakannya adalah latihan praktikal yang perlu disesuaikan dengan kehendak dan suasana tempatan.

Di Malaysia, setiap graduan perubatan perlu mahir dalam kemahiran asas seorang doktor seperti teknik temu ramah pesakit, mengambil darah, membaca x-Ray dan lain-lain yang sekurang-kurangnya dapat mencapai standard yang ditetapkan MMC. Oleh sebab itu, setiap pelajar perubatan tempatan dilatih tanpa mengenal erti dan jemu untuk menguasai skil asas ini.

Pelatih juga dilatih untuk bersedia menghadapi keadaan sebenar sebagai seorang doktor apabila bekerja nanti. Oleh sebab itu, jadual yang padat dengan kelas, oncall, periksa wad, prosedur asas, dan penjelasan kes direka untuk membolehkan pelajar menghadapi tekanan apabila bekerja nanti.

Tambahan pula, daripada pengamatan saya biasanya graduan perubatan tempatan sudah masak dengan tekanan ini apabila bekerja. Sebaliknya graduan dari luar negara, terutamanya dari Asia Barat dan Eropah Timur, yang sudah biasa ‘dimanjakan’ ketika belajar sukar menyesuaikan diri dengan persekitaran pekerjaan di sini.

Sebagai contoh, mengikut pengalaman saya, ada di antara mereka tidak tahu menyambut bayi, mengambil darah, membaca x-Ray, menemuramah pesakit yang bagi graduan Malaysia sudah didedahkan sejak awal tahun tiga lagi dan sudah diharapkan untuk mahir dengannya. Kesimpulannya janganlah menganggap isu belajar perubatan di Asia Barat lebih mudah, sebaliknya adakah kualiti graduan yang dihasilkan itu benar-benar berkualiti dan mampu memberikan perkhidmatan kesihatan yang terbaik untuk pesakit.

GRADUAN PERUBATAN TEMPATAN,
Kuantan, Pahang.

Sumber: Berita Harian 13 Ogos 2009(Khamis)

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When Was The Last Time You Ate?

In the past people starved to death, because there was no food to eat
Nowadays, people starve to death when there is food in front of their eyes, but they do not have the money to pay for it!
Today, more than 1.2 billion people across the world are hungry.

Because Of Hunger
*Over 9 million people die worldwide every year; almost 5 million of them are children.
*Some people are forced to eat biscuits made of mud simply to alleviate hunger pain.
*Sex for food has become very common.
*The local dump becomes a food store as poor people has nowhere else to go for their food.
*People hurt each other toget a miserable loaf of bread,
*People fight to get a little bit of food aid for their children.
*Parent sell one of their children to feed the rest.


Why Hunger?
The causes of hunger are numerous. Some of them are:
*Corruption and selfishness
*Poverty
*War
*Famine

Who Is The Hungriest?
*Twenty-three children die every minute from malnutrition.
*Million of families that live below the poverty line struggle to eat anything at all. "in Europe alone, More than 165 million people live below the poverty line."


How To Face Hunger?
*You can end someone's hunger simply by:
*Sharing food with your needy relatives and neighbours by inviting them to your home or sending them some of your food.
*Making food bags and distributing them every months; you can do this, even with only one needy family which is a good idea to alleviate hunger in yoiur street.
*Making a Mercy Table where food is prepared and offered to the needy for free; exactly as we do in Ramadan. It could be a continual habit throughout the year as a way to face hunger in your city.
*Help set up, organize, or help out at a soup kitchen; in where you and a group of volunteers can prepare hot meals and other food stuffs for the needy and poor people to eat.
*And, to face hunger in your city, helping out in a food bank is another brilliant idea. The idea of the food bank is to overcome hunger through accepting monetary, material and moral support from different organizations and individuals to supply appropriate food to the needy on a continuous basis.
*Donating the reputable global charitable organizations is a recommended way to face global hunger.

Source: Islam Online

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