BELAGA: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), through its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), recently extended its commitment to community health by organising a multi-agency outreach programme to Kampung Lusong Laku, a remote Penan village in the interior of Belaga.

In a statement, it said the programme, part of UNIMAS’s 30th anniversary celebration, was carried out in collaboration with the Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group (SBCSG) and Klinik Kesihatan Lusong Laku.

Over 100 villagers benefitted from health screenings, awareness talks, and interactive educational activities designed to promote healthier living.

Dr. Melissa Lim Siaw Han, a lecturer at FMHS, led the initiative, which brought together academic staff, clinical experts, and volunteers in a collective effort to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community.

One of the key highlights was the malaria awareness initiative led by the Malaria Research Centre (MRC).

Associate Professors Dr. Paul Cliff Simon Divis and Dr. Rekaya Vincent Balang, together with their team, educated villagers about malaria prevention.

Local women were trained as family health advisors to ensure health knowledge would continue to grow within the community.

Schoolchildren at SK Lusong Laku also received a special donation, a malaria-themed gamification floor mat and mosquito repellents, aimed at sparking interest in science and encouraging proactive health habits from a young age.

Women’s health was another important focus, with HPV screening and cervical cancer awareness sessions conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

These were led by Associate Professor Dr. Tan Cheng Siang, Dr. Andy Bong, Noor Tini Sidik, and Qamariah Zainal Abidin, who provided essential education and preventive care for local women.

Other healthcare services were also made available. The SBCSG conducted general health checks, including clinical breast examinations, while PMG Healthcare contributed over-the-counter medicines for distribution.

Yakult Malaysia promoted gut health, and dental care was provided by Klinik Pergigian Belaga and the Dental Health Office from the Kapit Division.

Dr. Melissa Lim described the outreach as a reflection of UNIMAS’s mission to bring academic expertise into real-world settings.

“This outreach reflects UNIMAS’s holistic approach to healthcare, where academic knowledge meets real-life impact. It reaffirms our commitment to delivering sustainable health solutions to communities that need them most,” she said.

Beyond healthcare delivery, the university also sees this initiative as an opportunity to inspire future generations. UNIMAS hopes students and alumni, especially those from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, will continue this legacy of service by actively participating in similar community efforts.

Such experiences not only contribute to professional growth but also foster compassion, cultural awareness, and a strong sense of civic duty.

The success of the programme was made possible with the generous support of the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation (MDRT), whose contribution helped turn this initiative into a meaningful reality for the people of Kampung Lusong Laku. -UKASnews