LET THE CARNIVAL BEGIN: Alexander strikes the gong to officiate at the ‘Health Carnival’ held at Kanowit Hospital as Dr Alex Kim (right) and others look on.

KANOWIT: Hospitals and clinics planning to organise health awareness programme have been told to promote the event well ahead to rural people before they can even attend it.

Ngemah assemblyman Alexander Vincent said, short of a blitz, more publicity was needed to get them to participate in such programmes.

“One of the reasons such programmes have low participation from rural people is because they do not know about it.

“They can’t come if they do not know about it,” he said when officiating at a ‘Health Carnival’ held in Kanowit Hospital compound here on Friday.

The event was jointly organised by Kanowit Hospital, Kanowit Hospital Visitors Board, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Bomba, police and Kanowit Agriculture Department.

Also present were Kanowit Hospital director Dr Alex Kim Ren Jye, Kanowit Hospital Visitors Board chairman, Tuai Rumah Benjamin Angki and Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Maurice Giri.

Alexander commended the hospital for organising the carnival, which would be a chance for people to interact with doctors and nurses.

He urged the people to give their support to the programme and announced RM5,000 in allocation for the hospital.

Earlier in his welcoming speech, Dr Kim said the objective of the event was to remind the people on the importance of good health.

He said 21 eye patients had been selected to undergo surgery at the hospital conducted by three ophthalmologists from Kuching.

Among the activities held during the carnival were body mass index measurement, blood sugar and blood pressure screening, dental check, pap-smear screening, health talks, blood donation and exhibition by Bomba, police and Kanowit Agriculture Department.

(Source: Borneo Post Online, 01 July 2013)