01-06-2025
Free health checks benefit thousands in Butterworth
Chua (centre) looking on as Wai Kuan undergoes his health check.
HAVING drawn over 10,000 visitors to free health tests, the One Hope Charity Health Carnival 2025 in Butterworth, Penang, marked another milestone in early intervention.
Organised by non-governmental organisation (NGO) One Hope Charity & Welfare, the weekend event featured 250 booths for 30 types of health screening, tests and treatments.
Qualified medical practitioners and specialists attended to visitors to the carnival at the Penang International Convention Cultural & Arts Centre (Picca) Convention Centre.
One Hope chairman Datuk Chua Sui Hau said droves of visitors came over the weekend to undergo tests, ranging from basic eye and foot checks to liver and heart examinations.
'This year's edition is the biggest since the health carnival was first organised in 2017, with hospitals and health institutions from various states stepping in to support.
'We had 4,000 blood screenings for cancer markers while 3,000 spectacles were given out.
Visitors getting free eye checks during the carnival. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
'A total of 5,000 flu vaccines were also administered,' he said, adding that organisers anticipated 8,000 visitors but the turnout surpassed this number.
He said RM2.7mil had been spent to hold the event.
This included about RM850,000 in donations channelled to various hospitals.
Among those who made it for a health check was retired Jelutong contractor Ng Wai Kuan, 71, who uses a wheelchair after having lost a leg in an accident about 20 years ago.
'It's always a long queue at public hospitals and also inconvenient for me to undergo various tests at different sessions.
'When I heard about free health tests available here, I hopped onto my bike and took the ferry across to check it out,' he said.
Housewife Maimunah Mat Taib had a massage at a traditional Chinese medicine booth.
'This is the first time I'm trying something like this and after a 15-minute session, I felt such relief,' she said.
Teenagers Ng Zi Yu and Chong Xin Yi, both of whom recovered from scoliosis, were among volunteers who explained to visitors about the spinal condition, and treatments available.
They both received aid from One Hope for their condition and have since recovered.
At the carnival's opening, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow shared that high numbers of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension was recorded in the state.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, the prevalence of diabetes in Penang stood at 18.4%, compared to the national average of 15.5%.
Hypertension in Penang was recorded at 31.3% (national average 29.2%), while high cholesterol was 34% (national average 33.3%).
Chow said these alarming figures should serve as a wake-up call for Penangites to take better care of their health.
