Marking 13 Years of Project Daya in Batam

By Joel Lee Jun Jie, Year 1 LKCMedicine student

 

Over the past 13 years, Project Daya has consistently served the communities of Kampung Air (KA) and Kampung Punggur (KP) in Batam, Indonesia. Due to challenging living conditions, many villagers have limited resources and health literacy to manage their own wellbeing. Project Daya seeks to empower residents to take greater ownership of their health and reconnect them with the local healthcare system.

Project Daya’s visit to the local Pukesmas (community health clinics) at Kampung Air

The trip from 1 to 3 October 2026 began with door-to-door visits in KP to publicise the team’s health screening and encourage community participation. Guided by Peduli Bangsa, a non-governmental organisation and Project Daya’s longest-standing partner, the team was able to reach more residents than in previous screenings. In parallel, the team met with staff from the local Puskesmas (community health clinics) to strengthen referral networks and help residents access continued care through local healthcare providers.

 On the second day, the team visited local companies to explore opportunities for stronger community support and partnerships. These ongoing engagements are key to building trust, driving innovation and sustaining Project Daya’s work in Batam. The team also followed up with residents in KA to assess improvements in their health since previous screenings, while responding to new needs arising from the villages’ changing landscape.

House visits at Kampung Air.

As part of this effort, Project Daya piloted a centralised follow-up health post to improve efficiency. The initiative enabled the team to reconnect with more residents and ensure that previous outreach efforts translate into lasting impact.

Basic health screening at Kampung Punggur.

The trip concluded with a basic health screening in KP for its residents. With invaluable support from doctors and medical students at Universitas Internasional Batam (UIB), the team screened and provided health education to a large number of adults and children. Staff from the Puskesmas also joined the screening, raising awareness and assisting residents with registration for Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial (BPJS), Indonesia’s national health insurance scheme. The screening was a resounding success, with the lively atmosphere reflecting the community’s strong support for the programme.

Project Daya with brothers from Peduli Bangsa

Project Daya extends its heartfelt gratitude to UIB and Peduli Bangsa, whose partnership made this trip possible. Sustained change is an ongoing journey, and the team remains committed to serving the communities it has come to know and love.