THOUSANDS of people from the lower-income group thronged the One Hope Charity Health Carnival held at Auto City in Juru today.
The two-day health carnival provides free medical tests from today until tomorrow (June 19).
One Hope Charity & Welfare chairman Datuk Chua Sui Hau said this year’s health carnival comprised 20 types of screening such as blood screening, dental, eye, ear, liver ultrasound, cholesterol and bone density checks.
“There are also counters promoting organ donation and providing services such as physiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine.
“Aside from health checks, we have a blood donation campaign that is also held simultaneously to welcome the public to donate their blood.
“Meanwhile, for students and senior citizens who require spectacles due to their eyesight problems, we allocated a total of 1,000 free high-quality spectacles.
“It is our commitment to helping the underprivileged community in the best way possible,” Chua said in his speech before Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow officiated the health carnival today.
Chua thanked the National Heart Institute (IJN) for sending a mobile ambulance truck and heart specialist from Kuala Lumpur to the event to help those who need heart check and electrocardiogram (ECG).
“I would also like to thank medical teams from Penang and Kedah hospitals for collaborating with us in this health carnival,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chow commended One Hope Charity for such an initiative in helping the needy, irrespective of race and religion.
“This carnival can help to ease the burden of the people from the lower-income group that require health checkups.
“Regularly, we find some with serious illnesses which are too late to be treated. So, prevention is better than cure.
“With the rising of living costs nowadays, such initiative is very timely to call on the community to always put healthcare as a priority in efforts to cultivate healthy practices and lifestyles of the people of this state.
“I was also told that One Hope Charity has spent millions of ringgit in conducting various charity and welfare programmes in the state since its inception 20 years ago.
“This has indeed helped the state government tremendously to care for the welfare of the people. We appreciate the help rendered to the poor by the One Hope Charity,” he said.
Chow also urged non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the state to emulate what has been done by One Hope Charity to continue assisting the underprivileged community during these trying times.
“I hope this health carnival could be held again from time to time as it brings huge benefits to the community,” Chow said.
Also present during the One Hope Charity Health Carnival today were state Welfare and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, state Agrotech and Food Security, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Norlela Ariffin and state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee.
Other guests included Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad, Jawi assemblyman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, Berapit assemblyman Heng Lee Lee, Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik and Bukit Tengah assemblyman Gooi Hsiao-Leung.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi