800 Tongod folks gain from medical project
Published on: Wednesday, August 07, 2024
Crowds at the event.
TONGOD: Some 800 villagers benefited from the “Healthcare without Borders” Community Project organised by the Sabah Family Medicine Specialists’ Association (Sabah FMSA).
The President of Sabah FMSA, Dr Haryati Hamzah, said the event aimed to deliver healthcare services to hard-to-reach communities in Sabah, conducting comprehensive health screenings and enabling early detection of diseases.
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“The objective of the community project is to conduct health screenings for early disease detection, provide holistic and comprehensive treatment plans, and empower the community to practice healthy living habits.
“These projects are conducted annually by our association, targeting logistically challenging and remote areas to ensure no community is left behind.
“Keramuak was chosen as the venue this year because there is no Family Medicine Specialist in Tongod district, and the nearest health facility with in-house doctors, Klinik Kesihatan Tongod, is 41km away.
“Folks requiring medical attention must travel around two hours to reach that facility, which can cost up to RM200 for a single trip,” she said during the event’s opening ceremony.
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The event was held on the grounds of Sekolah Kebangsaan Keramuak and was attended by villagers from Kampung Karamuak Dalam, Kampung Karamuak Luar, Kampung Tenaga Baru, and Kampung Kenang-Kenangan.
Activities offered during the half-day event included free medical consultations and health screenings such as Pap smears, breast examinations, eye screenings, dental check-ups, health talks, colouring competitions, interactive games, quizzes, and lucky draws.
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Another primary focus was screening elementary school children for neurodevelopmental disorders. A special station was set up for adolescents, concentrating particularly on their mental, sexual, and reproductive health.
Screening outcomes revealed several teenagers suffering from mild mental health problems that required counselling.
A total of 22 children were officially diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, including learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Doctors on-site also detected dozens of villagers with non-communicable diseases such as hypertension.
The collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Ophthalmology and Malaysian Young Ophthalmologists resulted in 199 villagers receiving eye examinations, including screenings for cataracts and glaucoma.
Free spectacles were provided on the spot, and follow-up appointments were scheduled at Hospital Duchess of Kent for more complex cases.
A total of 41 Family Medicine Specialists from all over Sabah and Labuan volunteered for the community project.
“We are very fortunate to be joined by pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and a dental team from Tongod, the Ophthalmology team from Hospital Duchess of Kent, Sandakan, and the Tongod Social Welfare Service Department this year.
“We are also grateful to our sponsors, especially Yayasan Bank Rakyat Malaysia, Datuk Bung Mokhtar, Datuk Masiung Banah, Kumpulan Sawit Kinabalu, Klinik Dr. Mahen, Life Water Industries Sdn Bhd, Olumis Clinic, Kim Loong Plantations Sdn Bhd, and Poliklinik Telupid.
“We hope to continue our mission and give back to the community in the years to come,” said Dr Haryati.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Chairman of Yayasan Bank Rakyat Malaysia, Datuk Philip Benedict Lasimbang.
In his speech, he urged every villager to take the opportunity to consult the specialists for their ailments and engage in all the beneficial screening programs, emphasising that “prevention is better than cure”.
He also thanked the Sabah Family Medicine Specialists’ Association for their efforts and contributions to ensuring the community’s well-being.
Donations amounting to RM4000 were also given to the school, Klinik Desa Keramuak, and the village by the association.
Also in attendance were the Chairperson of the ‘Healthcare without Borders’ project, Dr Regan Fu Ponnudurai, Kinabatangan District Health Officers Dr Maini Binti Sabait and Dr Goh Shu Meng, Sandakan District Dental Officer Dr Nurul Syazana Abdul Kadir, and the Headmaster of SK Keramuak Renyold Jisli.
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