Poor execution can negate govt efforts

TMM,Tuesday 20 March 2012 

The “Malaysian Cohort” is a national project involving health information, dietary habit, lifestyle, and blood and urine collection from 100,000 Malaysian citizens to identify diseases such as cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke and various other diseases. 

Malaysians aged 35 to 65 are invited to join by filling a questionnaire for the project secretariat to evaluate. An appointment for a free medical checkup will then be scheduled and volunteers are informed that it will take about 2 hours. 

The project was initiated in 2004 and is still ongoing because of the large number involved. Perhaps in an effort to speed up the process, a canopy was erected near the Jalan Ikan Emas wet market at Cheras, which I visited last Saturday. 

Two young female workers wearing uniform T-shirts were seen seated behind their desks, one handling registration, and the other with a handheld device that can read the glucose level from a drop of blood. 

Passers-by were under the impression that the exercise was a good initiative by the government in reaching out to the common folk, and some stopped by to have their glucose level tested. 

However, many soon went away disappointed, especially those who could not communicate well with the workers. They were also bitter with the double standard as only some were entertained. 

Even I could not make out what the workers were trying to say. I had to go online to find out what Malaysian Cohort was all about. 

Instead of telling younger people that the project was only for those above 35 and below 65, I was asked to give my age. Anybody could have easily seen that I am clearly well within the range. 

Many others were confused when they were asked whether they have had their medical checkup at HUKM. 

The exercise could have been carried out in a smoother manner. Anyone interested should be allowed to register and fill up the questionnaire. It would then be up to the secretariat to schedule the free checkup or otherwise. 

All those who wish to have their glucose level tested should be entertained, whether they are participating in the project or not. This is what the public would expect upon seeing a worker handling the glucose-test device. 

Although the workers were not rude, they were far from courteous. Their facial expression and body language exposed their feelings. They acted as if they were doing the public a favour and did not respond to requests for a glucose test. 

Many people felt rejected and left without registering or having their glucose level tested. 

Sadly, such situations are not isolated. Government initiatives that are poorly implemented can result in alienating people. 

The success of this project hinges on reaching out to a cross section of the Malaysian population. As such, the local demographic must be taken into account and workers engaged to deal with the public must be able to communicate with all levels of society. 

A combination of weak procedure, poor training, loose monitoring and bad attitude is bound to negate the efforts of the government. 

YS Chan 

Kuala Lumpur