Representatives of SOPB join the longhouse villagers in a group photo at Rumah Buli Anak Jamit, Sungai Semanok in Kuala Tatau
(From left) A longhouse resident receives her new spectacles from Benedict, witnessed by Buli and Budut
Miri: One-hundred-and-three villagers from over 10 longhouses located within Sarawak Oil Palm Berhad (SOPB)’s areas of operations in Kuala Tatau have benefited from the group’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, ‘Vision Care Project’.
The villagers received free eye-screening and new prescribed spectacles during SOPB’s recent visit to Rumah Buli Jamit at Sungai Semanok.
It is learnt that of the 103, 15 villagers were referred to Jepak Health Clinic for further medical review.
“The purpose of the medical review is for them to have a more extensive medical examination to determine whether they need to undergo ‘pterygium’ or cataract surgery – if either option is needed, it would take place in Bintulu Hospital of which (the treatment) will be fully funded by SOPB,” said a press statement issued by SOPB.
The group also said of the 15 villagers slated for further examinations at Jepak Health Clinic, four would be meeting an eye specialist in Bintulu Hospital and possibly, they might have to undergo surgery.
In his remarks, longhouses chieftains Buli Jamit and Lebong Luang from long house at Sungai Seterus for its CSR, which had helped their fell villagers alot.
The event at Rumah Buli was also by SOPB estate managers, Budut Tumbai (Kuala Tatau 1) and Benedict Baja Malila (Kuala Tatau 2), as well as public relations personnel from SOPB’s headquarters.
Established in 2013, the ‘Vision Care Project” is SOPB’s annual CSR programme that aims to create the awareness of healthy and quality living among the rural communities.
“It is also the intention of SOPB to lower the risk of preventable blindness amongst the people in rural area community, who often do not have the necessary means to obtain immediate access to medical facilities,” said SOPB.
Source: The Borneo Post, 12th December 2018, Home, Page 15; Pressreader online – https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post/20181212/282106342727235