| Rokiah Mahmud |
FIVE students along with two lecturers from the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), yesterday left for Bogor, Indonesia, to participate in the 1st Asean Students Collaborative Project (ASCP).
The event runs from July 25 – 28, with the Faculty of Medicine in Universitas Indonesia as the host.
The ASCP aims to harmonise and mobilise medical students in Asean member countries to provide additional guidance and awareness for public health, improve medical students’ skills in developing and implementing community-based research projects within a collaborative framework, and to give medical students the opportunity to discuss future potential collaborations.
The team of five medical students chose to conduct its project in Sukang, a relatively remote area located in the Belait District.
Delegation leader Dr Hajah Fazean Irdayati binti Haji Idris, a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Academic, explained that the residents of Mukim Sukang have limited access to healthcare due to poor road infrastructure.
Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences lecturers and students at the Brunei International Airport prior to departure. – ROKIAH MAHMUD
“It takes at least two hours from Sungai Liang to get to Sukang and this can only be done by four-wheel drive vehicles. They are only visited by a flying doctor team provided by the Ministry of Health once a month. In addition, there is no electricity, no clean water supply and no telecommunication services in Sukang.”
“Therefore, our goal is to help the Sukang community practice a healthy lifestyle by raising awareness through education, and equipping them with basic health skills and knowledge to self-manage medical conditions and injuries.
“This project was conducted over a period of three months, which started in March 2016. The follow-up visits were made on March 3, April 12 and the final visit from May 25 -26.”
The team was able to raise awareness on living a healthy lifestyle, particularly on the importance of healthy eating, oral hygiene, keeping living environment hygienic, and empowering residents with knowledge and skills to manage minor illnesses, as well as first aid and basic life support skills.
“In addition to our health interventions, we also donated various items including food, toothbrushes and toothpaste, detergent, books and stationery, as well as clothes and socks during our visits.
“We would like to thank Persatuan Kereta Tahan Lasak Brunei for providing us with transport throughout our visits. We would also like to thank our volunteers and paramedics for their dedication, time and energy to the project. We would like to thank all sponsors and the residents of Mukim Sukang for their contribution and participation in making this project enjoyable,” she added.
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