The Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition (FSMP) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) spearheaded Nutri-Connect 1.0, a community outreach initiative held in Kampung Libang, Ranau. Led by four FSMP Nutrition Lecturers alongside 28 nutrition undergraduates, the program engaged over 50 rural residents across all age groups through interactive health screenings and practical workshops. The activity aimed to bridge academic knowledge with community wellness by boosting local health literacy and addressing non-communicable disease prevention in underserved areas.
Nutri-Connect 1.0 was organized by the FSMP Nutrition Program as an experiential learning and community empowerment initiative aligned with National Nutrition Policy 2.0. Spearheaded by academic staff members Dr. Norliyana Aris, Dr. Noor Atiqah Aizan Abdul Kadir, Dr. Nur Hanisah Azmi, and Dr. Ramlah George @ Mohd Rosli, the program aimed to extend specialized university health resources directly to rural populations in Sabah. By combining academic field training for undergraduates with public health outreach, the activity reinforces UMS and FSMP strategic priorities to foster student development and drive sustainable health outcomes in local communities.
The initiative delivered a comprehensive suite of interactive health modules, including health screenings, dietary counseling, physical fitness challenges, and healthy cooking demonstrations. Participants gained practical literacy through workshops focusing on the Malaysian Food Pyramid, the Healthy Plate concept, and identifying hidden sugars and salts in everyday meals. "This community engagement reflects our faculty's ongoing commitment to driving sustainable health outcomes through active academic leadership, student field training, and community empowerment," said Dr. Norliyana Aris, Lead Academic for Nutri-Connect.
To ensure long-term impact beyond the inaugural session, FSMP plans to launch Nutri-Connect 2.0 using a "Train-the-Trainers" framework to empower local residents as Healthy Nutrition Ambassadors. This initiative directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by offering preventive consultations to mitigate non-communicable diseases, alongside SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing lifelong health literacy to communities and experiential field training to students. Furthermore, it advances SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by delivering specialized healthcare resources to underserved rural regions like Kampung Libang, while exemplifying SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaborative engagement between academic leaders, student officers, and local residents.
Sabah Media: https://sabahmedia.com/2024/02/01/program-nutri-connect-1-0-usaha-ums-tingkat-pendidikan-pemakanan-sihat-dalam-masyarakat/