A collaborative effort to enhance health care accessibility in remote areas bore fruit when Persatuan Ortopedik Sandakan and Panel Penasihat Klinik Kesihatan Penangah organised a highly successful Implanon Insertion Programme and Senior Citizen Health Carnival last November 30.
This impactful event brought together 200 attendees, provided free Implanon rods to 100 women, and fostered community health awareness in the rural population.
The programme held in Kampung Penangah, which is over 200km from the nearest tertiary medical centre, was made possible with the generous sponsorship of 100 Implanon rods by Organon.
Strong support was provided by family medicine specialists from Klinik Kesihatan Telupid, Klinik Kesihatan Sandakan, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (HUMS), and dedicated volunteers from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology team at Hospital Duchess of Kent (HDOK).
The event saw health talks covering essential topics such as fall prevention, healthy diets for ageing, contraception, and family planning.
Interactive booths allowed attendees to gain more knowledge about these subjects, while counselling sessions ensured informed consent for Implanon insertions.
The event highlighted the long-term benefits of Implanon, a contraceptive implant offering up to three years of protection, which is particularly beneficial for communities like Penangah with limited access to tertiary health care services.
Each Implanon rod is estimated to have a return of RM15.90 for every RM1 spent. This saving come from the cost of care settings in the prevention of unintended pregnancy and delivery services, among others.
With the insertion of 100 rods (totalling RM30,000 in cost), an estimated saving of nearly RM500,000 has been achieved.
The vibrant opening ceremony included a traditional dance performance by villagers, followed by home-cooked meals prepared by the community. Attendees also enjoyed a series of lucky draws.
The programme has successfully delivered on its promise to empower and educate the community, marking an impressive milestone for rural health care in the region.
Acknowledgments:
- Special thanks to Dr Goh Shu Meng (area health officer for Kinabatangan), Dr Syadi and Dr Hafizuddin (medical officers in charge of Kampung Penangah) for their dedicated service and coordination.
- Heartfelt gratitude to Organon for sponsoring the Implanon rods, making this life-changing initiative possible.
- Also grateful to the help by Dr Ashmi Wong and family for logistics support.
This collaborative effort highlights the importance of partnerships in reaching underserved communities, ensuring that every individual has access to essential health care services, and fostering a healthier, more informed society.
Dr Goh praised the collaborative effort: “This programme is a testament to what we can achieve when communities and health care providers work together. It’s heartening to see the positive impact on rural families.”
The event also served as a reminder of the power of collaboration and community involvement in addressing the health care challenges faced by rural populations.
Dr Timothy Cheng is the programme coordinator and president of Persatuan Ortopedik Sandakan.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
