Jemilah Mahmood
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, President of the Malaysian Medical Relief Society (MERCY Malaysia) [1] founded the organization in June 1999 [2]; modelled after the Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) [3]. Through MERCY, she has managed to bring together Malaysians (and some non-Malaysians) from all walks of life with the common goal to serve those in need, irrespective of race, religion, culture or boundary.
Education
A consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist by profession, she graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the National University of Malaysia in 1986. Dr Jemilah holds 2 postgraduate degrees in Obstetrics & Gynaecology - the Masters in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (UKM) and Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (United Kingdom), in 1991. She was elevated as a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (United Kingdom) in 2004.
She started her career in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, and served as a Lecturer in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the Medical Faculty UKM until 1995. She had also been a research fellow at the prestigious Tokyo University and received training in various subspecialties of gynaecology in United Kingdom and USA.
Shot in Baghdad
In 2003, the MERCY entered Baghdad on a mission to offer medical relief and supplies to hospitals which were badly hit during the war. After dropping off supplies at two hospitals, MERCY’s two vehicles were shot at by some Iraqis who mistakenly thought they were part of the Mujahideen who had purportedly fired two rockets at two homes some 10 minutes earlier.
During the shooting, Dr Baba Deni was hit by a bullet which went right through his hips and got embedded in Dr Jemilah’s left hip. (She was seated next to him) The Syrian driver and an Iraqi hospital staff accompanying them were killed in the incident.
She said the doctors at Chiwader hospital had wanted to remove the bullet but she did not want to take up their time and medication. She was still walking around with a bullet in her left hip, five days after being shot. [4]
Personal
Dr. Jemilah Mahmood is married to Dr. Ashar Abdullah and they have two sons.