A young patient at Hospital Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani, Hospital Pakar Kanak-Kanak UKM (Hospital TABTAR), who had been away from school due to her medical condition, found comfort in a simple origami activity during a visit by Universiti Kuala Lumpur Institute of Medical Science Technology (UniKL MESTECH) students.
She shared that she enjoyed having someone to talk to and create origami with, after moving from another state to receive treatment at the hospital.
In Paediatric Ward 2, a mother also expressed her appreciation after a colouring activity helped keep her child, who was waiting for an operation due to a broken arm, engaged and less restless.
These moments were part of the Caring Hearts Programme, a student-led initiative by UniKL MESTECH, held on 21 May 2026 at Hospital TABTAR.
The programme involved 51 UniKL MESTECH students and was organised under the Community Service 2 (MPU3422) module. It was designed to provide emotional support, encouragement and moments of joy for young patients undergoing medical treatment.
Led by Nurul Syarafana Amaran under the guidance of Dr. Aladin Mamat, the initiative reflected UniKL MESTECH’s commitment to nurturing students who are not only academically and technically competent, but also compassionate, socially responsible and sensitive to the needs of the community.
Throughout the programme, students carried out interactive activities, including colouring sessions in waiting rooms and daycare areas, with the support of The Brothers Clown and Mr. Bean Malaysia.
The activities aimed to ease anxiety among young patients while offering them a brief but meaningful break from the routine of hospital treatment.
Students from the Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Occupational Safety and Health, and Bachelor of Environmental Health programmes were among those actively involved. Their participation provided valuable exposure to real healthcare settings while allowing them to engage directly with patients, parents and hospital staff.
The students also distributed colouring sets, plush toys and handmade “get well soon” cards to the young patients.
Approximately RM500 was contributed by the students in support of the hospital’s efforts to improve the emotional well-being of children receiving treatment.
Beyond bringing smiles to young patients, the Caring Hearts Programme also strengthened the relationship between UniKL MESTECH and the healthcare sector. It created opportunities for future collaboration, internship exposure and potential employment pathways for students in health-related fields.
More importantly, the initiative highlighted the value of community-based learning in shaping future health professionals with empathy, communication skills and a deeper understanding of patient care beyond the classroom.
