NUMed Medical Students Extend Helping Hand to Gelang Patah Community
Fifth-year medical students recently organised the highly anticipated 2024 Health Camp, a one-day event promoting health and wellness in Gelang Patah, Johor.
23 May 2024
Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia’s (NUMed) Year 5 Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students organised the highly anticipated 2024 Health Camp recently. This one-day event was dedicated to promoting health and wellness among the local community in Gelang Patah, Johor.
Held at SK Kampung Pulai, the health camp, conducted in collaboration with the NUMed Student Association alongside Columbia Asia, Regency Specialist Hospital, Rotary Club of Johor Bahru, Apex Pharma, vburg, Klinik Kesihatan Gelang Patah, and SK Kampung Pulai, aimed to address the healthcare needs of villagers from Kampung Pulai and Kampung Ulu Pulai, as well as students from SK Kampung Pulai.
According to our Associate Professor Dr Edmund Ong, Honorary Professor and Consultant Physician (Infectious Diseases), who oversaw the event, “This student-led Health Camp plays a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of the community, fostering a culture of health and ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need through health screening.
“The medical students have now reached the stage of their training where they are in the position to give back to the community from whom they have learned throughout their clinical training. It is indeed a pleasure for me to be involved in supervising this health camp!”
The Health Camp Chairperson and MBBS student, Ella Ang Zi Yi, concurred, sharing that the education she and her batchmates have received holds potential to enhance the betterment of underserved populations.
“We hope that with the education we acquired, we are able to give back to society, especially the underprivileged community. With the Health Camp, we look forward to helping to increase their awareness on the importance of taking care of their health while inculcating healthy habits and practices among them,” she said.
Throughout the day, attendees had access to a variety of health screening services, including general health, women’s health, children’s health, mental health, and dental health. Educational talks were conducted by NUMed’s very own Clinical Lecturers on topics such as Learning Disability by Dr. Sankari Ganesh Narayanasamy and HPV infection and cervical cancer by Dr Nurilyani Othman.
Additionally, a blood donation booth was set up by the blood donation team from Hospital Sultan Aminah, providing an opportunity for attendees to contribute to a life-saving cause.
“We had several booths set up, each targeting different groups of people in the Gelang Patah population. Our general health booth even offered smoking and cessation counselling, too,” shared Ang.
A highlight of the event was a friendly football match between NUMed's Futsal team, Kampung Pulai, and Kampung Ulu Pulai, fostering rapport and camaraderie among participants and spectators. The match was followed by a prize-giving ceremony to recognise the efforts and sportsmanship of the players.
Ang expressed her hope that through this event, the Gelang Patah community will prioritise both their physical and mental wellbeing, along with that of their loved ones.
“Exposing people to health screening, for example, allows for early detection of preventable diseases or lowers the risk of them getting infected. Besides that, the Health Camp promotes health awareness among the community, which is a good way for them to start taking preventative measures to live a happier and healthier life,” she finished.
Professor Harinarayan Radhakrishna, Dean of Clinical Affairs, shared that the Health Camp serves to give back to the very communities that provided them with an invaluable learning experience all these years.
“The free screening and health educational services offered at this camp are done in collaboration with the District Health Office and private hospitals and it is hoped that we will be able to pick up chronic diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle, thus ensuring our small contribution to the health of the population of our country.
“Congratulations to the NUMed students who have worked tirelessly for several months in planning and executing this camp,” he said.
Great job, Year 5 MBBS students! The Health Camp exemplifies the spirit of community service and collaboration, underscoring NUMed's commitment to promoting health and wellbeing among the local populations. We look forward to more community outreach initiatives to uplift the healthcare needs of underserved populations.