Beyond hospital walls: Together For Health 2.0 brings preventive care to community

Community-based healthcare under Together For Health 2.0 aims to encourage early detection, healthier lifestyles and greater awareness of residents’ well-being.

By Amanda L

KUCHING, Oct 4: Together For Health 2.0 is bringing preventive healthcare beyond hospital walls, offering local residents access to health screenings, professional advice and health education directly within their community.

Organised through a collaboration between the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) and Timberland Medical Centre, the community health carnival brought together six JKKKs from the N9 Padungan constituency, alongside Kapitans and local community leaders.

For SUPP Kuching branch acting secretary and youth chief Cr Nicholas Wung Duk Ying, the initiative goes beyond routine health checks, with greater attention needed on the overall well-being of residents, particularly older people.

Cr Nicholas Wung Duk Ying speaking at the official launch of the Together For Health 2.0 outreach programme at SUPP headquarters on Oct 4, 2026.

He highlighted the growing risk of loneliness among senior citizens whose children may move away for education or work, stressing that their mental well-being should receive as much attention as their physical health.

“Watch out for the elderly surrounding you, not only their physical health, but their mental health as well,” he said.

He said this during his speech at the official launch of the Together For Health 2.0 outreach programme held at SUPP headquarters today.

Beyond the issue of loneliness, Wung, who also serves as joint organising chairman, pointed to practical barriers that can discourage older people from seeking medical care, including long waiting times and a lack of transport to hospitals or clinics.

He therefore urged younger family members and the wider community to remain attentive to elderly residents and make it a habit to check on their well-being.

This focus on bringing healthcare closer to the community also reflects the thinking behind the programme, according to Timberland Medical Centre chief executive officer (CEO) and co-organising chairman Dr Kelvin Ch’ng Boon Hong.

Dr Kelvin Ch’ng Boon Hong

He explained that the name Together For Health carries a simple message: good health is something that a community must build collectively.

“Healthcare does not begin only when someone enters a hospital. It begins at home, within our families, at our workplaces and in our communities.

“Community programmes such as this carnival play a vital role in making basic screenings and health information genuinely accessible,” Dr Ch’ng said.

That approach was reflected in the range of services offered at the carnival, including basic health screenings, dietitian consultations, breast self-examination education and specialist talks covering various medical topics.

Dr Ch’ng encouraged participants to make full use of the services by consulting healthcare professionals, undergoing screenings and sharing what they learn with their friends and family.

The emphasis on early intervention is particularly important as screenings can uncover health issues that may otherwise go unnoticed, while professional guidance can help individuals make healthier lifestyle choices.

The initiative also forms part of Timberland Medical Centre’s wider commitment to community healthcare after more than three decades of service in Kuching and Sarawak.

Rather than focusing solely on treating illness, Dr Ch’ng said the centre aims to help people stay healthy, detect diseases early and make informed decisions about their long-term health. — DayakDaily