Kampung Pos Raya, Malaysia - About 100 people from one of Malaysia’s aboriginal tribes received a free health screening organized by UPF-Malaysia on Nov. 23, 2013, in the Simpang Pulai area of Ipoh, the capital of Perak state.
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A team of 12 nurses and paramedics, under the leadership of Dr. S. Elangovan, tested the villagers for blood pressure and blood sugar levels and recorded their height and weight. Women were screened for breast and cervical cancer, and some children received treatment for worms.
The health screening took place in a school in Kampung Pos Raya village. The villagers live in isolation from other communities and to a certain extent are marginalized. They avoid medical examinations because of reluctance to expose their body and also fear of needles.
The purpose of the event was to raise the health awareness of these villagers, who may have limited access to hospitals or clinics. In addition, every person who came to the screening was given a food package and a bottle of mineral water.
In October 2012, this same village had been the site of a service project by 30 university students from Korea, the Philippines, Cambodia and Japan. Over five days the students used river pebbles to build paths, planted flowering plants and constructed a shed and outdoor seats for the villagers. Upon completion of the project, the Perak state government invited the students to a dinner at a prominent hotel, at which the Perak chief minister was the guest of honor.
The Perak branch of UPF-Malaysia is planning future health screenings in Kampung Pos Raya as well as in other villages.
Report prepared by Joseph Thambiah