On 11th March 2020, MySEE had collaborated with 14 Master of Public Health students’ batch 2019/2020 from Universiti Sains Malaysia for a community program in Cameron Highlands. Multiple other agencies were involved including Kelab Income USM, the Cameron Highlands District Health Office, the Department of Orang Asli Development, Ipoh’s Anti-Drug Agency branch (AADK) and even Cameron Highlands’ Department of Information. The program, named Program Kembara Kesihatan Bersama Komuniti Orang Asli was held in Kampung Terisu and reaching out to the Orang Asli community. A total of 269 people attended the event.

 

The objectives of the program are as follows            :

1. To engage with the Orang Asli Community in Cameron Highlands through health education and health promotion with a focus on family health issues and its application

 

1. To enhance information on the Gravity Feed System used for delivering safe water supply to the Orang Asli community

 

1. To increase awareness on the environmental health impact of pesticide usage for crops in Cameron Highlands

 

Activities        :

Organizers were divided into three (3) groups to simultaneously cater to different audiences which are women, men and children.

            For the women’s group, a talk on nutrition during pregnancy and a balanced diet for the family was delivered. The audience was introduced to the food pyramid and further increase their awareness of the healthy Malaysian plate, ‘Suku-suku separuh’. Afterwards, a cooking demonstration took place with a menu suitable for pregnant mothers to reduce the risk of anaemia.

            The men’s group focuses on non-communicable diseases which include the effect of tobacco smoking. They were encouraged to join smoking cessation programs to reduce their risk of developing cancer and other diseases. Awareness of the importance of screening for other non-communicable diseases was also delivered.

            The children’s group focuses on personal hygiene which is something that the children can be empowered with. Sports and games were used as the medium to convey the health messages. Three components of handwashing, foot cleanliness and oral hygiene were emphasized throughout the program.

            Other than the three main group activities, there were also booths that had been set up by the dental department, dietitian and AADK. Sports activities and raffle prize were also included to engage with the community. We distributed packed food as tokens for the Orang Asli at the end of the event.

            We visited YZ Agro farm for a tour around their strawberry farm. The briefing includes the types of strawberries they plant, pests and pesticide use and the variety of end-product. A talk by Dr Haidar on the risk-benefit of pesticide usage opened further discussions on pesticides impact towards the environment and human health.

 

Learning points:

1. The importance of a proper establishment, dedicated team and well-organized system are paramount for a health program to be sustainable within the Orang Asli community. This includes all aspects of health, such as family health and environmental health.

2. Engagement with the community should include awareness of local culture and tradition. This ensures that the medium of communication or examples used is relevant and acceptable by the community.

 

Pesticide use is a necessary evil for the betterment of human lives. However, human health adverse effect is the endpoint of unwise pesticide use.