Kota Samarahan, 4 August 2025 — Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) took sexual and reproductive health (SRH) discussions into the hall at SMK Asajaya, in Sarawak’s Samarahan Division, as part of their field training.
The half-day programme, themed “Sayang Dirik, Sikboh Ambik Risiko” (Love Yourself, Don’t Take Risks), was held under the Applied Family Health course with support from the university’s Postgraduate DrPH Cohort 14 team. Sixty Form 2 students joined the session, which used games and role-play to introduce topics such as anatomy, consent, online safety, sexually transmitted infections, and peer influence.
Instead of lectures, the students moved between six activity stations, collecting stamps in a “Mission Book” as they reflected on what they had learned. Teachers said the approach kept the teenagers engaged with sensitive issues that are often difficult to discuss openly.
The initiative was organised with the backing of the school’s leadership and counselling unit, and facilitated by the Samarahan District Education Office and Sarawak’s state education department.
Participants described the programme as “fun and useful,” with several noting that it made them more aware of the risks of unsafe behaviour. Early feedback suggests it helped build confidence among adolescents to talk about subjects that are usually considered taboo.
Organisers say the next step is to build on the momentum. They believe boys in particular would benefit from more peer-led role-play and activities designed to challenge harmful attitudes. Teachers and parents, they add, must also be more involved to ensure messages about respect and safety continue beyond the classroom.
UNIMAS is exploring closer collaboration with the state education department to expand the programme to other schools in Sarawak. Lecturers involved in the project say long-term tracking would also be needed to measure whether early interventions like this can influence behaviour into later adolescence.
For the DrPH students, the intervention was part of their hands-on training in community health. UNIMAS lecturers said the project demonstrates how postgraduate students can support national education efforts by delivering health promotion in ways that are culturally appropriate and responsive to local needs.
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