S’wak Heart Foundation extends Electricity for Life initiative to Sg Asap, Bakun

KUCHING (Sept 28): The Sarawak Heart Foundation in collaboration with the Sarawak Heart Centre recently extended its Electricity for Life (EFL) initiative to the Sungai Asap and Bakun areas.

A visit led by Sarawak Heart Centre clinical cardiologist Dr Esteban Chin was held from Sept 26-27 in conjunction with World Heart Day, with support from Medtronic International (Malaysia) and Sarawak Health Department.

“This initiative is part of an ongoing effort to raise awareness about the need for improved access to cardiology services in rural Sarawak, where residents often face significant challenges in obtaining specialised treatment for heart disease,” Dr Chin told The Borneo Post.

The two-day programme included a Continuing Medical Education session, aimed at enhancing the knowledge of local medical professionals.

The session featured lectures on managing cardiac emergencies, including heart attacks, as well as discussions on electrocardiograms, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, pacemakers and bradyarrhythmia management.

Special emphasis was placed on addressing the diagnostic and treatment challenges in regions without cardiac catheterisation lab services.

Dr Chin said the visit offered the EFL team valuable insights into the difficulties rural residents face in accessing cardiology care.

“Sarawak is vast and for many, obtaining cardiology services involves long, difficult journeys. There is still much work to be done in bridging the healthcare gap in these rural areas.

“The communities around Sungai Asap and Bakun, including employees at Bakun Dam, face significant logistical challenges in seeking healthcare. Healthcare providers also encounter difficulties in delivering care in resource-limited settings, with the nearest hospital being three hours away,” he said.

The team also visited Bintulu Hospital, the primary referral centre for regions extending from Mukah to Belaga.

Dr Chin noted Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is Sarawak Heart Foundation Board of Trustees deputy chairman, had announce plans to establish more cardiac centres across Sarawak, with Bintulu Hospital being one of them.

“In addition to strengthening medical ties and fostering collaboration, this initiative served as a platform for exchanging ideas to improve cardiology services across rural Sarawak and is a significant step towards ensuring equitable healthcare access for all Sarawakians, and our team aims to expand this initiative to other areas of Sarawak in 2025,” he said.

Since its inception in 2015, the annual EFL initiative has been jointly organised by the Sarawak Heart Foundation and the Sarawak Heart Centre in conjunction with the World Heart Day.