Medical Outreach Services: IMU Staff and Students Contributed Positively on Wesak Day 2023

On Wesak Day this year which falls on 4 May 2023, a Medical Outreach Services initiative was organised by Academy for Silent Mentor (AFSM), a non-profit organisation which collaborates with IMU. The activity saw the involvement of four IMU Chinese Medicine staff members and eight students who departed early in the morning from the IMU Bukit Jalil campus to Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Selangor. Ministry of Health (MoH) Klinik Kesihatan collaborated with Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple to make this event possible.

During the Medical Outreach Services initiative at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple, AFSM and MoH offered a range of general health check-ups, including BMI measurements and glucose or cholesterol level assessments, as well as upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (OGDS), pap smears, breast cancer screening, and ear, nose, and throat screenings.

Following the screening, patients were directed to the IMU Chinese Medicine section for any required additional treatment.

Patients who received the complementary health treatments were mainly from the Jenjarom community. Our practitioners utilised the opportunity to offer care in the form of acupuncture and provide dietary and lifestyle advice. Additionally, students had the chance to assist with health screening, feel pulses, gain an understanding of Chinese Medicine diagnosis, and be exposed to practical clinical treatments.

The collaboration with AFSM Western Medical team also highlighted the importance of teamwork with other healthcare professionals in providing comprehensive and integrated healthcare services to the community. On the other hand, it also promoted interprofessional learning among the students who are from the School of Medicine and the Chinese Medicine programme.