With the aim to promote the importance of health education and awareness, UTAR’s Chinese Medicine Society in collaboration with the Physiotherapy Society and Medical and Health Sciences Society successfully organised a health awareness week titled “Medical Week 2018” from 22 to 24 June 2018 at Kampar Campus.
Supported by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), this was the first time such an event was organised for the community by UTAR staff and students in the Faculty disciplines of Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Chinese Medicine and Physiotherapy.
The Medical Week 2018 provided medical and healthcare services for the community, ranging from counselling health screening, general health advice and simple medical tests to physiotherapy, Tui-na, acupuncture, healthcare education and information on traditional Chinese medicine, postural assessment, electrical stimulation, foot arch assessment, muscle length testing, general consultation, therapeutic massage, body mass index, blood pressure and body temperature, systematic physical examination, eye test and breast examination. The medical week also included talks and an exhibition to promote and create awareness of various medical conditions, prevent diseases and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Themed, ‘Integrated Health – Optimising A Healthier You’, the Medical Week 2018 brought to the community a message to focus on good health through an integrated approach of good diet, regular exercise and proper health screening. The activity also introduced the benefits of traditional Chinese medicine and traditional treatments for a healthy alternative in addition to western medicine to the visitors.
From left: Dr Te, Prof Ewe, Dato’ Azman, Kwan, Tan Sri Sak and Puan Sri Sak cutting the cake to mark the opening of the Medical Week 2018
The opening ceremony of the Medical Week was graced by Deputy Director General of Health (Public Health) Dato’ Dr Hj Azman bin Hj Abu Bakar accompanied by Chairman of Board of Trustees of UTAR Education Foundation Tan Sri Dato’ Dr Sak Cheng Lum and his spouse Puan Sri Dr Irene Sak, UTAR Vice President for Internationalisation and Academic Development Prof Ir Dr Ewe Hong Tat representing UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik, FMHS Head of Chinese Medicine Department Dr Te Kian Keong representing FMHS Dean Emeritus Prof Dr Cheong Soon Keng and Organising Chairperson Kwan Chien Qin.
Prof Ewe (second from left) presenting a token of appreciation to Dato’ Azman, while (from left) Dr Te, Kwan and Tan Sri Sak look on
The Organising Chairperson of Medical Week 2018 Kwan said, “As a future medical practitioner, it is our duty and responsibility to ensure we deliver the best health services to the community in the best interest of the community through integrated health care. It is also to promote health awareness among the public to ensure a healthy community. This event will allow us to gain more experience and insight to promote health awareness in the community.”
Lauding the efforts of the organising committee, Prof Ewe in his welcome address said, “The Medical Week 2018 is another significant community activity of UTAR, held for the first time in Kampar Campus on such a big scale for three consecutive days through the combined efforts of staff and students among the medical faculty of Sungai Long and Kampar Campuses. I am glad to know that our students are willing to travel to the Kampar Campus to give time and efforts to provide the healthcare services to the community. I hope it will be a very beneficial event for the young and old and an avenue for interactive discussions during the consultation.”
He added, “Reaching out to the community is a noble initiative. It is also a pragmatic way to educate them. As an institution of higher learning, I believe that our role does not just stop at disseminating knowledge within our campus gates. In fact, it is incumbent upon us to share our knowledge and expertise beyond the classrooms and to the people in the community. Through this community Medical Week, our staff and students can touch base with the local residents while gently reminding them that our medical faculty staff and students care for their health and are here to serve the community— in anticipation of the hospital that will be set up soon.”
Prof Ewe’s sentiments were echoed by Dato’ Azman, adding, “I am touched by this event’s objective which is to bring the diverse expertise of Medical, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Physiotherapy and Nursing students together through the provision of health screening services and consultation to the community in Kampar. This event is indeed in line with the Ministry of Health’s vision of having a nation working together for better health. One of the Ministry’s missions in achieving the vision is by placing emphasis on community participation. Therefore, the Medical Week is indeed a good community engagement platform which is both inspiring and beneficial to the target audience. Just as I am proud to support this initiative, I believe it will also be something intriguing for those who previously have limited exposure to the different disciplines of health care to now have a clearer overview of the integration of different disciplines of healthcare in achieving a more holistic and effective solution. Such integrated approach is also an impetus to encourage improved access to appropriate care, create an environment that promotes innovations in treatments and health care as well as provide new opportunities for the healthcare sectors.”
One of the visitors, Choy Kar Yan enthused, “The medical week is indeed a great effort. Various healthcare services provided during the week brings positive effects and benefits to young students as well as to Kampar community. I hope this event could be organised yearly by the committee to promote more awareness about the healthcare services and education among Malaysians.”
Attended by more than 500 visitors for the past three consecutive days, the Medical Week 2018 was indeed a success and it was sponsored by a generous assortment of businesses and philanthropists, namely Grand Kampar Hotel, WestlaKe Villas, Julie’s, MOMA Water, Gardenia, ecoBrown, TYT and others.
