BY FARIHAN RAZALI
MUKAH: The recent Outreach 2023 event, a vision screening programme organised by the Bintulu Hospital Ophthalmology Department in collaboration with the Bintulu Society for the Blind (BSB), garnered a remarkable response from the local community.
With a participation of over 100 attendees, the programme successfully catered to the eye health examination needs of the rural population in Mukah.
The initiative aimed to address the challenges faced by rural areas in accessing comprehensive eye care. The enthusiastic response from the community demonstrated the significance and demand for such services in the region.
The success of the Outreach 2023 event highlights the importance of expanding vision screening programmes in remote areas, ensuring that residents receive the necessary healthcare services for maintaining good eye health.
Arbi emphasised the significance of such initiatives, particularly for rural residents who face challenges in accessing eye examinations due to various constraints.
He acknowledged that factors such as limited time, financial limitations, young children, and other unavoidable circumstances prevent many individuals in rural areas from visiting larger hospitals for check-ups.
Speaking to reporters after the ‘Outreach 2023’ Community Service Programme held at Kampung Sesok Multipurpose Hall yesterday, Arbi expressed his full support for any party involved in facilitating and assisting residents in rural areas, particularly in matters related to health.
During the programme, Arbi observed that many residents from neighbouring villages availed themselves of the eye health screening, not just those from the host village. He stressed the importance of extending such opportunities to residents in other villages by organsing similar programmes in the future.
Additionally, Arbi expressed his hope for more community outreach initiatives to be conducted in the Mukah area, providing individuals with the chance to have their health checked.
Dr. Kenneth Teow Kheng Leong, Head of the Ophthalmology Department at Bintulu Hospital, was also present at the programme.
