KAPIT: A unique community programme designed to bolster malaria awareness was held at Rumah Panjang Manok Manchal, Sg Yong, recently.
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) Malaria Research Centre (MRC) director, Dr. Paul Cliff Simon Divis said this initiative was designed to engage participants of all ages and teach them about the importance of malaria prevention.
“The goal was to engage the high-risk community and increase their awareness and practice of preventing zoonotic malaria through an interactive approach,” Dr. Paul said, acknowledging that while eradicating zoonotic malaria is an unrealistic goal, education can significantly reduce its impact on high-risk communities.
Led by MRC lecturer Dr. Angela Siner, the one-day programme was divided into two sessions, the first of which commenced with a focus group discussion, in which 20 participants shared their experiences and perceptions of zoonotic malaria.
Equipped with a training module, these women are poised to act as family advisers, promoting malaria prevention within the longhouse community.
The programme’s second session featured innovative strategies to raise awareness and promote preventive practices, led by Associate Professor Dr. Jacey-Lynn Minoi from the UNIMAS Gamification Centre.
“We introduced localised games and activities related to malaria prevention. For instance, we played a large 9 x 8 feet snake and ladder game centered around malaria awareness, and an Iban dance ‘ngajat ranyai’ around a tree adorned with malaria-related questions,” Dr. Paul explained.
The event ended with a ‘pekit kumang kebun’ (best dressed farming beauty queen) contest, an element of competition added to increase engagement.
According to him, Kapit division was chosen for this initiative due to the high incidence of malaria among the community, particularly those engaged in farming and forest activities.
“Previous studies have shown that the main risk factors for zoonotic malaria infection are being male and participating in activities such as farming, logging, hunting or fishing,” Dr. Paul added.
“More than 80 per cent of the zoonotic malaria patients admitted to Kapit Hospital belong to this group, mainly the Iban community.”
The programme was a huge success, with participants saying that they learned a lot about malaria prevention and that they enjoyed the activities.
“I was really impressed with how the Unimas team made malaria prevention so fun and engaging,” said the longhouse chief Tuai Rumah Manok Manchal anak Sibat.
“My people really enjoyed the activities, and I think they learned a lot about how to protect themselves from malaria.”
The programme also marked the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Malaria Day, observed on April 25, echoing this year’s theme, “Time to deliver zero malaria: invest, innovate, and implement.”
Funding and support for the programme were provided by the University Sustainability Centre, Unimas’ ‘Dana Lestari’, the Unimas Gamification Centre’s ACES project, and UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund (UKRI GCRF), with key contributions from team members Dr. Rekaya Vincent Balang, Dr. Ayu Akida Abdul Rashid, Dr. Jaya Laxshmi Meenatchisundaram, and Jane Eleen Alison.
