Lebak, Banten — Hundreds of Baduy Tribe residents in Kanekes Village, Leuwidamar District, Lebak Regency, enthusiastically participated in a free health screening organized by the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Trisakti (Usakti), in collaboration with the School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), on Friday, August 8, 2025. This activity was part of the International Community Service Program, involving medical students from both countries.

The services provided included early detection and prevention of diseases, such as blood sugar and cholesterol checks, nutritional status assessments, and child growth and development evaluations. Although most Baduy residents still rely on traditional medicine due to limited access to medical facilities, awareness of the importance of health check-ups was considered encouraging.

The Head of Kanekes Village, Jaro Oom, explained that the nearest health service is the Cisimeut Community Health Center, which has only one general practitioner and does not provide inpatient care. Communication barriers are also a challenge for medical personnel, as most residents speak only Sundanese and remain illiterate, making visual aids necessary during examinations.

Medical students from FK Usakti and USM expressed that this experience was a valuable lesson in dealing with real-world challenges in the field. They hope that similar collaborations will continue, serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and capacity building in the healthcare sector.