THE Penang Medical Practitioners Society (PMPS), which has been actively involved in community programmes through its free medical camps, organised the Penang Health Carnival 2018 to reach out to more people.
PMPS president Dr. Ajay Kumar said that the association wants to offer its services to the community on a bigger scale and that is how the idea of having a health carnival was conceived.
“We wanted to do it (free medical camps) on a bigger scale because we want to be more inclusive thus have added in more screening programmes.
“Today we have screening for blood sugar level, dental check-up, blood donation drives as well as blood grouping and hemoglobin level test, blood pressure and BMI (Body Mass Index) BMI monitoring and also screening for osteoporosis which is prevalent among the elderly.
“Women after menopause and men aged 70 years old must go for bone density check-ups as the chances of getting osteoporosis is high for them, and if you have weak bones and have a fall, you will get fractured bones easily. So, through the check-up you can find ways to strengthen your bones.
“Apart from that, we also have special programmes, where some private hospitals like Penang Adventist Hospital, Bagan Specialist Hospital, Island Hospital, Klinik Pakar Mata Kumar, Lam Wah Ee Hospital agree to accept certain numbers of cases for free cataract screening,” added Dr. Ajay during the carnival held at St.Anne Hall in Bukit Mertajam.
Further elaborating on the free cataract screening, Dr. Ajay said that those who cannot afford to have a cataract surgery will be given a free surgery by those private hospitals.
“The patients need to be screened in the presence of the doctors here today and the list will be later sent to the hospitals. The idea is to provide the needy with a free surgery and that is why there is also a screening by the welfare department. So, those who qualify will be given a free cataract surgery.
“On top of that, Bukit Metajam MP Steven Sim will be giving RM50 vouchers to some of the people who meet a certain criteria, for example, those who are 55 years old and above and their blood sugar level is under-control, they will be rewarded with the voucher.
“This is done as a gesture of encouraging more people to stay fit so they can be productive members of society. We also want to encourage them to be mindful of their health, do not leave it to the doctors only and not to completely rely on medication to do the work.
“You do not need medicine actually if you exercise regularly, watch your diet and maintain proper body weight (and that will enable) you to be free from medication. With that, you will be a healthy and productive Penangite.
“PMPS being the oldest medical practitioners society in Malaysia, (this year marks 86th year of its founding), we believe that this is a very good initiative which we hope to continue in the future,” added Dr. Ajay.
Exco for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh who officiated the event said that one needs to have self-awareness when comes to their health.
“What is awareness, it is the ability to foresee what will happen if we do not take care of our health, if we do not keep ourselves healthy, eventually we will become a burden to others. This is something that should be reflected upon, we should be committed in taking care of our own health and love ourselves,” affirmed Phee.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan