Report The EduVariome Program in Sarawak Prepared by M. Hamdi M., Faculty of Medicine & Health Science, UNIMAS.
Background of the Project Since its inception in 2015 by the Malaysian Node of Human Variome Project (MyHVP), the Eduvariome has established its reputation in the peninsular region of the country. This program is committed to raising awareness on genetic disease focussing on Thalassaemia and the importance of pre-marital genetic screening at several schools and higher learning institutions. With its tagline “Educating people towards a healthier nation”, this one of its kind community knowledge transfer project in Malaysia aims at inculcating awareness amongst students and the younger generations.
Conclusion This program prepared the students and participants which would one day settle down and have their own family. Sharing session with the thalassemia patient gave the audience a sense of empathy towards fellow community members who faced the challenge. Positive values gained perhaps may be extended by organising of future similar program at other localities in Sarawak. Selected pictures of the event, elective poster on awareness pre- & post- of the Eduvariome program and local newspaper cutting were enclosed as appendices.
In 2019, the program was extended to the Borneo region of this country in the state of Sarawak. Located in the district of Kuching, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Batu Lintang which was located in the district of Kuching was chosen as the host for the ‘Decent Nuptial Agreement’: should or shouldn’t we consider a pre-martial DNA screening talk. The invited speakers were three panelists from The Institute of Islamic skills Sarawak (IKMAS), led by Ust Abd Rahim Othman, Pastor Ambrose Liap from the Association of Churches (ACS), Kuching Sarawak and Dr Ainul Nadiah Salam from the Blood Bank service Department, Kuching General Hospital. The program was also supported by Kuching Thalassemia Society and Kuching Specialist Hospital. Impact of this conducted Program i. As organiser of the program, the working committee from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) medical residential college (Kolej Kasturi), the program has given future medical doctors opportunities and experience in conducting local community outreach events, particularly through involvement of the media. ii. In recognition of the multi-racial, multi-religion population of Sarawak, the forum was the first interfaith discourse by Muslim IKMAS and non-Muslim ACS panelists. iii. A thought provoking sharing of experience through the perspectives of a thalassemia patient and a medical specialist provided forum participants insightful knowledge beyond the classroom. iv. Participants were educated on the danger, risks and the lifetime burden faced by thalassemia patients, as well as the present treatment approach and management offered by the local health-care professionals. These impacts were well aligned to the initiative of the Human Variome Project (HVP) which is the Global Globin 2020 (GG2020) Challenge for a better and healthy community.
MyHVP Newsletter | December 2020 | page 3
