MAKKAH, May 24 – The Dental Unit at the Tabung Haji (TH) Treatment Centre in Makkah remains dedicated to providing dental care to Malaysian pilgrims, despite having a smaller team compared to other medical units.
Led by dental officer Dr Umairah Razali and supported by dental surgery assistant Meor Al-Hafiz Abd Halim and dental therapist Nur Syuhana Samsudin, this unit is the only dental service available to Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land.
According to Dr Umairah, the constraints in staffing and equipment are not a hindrance for the unit to provide nearly all the dental services available in Malaysia.
“We work around the clock, with office hours from 7 am to noon, then we resume from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm and from 8 pm to 10 pm. At night, we are on-call for emergencies.
“The services here are quite similar to those in Malaysia. We prioritise emergency treatments and appointments, as we need to arrange transportation to bring pilgrims from their accommodation to the clinic,” she told media personnel here.
Dr Umairah, who is serving at the Sungai Besar Dental Clinic in Selangor, said since the clinic opened a week ago, they have treated 40 pilgrims, with an average of six patients per day.
Most of the pilgrims came to the clinic to seek treatment for dislodged dental fillings from eating hard foods like nuts and fruits, ulcers due to insufficient water intake, and for teeth scaling.
“Some pilgrims arrive with loose teeth, and the long journey increases their dental pain. Others come in with fevers and upon oral examination, we find decayed teeth requiring treatment,” she explained.
As a dental officer, Dr Umairah must use supplies and medications brought from home wisely, as acquiring suitable medications for Malaysian pilgrims is challenging and expensive.
“It’s difficult to bring dental materials from Malaysia. Some materials, such as fillings and anaesthesia for extractions, must be purchased here. The issue arises when these materials, despite being the same brand, aren’t suitable for Malaysians, and the costs are high,” she said.
At the same time, Dr Umairah advised pilgrims to maintain their health and hygiene, including oral care, throughout their stay in the Holy Land.
She said this would help them stay focused on their ibadah, especially during the culmination of the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, a patient, Hamidah Ismail, 40, from Kedah, said she came to the clinic for treatment after losing a dental filling from eating fruit.
“I was worried that if left untreated, the pain would worsen. So, I came here after the doctor at my accommodation informed me that TH provides dental services.
“Alhamdulillah, the service provided is of the same standard as dental clinics in Malaysia,” she said.
