As we continue to live in times of economic uncertainties, Taylor’s University Medical Society (TUMS) in collaboration with the School of Medicine, Taylor’s University recently carried out an initiative to raise funds to provide food aid packages to benefit the longhouse community of Bintulu, Sarawak, who were impacted during the pandemic.

_{Professor Dr Lai Nai Ming, Director of Clinical Campus for School of Medicine at Taylor's University}

This is part of various efforts by the School of Medicine among these longhouse communities, with other initiatives including health camps, health screenings, nutrition advice, motivational talks, and forums for the past three years.

With a target amount of RM5,000 to be gathered in two weeks, the student-led society achieved their target amount within five days through various donations received from lecturers, students, a church, and the general public. In total, they raised RM7,910 to benefit more than 150 longhouse families. The raised sum was then handed over to Great Mind Bintulu, a non-governmental organisation in Sarawak.

“The Covid-19 scenario did not restrict our annual movement to help the Sarawak longhouse community. Even though we were not able to go on-ground to distribute the food supplies, we found an opportunity to work with Great Mind Bintulu, a community-based organisation that supports the well-being of the people of Kemena, Sarawak for the distribution to take place smoothly,” said Nicole Gan Wei Wei, Organising Chairperson and Taylor’s University Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) student.

“Three Sarawak longhouses pleaded for help as they were in dire need of food. These were Rumah Patrick Andin, Rumah Yus and Rumah Philip that are all located at Sebauh District, Bintulu in Sarawak. As the longhouses are also located 6 hours away from the nearest town, we saw the need to provide necessities for family sustenance. Even more so as the Covid-19 pandemic has certainly put a strain on those living in the rural areas,” added Nicole.

TUMS supplied food packages consisting of dry groceries such as Rice, Maggie, Cream Crackers, Coffee and Sugar.

“After the health screenings provided by Taylor’s University Medical Society for a few years since 2019, we are very thankful to still be able to receive strong support from Taylor’s University and the students from the School of Medicine. They came forward to reduce the difficulties of the people in the Sarawak longhouses community, especially in the current time where many have lost their jobs due to the pandemic,” said Dr Bernard Tahim, Chairman of Great Mind Bintulu.

“We look forward to welcoming the lecturers and students from the School of Medicine, Taylor’s University to make the change in medical availability such as health screenings and more for the people here in the Sarawak longhouses once it is safe to travel,” added Dr Bernard.

Taylor’s University Medical Society in collaboration with the School of Medicine continues to look into the well-being of the community and to make a difference to improve healthcare delivery. 

Other recent initiatives by the clinical students from the School of Medicine for the National Cancer Society Malaysia include raising funds of RM4,239 and volunteering over the weekends to provide Covid-19 vaccination to immobile cancer patients in rural areas through house-to-house services from August to October 2021, visiting up to 25 houses each day.