KAPIT: Efforts to integrate health-related activities into community cultural events are proving effective in strengthening tuberculosis (TB) awareness among rural populations in the state.
A TB-Free Community Programme held in conjunction with the ‘Ngiling Bidai’ celebration at Rumah Juntan, Nanga Elik has successfully combined public health outreach with cultural festivities, enabling wider community participation while promoting early detection and prevention of TB.
Organised by the Nanga Bena Health Clinic with the cooperation of various government agencies and local leaders, the initiative demonstrates how health services can be effectively delivered alongside traditional community gatherings, ensuring key messages reach rural residents in a more engaging and accessible way.
Pelagus Assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang said such an integrated approach is important in reaching rural communities and improving understanding of TB prevention and treatment.
“Cooperation from all parties is essential to ensure early detection and effective treatment, as well as to eliminate the stigma associated with TB patients,” he said when speaking at the programme recently.
He added that combining health programmes with community events not only improves public awareness, but also strengthens ties between communities, leaders and government agencies through shared participation.
