Visitors registering for their food baskets.
A STRONG turnout marked the inaugural health carnival in Taman Muhibbah, Seri Kembangan in Selangor, as residents availed themselves of free medical check-ups and baskets of food essentials.
The initiative by Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki was aimed at improving healthcare accessibility for locals, particularly the B40 group.
She said they wanted to encourage the community to prioritise regular health check-ups instead of waiting for an illness to develop.
The health carnival will be held monthly at various locations in Seri Kembangan to ensure continuous healthcare access. There will be an exception in February due to the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The carnival includes traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and a range of health services such as blood test, eye test, HPV test, mammograms and health screenings.
Wong said the carnival was aimed at providing medical attention to all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
“Healthy people are a valuable asset to our nation and community,” she said, emphasising that a healthy population was more productive and contributed significantly to overall societal progress.
She added that investing in health did not necessarily require financial cost but was about making informed choices.
Taman Muhibbah residents also expressed their gratitude for the initiative.
Chandeyan Raman, 76, said it was difficult for people like him to go for annual health screenings.
Wong (second from right) looking on as a resident is examined at the health carnival in Taman Muhibbah. — Photos: CHAN TAK KONG/The Star
“Holding a monthly health carnival will greatly benefit residents,” he said.
Another resident, who wished to be known only as A. Yue, 59, was relieved that TCM was included.
“TCM is a costly medical service, and I am very grateful that the government is helping us get the check-ups we need for free,” she said.
A total of 100 food baskets were also distributed with both essential and locally produced goods from Selangor such as cooking oil, rice, soy sauce, condensed milk, sardines, chocolate malt powder, biscuits, ginseng chicken soup, ginger tea, and toothbrushes.
Wong said the initiative was part of a broader strategy to encourage residents to seek help and utilise available resources.
“We also encourage residents to visit our office for assistance.
“Even if we can’t provide a food basket, we can assess their situation and determine how best to help them,” she said.
