IMU Dietetics with Nutrition students completed an eight-week placement with the National Kidney Foundation Malaysia, gaining hands-on experience in community nutrition, health screening, and kidney disease awareness across corporate and underserved settings.

• Programme: IMU Dietetics with Nutrition
• Placement Duration: 8 weeks
• Organisation: National Kidney Foundation Malaysia (NKF)
• Activities: Health screenings, nutrition counselling
• Communities Reached: Corporate employees, healthcare professionals, patients, and families, B40 populations

As part of the final-year requirement for IMU Dietetics with Nutrition students, we completed an eight-week community placement with the Public Education Department of the National Kidney Foundation Malaysia (NKF). During this period, we participated in 16 health screening programmes conducted across diverse community and corporate settings.

How Xing Xuan

Sim Jing Lu

Prior to fieldwork, we underwent four days of structured training covering screening protocols, standardised anthropometric techniques, workflow coordination, and communication strategies. This preparation ensured that we delivered services with accuracy, consistency, and professionalism throughout the placement.

Engagement with individuals from varied backgrounds required us to translate complex nutrition concepts into clear, practical advice. Through activities such as BMI assessments, counselling, exhibitions, and participant coordination, we developed the ability to communicate effectively across different age groups and community contexts.

From 20 to 22 January 2026, we participated in a corporate health screening at CS Yap Metalparts Industries Sdn Bhd, reaching approximately 300 employees.

Our roles included conducting anthropometric assessments and coordinating participant flow across stations.

Working within a high-volume, time-constrained environment emphasised efficiency, teamwork, and precision. This experience highlighted the importance of structured workflows in workplace health promotion and strengthened our ability to maintain accuracy while managing large-scale operations.

On 4 February 2026, NKF participated in National Rare Disease Day at Hospital Tunku Azizah. At the NKF booth, we engaged with healthcare professionals, patients, and families, sharing information on support groups and the Rare Kidney Disease Early Diagnosis Fund.

These interactions provided valuable insights into the lived experiences of individuals with rare kidney conditions.

Listening to their challenges and concerns deepened our appreciation of patient-centred care and the importance of multidisciplinary support systems.

Exposure to other organisations also broadened our understanding of advancements in genetic testing and rare disease management.

On 7 February 2026, we participated in a community screening at PPR Desa Rejang, serving residents from a B40 population. Assigned to registration and blood pressure measurement, we ensured accurate data collection while managing participant flow in a resource-limited setting.

This experience highlighted the impact of socioeconomic factors on health behaviours and access to care. Direct engagement with the community strengthened our awareness of health disparities and reinforced the importance of accessible preventive services for vulnerable populations.

On 10 February 2026, we joined NKF’s Mobile LifeCheck programme at Masjid Jamiatul Islamiah.

Conducted within a mobile screening unit, this setting required adaptability in both environment and communication.

At the counselling station, we delivered health advice primarily in Bahasa Melayu to older adults. This required simplifying clinical information into clear, actionable messages while maintaining sensitivity and clarity.

The experience enhanced our ability to tailor communication to different literacy levels and cultural contexts in non-traditional healthcare environments.

This placement provided comprehensive exposure to community-based dietetics practice across corporate, clinical, and underserved settings. Each setting required distinct competencies—from managing high-volume screenings to delivering personalised counselling and understanding patient experiences in complex health conditions.

Collectively, these experiences strengthened our ability to deliver context-specific, patient-centred nutrition care while adapting to diverse populations and environments. The placement has prepared us to transition into professional practice as competent, adaptable, and socially responsible dietitians.

Written by How Xing Xuan (侯幸璇), Sim Jing Lu (沈靖茹）