KUCHING: More than 300 residents, mainly from the Penan community in Baram, are expected to benefit from a three-day medical outreach programme from December 18 to 20.
The initiative, organised by Hope Place Kuching under its 13th Charity Without Borders (CWB) expedition, will see the Sarawak Health Department (JKNS) providing medical services to remote communities.
“The charity expedition would be based at Long Aton, about 10 hours’ drive from Bintulu, with residents from five neighbouring villages gathering there for medical check-ups,” it said in a press release today.
The JKNS medical team, comprising doctors, nurses and dentists, will bring portable medical equipment and medicines to provide essential healthcare services.
The outreach will focus on high blood pressure, diabetes, gout and tooth extractions, following discussions between Hope Place founder, Kelvin Wan, and JKNS’ Assistant Director, Dr Azlee Ayub.
According to local villagers, residents of Long Aton and surrounding settlements currently have to travel about three hours by longboat to reach the nearest polyclinic in Long Loyang.
Wan also highlighted the lack of dental services at the nearest clinic, making the participation of dentists particularly important for the rural communities.
The expedition, supported by volunteers from several four-wheel-drive clubs, aims to improve healthcare access for communities living far from medical facilities.
Besides medical services, Hope Place will distribute one-off food assistance to every household in the participating villages.
The initiative also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3, which promotes good health and well-being.
Now in its 13th edition, CWB continues to bring essential assistance and healthcare support to underserved communities across Sarawak.
For further information or to contribute to the initiative, Hope Place can be contacted at 082-505987 or 013-5672775.
