Written by Ong Ying Ying1, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Edited by Associate Prof. Dr Deburra Peak Ngadan1
Photo Credits: Mohamed Redduan Bin Mohamed Atta1
1Doctor in Public Health, 2025/2026 – 3 (Community Medicine and Public Health Department)
Photo 1.0: Group photo with Community Nurse (2nd from Left), Community Development Assistant of Taman Seri Puteri, Kuching (3rd from Left), Family Health lecturer (4th from Left), alongside UNIMAS DrPH candidates (in blue shirts) and residents of Taman Seri Puteri, Kuching.
KUCHING — On August 1, 2026, Year 1 Doctor in Public Health (DrPH) candidates from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), successfully implemented a health intervention programme at Taman Seri Puteri in Kuching.
Taman Seri Puteri is a gazetted residential shelter that provides essential care, protection and rehabilitation for a vulnerable population of female adolescents. The initiative, themed “My Choice, Myself, My Future,” brought together 53 young residents aged 12 to 18 with a primary focus on Sexual and Reproductive Health area.
The health intervention programme aimed to equip participants with practical life skills across two core pillars. The first was reproductive self-care which encompassed intimate hygiene, menstrual health and body awareness. The second was interpersonal self-control which focused on setting personal boundaries, resisting negative peer pressure and making safe life decisions. Moving away from formal lectures, the UNIMAS team utilised interactive games, small-group discussions and hands-on activities to make health education engaging, approachable, and memorable.
Hands-On Activities Make Learning Fun
The workshop began with an inspiring talk on personal values and future goals. Each participant received a “Hope Balloon” to represent her dignity and dreams. She was encouraged to protect it throughout the day as a reminder of her self-worth.
Participants then rotated through five activity stations:
- Station 1: Boundary Line: Participants watched short videos and moved to “Agree”, “Neutral” or “Disagree” zones to practise decision making in relationships.
- Station 2: Plot Twist Harga Diri: Teams helped a fictional character make safe choices about digital privacy and peer pressure.
- Station 3: Normal or Not?: Small groups classified images of hygiene habits and body changes to learn what is normal and what needs medical attention.
- Station 4: Throw the Myth: A quiz made learning about menstrual health fun while debunking common myths.
- Station 5: Traffic Light: Colour-coded cards helped participants identify safe, uncertain and unsafe situations.
The session ended with guided reflection and a cupcake decorating activity.
This served as a powerful reminder: While past hardships cannot be changed, everyone has the power to shape their own future.
Key improvements included:
- 86.5% agreed to prioritise education and career goals over risky relationships.
- 90.4% felt confident seeking help from trusted adults when feeling unsafe.
- 84.6% felt empowered to reject negative peer pressure.
The programme also successfully improved health knowledge with post-test scores rising from 82.6% to 83.9%. The most significant learning gains were observed in practical areas, particularly proper underwear hygiene and understanding contraceptive reliability.
Participant Feedback
Feedback from residents was overwhelmingly positive with 98.1% of participants agreeing they gained valuable new health knowledge and 92.3% rating the programme as smooth and engaging.
Residents shared their personal takeaways in their own words:
- Residents also shared heartfelt comments with one participant saying, “Saya belajar cara menjaga kebersihan semasa haid dan cara menjaga diri daripada perkara yang tidak sepatutnya berlaku.”
- A few of them noted that “Saya belajar cara untuk menjaga kebersihan diri dan maruah diri”, “Belajar menghargai diri” and “Mencari bantuan daripada orang yang dipercayai”
- Many expressed hope for more visits.
- One participant wrote, “Program ini sangat membantu saya dan saya harap program ini akan ada lagi!!”
Building Healthier Futures
The “My Choice, Myself, My Future” programme demonstrates UNIMAS’s commitment to community health and youth empowerment.
The DrPH candidates delivered more than just information by combining health education with engaging activities. They helped build self-worth, enhanced trust and equipped female adolescents with skills to protect their health and make informed decisions.
These outcomes support the residents’ healthy transition into adulthood and successful reintegration into society.