Kuala Lumpur, 2 October 2025 – Two Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) were honoured for their research at the Postgraduate Research Conference (PoGraC) 2025, held at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Cheras.
The conference, organised by the Persatuan Siswazah Fakulti Perubatan (PSIFER), was held under the theme “Advancing Frontiers in Medicine: Translating Research from Bench to Bedside and Beyond.”
Dr Voon Bui Niak received third place in the Best Poster Presentation (Clinical) category. Her study investigated contraceptive use among reproductive women in Samarahan District, focusing on self-efficacy, spousal communication and cultural perception.
She found that women’s choices were shaped not only by access and education but also by family dynamics, including the presence of sons in the household. Her research, guided by supervisor Prof Dr Jeffery anak Stephen, points to the need for public health strategies that encourage partner dialogue and address gender norms in reproductive health.
Dr Abdullah Shauqi bin Kusairy won second place in the Best Oral Presentation (Clinical) category. His study examined food insecurity among Dayak elderly in southern Sarawak, where more than one in four respondents reported challenges in securing adequate food.
The research highlighted that women, low-income households, and those without savings were especially at risk, while distant food stores and poor oral health worsened the problem. Supervised by Dr Law Leh Shii, the findings call for targeted interventions that improve food access and integrate social and health support for indigenous elderly populations.
Reflecting on his achievement, Dr Abdullah said:
“Winning second place at PoGraC 2025 was an unexpected honour. I am truly grateful for the chance to share my research and thankful to my supervisor, UNIMAS, my peers, and family for their support. This award is a shared success and a reminder to keep contributing to public health.”
All abstracts accepted at the conference will be published in the Medicine and Health Journal (E-ISSN 2289-5728), indexed in the Web of Science.
The achievements of Dr Voon and Dr Abdullah mark a milestone for the two UNIMAS students, whose research reflects the importance of addressing cultural and socioeconomic realities in Sarawak’s public health landscape. HH
Dr Abdullah, on behalf of Dr Voon Bui Niak, receiving the prize from the organiser.
A proud Dr Abdullah Shauqi receiving his prize from the organiser.
Dr Abdullah Shauqi posing with the other winners