Sarawak Allied Health Day inspires youth to explore careers in healthcare sciences

KUCHING (Oct 26): The Sarawak Allied Health Day celebration held here yesterday aimed to raise awareness among youths and parents about the Allied Health Sciences profession while recognising the vital contributions of healthcare personnel who work behind the scenes.

Organised by the Sarawak State Allied Health Profession in collaboration with the Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS), the event was officiated by Sarawak Deputy State Health Director (Medical) Dr Azlee Ayub at a shopping mall here.

Dr Azlee said the one-day event featured various exhibition booths showcasing live demonstrations such as blood typing, as well as displays highlighting the daily roles of allied health professionals.

“Through these exhibitions, we hope to inspire interest among young people to pursue studies in related fields, and instil confidence among parents should their children wish to embark on a career in this profession.”

A total of 25 professions took part in the celebration, encompassing three main groups: Medical Laboratory, Public Health, and Clinical.

The Medical Laboratory group included Science Officers specialising in Microbiology, Life Sciences, Biomedical Science, and Forensics, as well as Medical Laboratory Technologists, Dental Technologists, and Assistant Science Officers.

The Public Health group comprised Nutrition Science Officers, Entomology Officers, Health Education Officers, and Environmental Health Officers and Assistants.

Meanwhile, the Clinical group featured Dietitians, Medical Physics Officers, Counselling and Clinical Psychologists, Rehabilitation Officers specialising in audiology, speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as Medical Social Workers, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers, Medical Records Officers and Assistants, Food Preparation Officers and Assistants, and Optometrists.

Dr Azlee added that the celebration, themed ‘Beyond Healthcare: Serving with Responsibility’, served as a meaningful platform to introduce the diverse range of services provided by allied health personnel.

He also encouraged members of the public to take the opportunity to engage with professionals at the event to learn more about their respective fields.

The main objective of the event was to provide accessible healthcare information and services to the community while promoting greater understanding of the roles of Allied Health Professions (AHP) through exhibitions by various allied health disciplines.

According to JKNS, there are currently 2,874 allied health personnel across 25 professions throughout Sarawak as of September 2025.

Among those present were Sarawak Chief Allied Health Officer Dr Nancy George Jette and Senior Principal Assistant Director (Dental, Health Management and Professional Group — KPPK) Dr Ahmad Khairuddin Zamhari.