Dr Lavanya takes her advocacy on indigenous community to Miss World Pageant  

By V.Sankara

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 -- Issues of nutritional deficiency among indigenous communities has been a cause of concern for Dr Lavanya Sivaji, 26, as she has seen for herself the problems faced by the Orang Asli children during her days in medical school.

"Malnourished children among the indigenous community were brought in late to hospitals for medical attention with mostly in severe state," she said referring to her personal experience during her community posting at Hospital Tapah, in Perak for her practical training.

However, she is aware that the same fate is shared by the indigenous communities in many parts of the world.   

"Based on my reading on indigenous health and nutrition worldwide, I'm aware that disparity still exists between the indigenous and mainstream communities," said Dr Lavanya, the Miss World Malaysia 2021.

 Hence, Dr Lavanya is now on a mission to highlight the gap in healthcare between the indigenous and non indigenous communities and the possibilities in reducing this gap.

The beauty pageant platform has provided her the avenue that she very much needs in her healthcare advocacy for indigenous communities.

During the three-week Miss World 2021 pageant in Puerto Rico beginning Nov 20, 2021, Dr Lavanya who hails from Gombak, Selangor took her advocacy up one notch, promoting health and nutrition among indigenous community not only in Malaysia but also worldwide.

“I wanted to shed more light on this issue which I think is timely and relevant for all concerned parties to pay attention to," she told in an exclusive interview at Wisma Bernama, recently.    

In her pursuit to help the indigenous community back home, she has been working with organisations like the Malaysian Red Crescent society, Global Peace Foundation and  Doctors On Ground to set up medical facilities for Orang Asli living in Pahang. 

 Dr Lavanya, who graduated from the National Defence University of Malaysia in 2020, is the middle child of three siblings, who always believed in doing something different for the benefit of mankind.    

 "I hail from a conservative family who were initially sceptical and hesitant of me in joining beauty pageant and at the end of the day, they believed in my aspirations and let me to do what I want," said Dr Lavanya, who wants to specialise in anaesthesiology. 

She will be returning to Puerto Rico once again for the Miss World 2021 pageant finals on March 16, 2022, after the original event last November was postponed halfway due to COVID-19 outbreak among the contestants, including Dr Lavanya.  

Nonetheless,  she gave her best during her three weeks stay in Puerto Rico showcasing her talent in public speaking, sports and presenting social causes that she wished to champion and advocate for her Beauty With A Purpose mission. 

-- BERNAMA