Seaweed Cultivation and Health Awareness Programs

This community development project on Omadal Island has two primary objectives: supporting the establishment of sustainable seaweed farms and empowering the Bajau Laut community through health education and improved healthcare access. 

Underpinning these goals is the training of local community members as Community Health Helpers (CHHs), with the aim of establishing a minimum of 20 first aid responders who will serve as local health advocates. This collaborative effort involves MSHR and two centers at Universiti Putra Malaysia: the University Community Transformation Center and the Centre for Industrial Relation and Network (CiRNeT).

Sustainable Seaweed Cultivation

Drawing on insights from local farmers, fisheries departments, and research findings, alternative farming systems have been developed and implemented alongside conventional methods to facilitate sustainable seaweed cultivation methods. 

Innovation and sustainability are the twin drivers of this initiative, which also  includes experimenting with different cultivation techniques, such as line farming, raft farming, and integrated aquaculture systems to identify the most effective methods suited to the local ecosystem. These innovative systems are designed not only to enhance seaweed growth but also to promote resilience against environmental factors and optimise resource utilisation. 

Collaboration with village leaders and active involvement of local community members are integral to the project’s success. By engaging with village leaders and involving community members in training workshops, the project fosters a culture of sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship within the community.

Commercialisation efforts are also underway, with a focus on creating economic opportunities for the community beyond subsistence farming. This includes identifying potential markets for seaweed products, establishing value chains, and providing training on value-added processing techniques to increase profitability. Additionally, workshops and training programs will take place in phases, covering entrepreneurship, market readiness and financial management to equip community members with the skills needed to run successful seaweed farming businesses.

Empowering Local Leadership & Health Education

The project’s capacity-building initiatives extend to health education and empowerment through the training of Community Health Helpers (CHHs). These CHHs not only improve healthcare access but also foster local leadership and expertise. They serve as health ambassadors and play a crucial role in disseminating information on nutrition, sanitation, and preventive healthcare practices, thereby contributing to overall community well-being.

The CHHs program represents a paradigm of health empowerment by training locals to meet basic medical needs. CHHs are now serving as a cornerstone of the services that MSHR is introducing.

The CHHs of Omadal underwent tailored training based on pertinent issues specific to the island. Conducted through a month-long program at Klinik Warisan Semporna, healthcare professionals imparted essential skills such as vital sign measurement, wound management, and handling medical emergencies to the CHHs. The training modules were also aligned with Malaysia’s Ministry of Health guidelines, customised to the island community’s needs.

Now the CHHs operate from the island’s Community Health Center, where they provide critical services including wound care, bleeding control, infection management, basic medical advice, and community engagement.

Shortly after their inauguration, a critical incident highlighted the positive impact of CHHs in addressing emergencies in the community. A 12-year-old girl with a deep foot injury caused by a boat propeller, was promptly provided crucial first aid by our trained CHH, demonstrating their quick response in emergencies. Despite financial constraints and community scepticism towards modern medicine, the CHHs ensured the girl received initial treatment and continued wound care, leading to a successful recovery.

This success story underscores the vital role CHHs play as first responders and caretaker and intermediaries between the community and essential healthcare services, filling a healthcare void in the island community. The CHH program stands as a beacon of health empowerment and improving overall well-being on Omadal Island, embodying the principles of capacity-building and community resilience in healthcare delivery.

In addition to empowering health education, MSHR’s collaborative partnerships with academic institutions such as Universiti Putra Malaysia provide expertise, research support, and institutional resources to bolster the project’s objectives and facilitate knowledge exchange between academia and the community. This integrated approach to seaweed cultivation, economic empowerment, and health education underscores the project’s commitment to fostering resilience, self-reliance, and prosperity among the residents of Omadal Island, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.

The Seaweed Cultivation and Health Awareness Program at Omadal Island, Sabah is a collaborative initiative between the MSHR and Universiti Putra Malaysia, supported by Yayasan Hasanah and the Ministry of Finance Malaysia.

Recognition

MSHR gives recognition to the dedicated project members for their significant contributions and expertise in driving the success of The Seaweed Cultivation and Health Awareness Program at Omadal Island.

Project Head

Prof. Dr. Shamsul Bahri Hj Md Tamrin, Director, Centre of Industry Relations and Networks (CiRNeT), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM)

Project Manager

Dr. Shridev Nair Thamotheran, MSHR

Project Financial Analyst

Dr. Mark Buda, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Agriculture, UPM

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Coordinators

  • Mrs. Mahani Amat @ Hiilmi, Agricultural Officer, University Community Transformation Centre (UCTC), UPM
  • Mr. Zaidi Tajuddin, Agriculture Officer, CiRNeT, UPM

Seaweed Cultivation Project Members

  • Dr. Nur Leena Wong Wai Sin, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Aquaculture, UPM
  • Prof. Dr. Muta Harah Zakaria, Professor, International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences (I-AQUAS), UPM
  • Mr. Fakhrulddin Ismail, Research Officer, I-AQUAS, UPM
  • Dr. Teh Jun Chin, Assistant Researcher, UPM
  • Muhammad Afif Che Alias, Postgraduate student, UPM

Seaweed Commercialisation Project Members

  • Dr. Illisriyani Ismail, Senior Research Officer, I-AQUAS, UPM
  • Mrs. Syahaneem Mohamad Zainalabidin, Research Officer, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS)

Health Awareness Project Members

  • Dr. Vivien How, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM
  • Khairuddin bin Othman, Director, Malaysia Red Crescent Kuala Lumpur.