Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

FROM 25 January to 7 February 2026, 18 chiropractic students and 2 faculty members from IMU University embarked on a two-week international mobility and community outreach mission in the Philippines under the Hands for Vitality initiative.

Led by Senior Lecturer and Chiropractic Mobility Coordinator Yi Kai Wong, alongside Senior Lecturer, Janice Chan, the delegation delivered chiropractic care across nine missions in Antipolo City, Pasig City, Camarines Sur, Navotas City, Caloocan City, Quezon City, Pampanga, as well as at an Air Force camp and a Marine camp.

The mission was conducted in collaboration with the Hands for Vitality team, the Camara Institute for Chiropractic Sciences, and Intercare, in close coordination with the respective Local Government Units (LGUs) in the Philippines. Outreach activities were delivered across urban, rural, and uniformed service communities, reflecting IMU University’s ongoing commitment to global health engagement, service-learning, and improving access to care for underserved populations.

Throughout the two-week mission, students provided supervised chiropractic assessments and care to community members who would otherwise have limited or no access to such services.

In total, the team managed approximately 2,945 patients presenting with 6,267 conditions across the nine outreach missions. Conditions encountered ranged from chronic musculoskeletal pain and occupational strain to mobility limitations affecting daily function and work productivity.

Beyond clinical exposure, the experience served as a transformative service-learning platform. Students were required to adapt techniques to resource-limited environments, communicate across cultural contexts, and collaborate closely with local healthcare personnel.

4 of the 18 students had previously participated in an earlier cycle of the mobility programme and returned for a second mission, demonstrating sustained commitment to service and continuity of community engagement.

Reflecting on the broader impact of the initiative, Janice Chan shared:

“Hands for Vitality is more than a clinical outreach. It is a powerful platform for developing empathy, cultural sensitivity, and professional responsibility. Watching our students step confidently into unfamiliar environments and serve with humility reminds us why service-learning is such an essential component of healthcare education.”

Yi Kai Wong added: “This mobility programme embodies the spirit of chiropractic as a people-centred profession. Our students learn that healthcare is not confined to well-equipped clinics.

It is about adaptability, compassion, and a willingness to serve where the need is greatest. Each mission strengthens not only their clinical competence, but also their sense of social accountability.” 

Reflecting on the collaboration, Dr Martin Camara, founder of Hands for Vitality, the Camara Institute for Chiropractic Sciences, and Intercare shared:

“Hands for Vitality was built on the belief that quality chiropractic care should be accessible to every community, regardless of geography or circumstance. Our continued partnership with IMU University demonstrates how academic institutions and community organisations can work hand in hand to expand access, strengthen capacity, and create sustainable impact for the populations we serve.”

Across the nine outreach locations, the team worked closely with local healthcare workers, volunteers, and community leaders. The collaboration reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and culturally responsive care delivery.

The mission also strengthened ties between IMU University and community partners in the Philippines, contributing to a growing network of global engagement within complementary and alternative medicine education.

IMU University remains committed to nurturing graduates who are not only clinically competent, but also globally aware, socially responsible, and service-oriented. As the programme grows, future mobility cycles will continue to offer students meaningful opportunities to contribute to communities beyond borders.

IMU is the first University to offer the complete Chiropractic educational programme in Malaysia as well as in all of Southeast Asia. The IMU Chiropractic Programme is a 5-year programme including academic and clinical training.

Students have the option to complete the entire degree at IMU or study part of the programme here and then transfer to our partner universities, namely  Health Sciences University (United Kingdom), University of South Wales (United Kingdom), CQUniversity (Australia), or Macquarie University (Australia).

IMU’s Chiropractic degree is accredited with conditions by Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia (CCEA), an internationally recognised accrediting body who evaluates chiropractic programmes to ensure they meet stringent quality standards.

The international recognition garnered through CCEA accreditation has significantly benefitted graduates of IMU’s Chiropractic programme. The programme’s strong reputation and compliance with international standards have opened up numerous career opportunities for graduates both locally and internationally.

Currently, our alumni are practicing in a few countries, including New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, and Shanghai, etc.

The commencement of this programme is in April and September of each year.

If you are interested to enrol into this programme, make an online application today.  

For more information, please refer to www.imu.edu.my or email: start@imu.edu.my or call IMU at 03 - 2731 7272.