BELAGA: More than 100 villagers in the remote Penan settlement of Lusong Laku received much-needed healthcare services when Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and its partners carried out a medical outreach programme deep in the interior here.
The one-day programme held on August 2, led by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) in collaboration with the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) and supported by the Lusong Laku Health Clinic, featured health screenings, awareness sessions and interactive activities to improve community well-being.
FMHS lecturer, Dr Melissa Lim Siaw Han, who led the initiative in conjunction with UNIMAS’ 30th anniversary celebration, said the outreach demonstrated how academic expertise can be applied directly to real-world needs.
“This outreach reflects UNIMAS’ holistic approach to healthcare – where academic expertise meets real-world impact.
“It reaffirms our commitment to bringing sustainable health solutions to communities that need them the most,” she said.
The Malaria Research Centre (MRC), represented by Associate Professors, Dr Paul Cliff Simon Divis and Dr Rekaya Vincent Balang, conducted malaria education and empowerment sessions, training local women as family health advisers to sustain long-term health awareness in their communities.
SK Lusong Laku also received mosquito repellents and a malaria gamification floor mat to encourage scientific curiosity and healthy habits among schoolchildren.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology carried out HPV screening and cervical cancer awareness sessions led by Associate Prof. Dr Tan Cheng Siang, Dr Andy Bong, Noor Tini Sidik and Qamariah Zainal Abidin, providing preventive care and essential information to local women.
SBCSG conducted general health screenings, including clinical breast examinations, with PMG Healthcare contributing over-the-counter medicines, Yakult Malaysia promoting gut health, and dental care services provided by Belaga Dental Clinic and the Dental Health Office, Kapit Division.
UNIMAS hopes the initiative will inspire younger healthcare providers, particularly its students and alumni, to continue serving rural communities while nurturing compassion, cultural understanding and civic responsibility.
The outreach was made possible with support from the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation (MDRT).
