Groups bring healthcare to rural communities of Baram
LONG BEDIAN, Baram: The vast and rugged terrain failed to daunt a voluntary team led by the Telang Usan District Office from accomplishing its mission of bringing healthcare to the rural communities of Baram.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau commended the team for getting together to bring progress and improvement in the lives of people in the interior areas.
“Every single organisation and individual no matter the size of the part you play, including sweeping the hall floor, arranging chairs in making this programme a reality, have contributed to save someone’s life. Let me tell you that because you may not realise it.
“Therefore, as the people’s representative for Telang Usan constituency, let me put on record my greatest appreciation and thanks to all who have been so unselfishly contributing your time and money just to be closer to our underprivileged rural folks, especially in breast cancer awareness, heart diseases and related health matters, which sometimes we take for granted until it is too late to be cured,” Dennis said at the ‘ Program Pemeriksaan Kesihatan’ here recently.
“I am so glad to see all village heads within this Long Bedian sub- district attending this programme. I, therefore, hope and wish this programme be organised more at different locations in the near future,” he added.
More than 500 folks from remote areas here turned up for free medical services during the programme held at Long Bedian multipurpose hall.
The programme held for the first time in Telang Usan constituency was organised jointly by Telang Usan District Office, Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group, Sarawak Heart Foundation, Long Bedian Sub-District Office, Long Bedian village security and development committee (JKKK), Centraline Ventures Sdn Bhd, Telang Usan Community Service Centre, Sabah- Sarawak Gas Pipeline ( SSGP), Long Bedian Health Clinic, Marudi Fire and Rescue Department ( Bomba).
The outreach programme provided healthcare services including health screening, checks for breast cancer and heart diseases, pap smear, glucose level and blood pressure including counselling and medication for longhouse residents scattered sparsely across the Telang Usan constituency in Baram, mostly from the Kayan and Penan communities.
Apart from free health screenings, the programme also provided counters for the rural residents to open up their AgroBank account, apply for various government assistance as well as safety talks conducted by personnel from SSGP and Bomba.
An interesting highlight during the programme was a sharing session on drug awareness by a former drug addict, targeted at the youths and students of SK9 Long Bedian.
Dennis advised the villagers to not be afraid to go for health checks or screenings in order to prevent any untoward incident later in life.
“Many people still fear to get medical check-up for various reasons and this should be changed today. We should cultivate a habit of making health check a part our lives from an early age,” he emphasised.
“As an elected representative, I have received many calls for financial assistance from our people who were sent to hospital for treatment.
“Therefore, please do not take your health for granted. Listen to advice from our medical staff on good practices for your own good,” said Dennis.
Dennis further told the rural residents about efforts undertaken by the Sarawak government under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to bring development to the rural areas, especially in Telang Usan and Mulu state constituencies, in terms of infrastructure and providing economic opportunities.
Present were Telang Usan district officer Baru Tai, Sarawak Breast Cancer Support Group advisor Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan and chairman Datin Juriah Saleha.