By NUR ASHIKIN LOUIS
SAMARAHAN: In 2006, only about 10 per cent of those who sought treatment at the Kota Samarahan Health Clinic were diabetic.
In 2015, according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey, the number of diabetic patients seeking treatment at the clinic shot up to 20 per cent.
Samarahan divisional health officer Dr Nur Fatihah Oh Abdullah said now in Samarahan alone, 42 per cent of the clinics’ visitors are diabetic patients and almost all of them have high blood pressure as well.
She revealed this in her speech at the launch of Samarahan divisional level Kospen Mini Convention at Tun Abdul Razak Teachers’ Institute (IPGTAR) here yesterday.
“Not to mention those with high cholesterol. Four out of five patients do not know they have high cholesterol. Looking at their food consumption, most Malaysians do not show concern over their cholesterol level and food intake,” she added.
Fatihah urged the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle since Malaysia was recording higher numbers of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, since three years ago.
“The efforts of the volunteers working as Kospen agents to transform their own localities for the better is our main purpose so that we can handle this issue of non-infectious diseases together,” she said.
“As we are all aware, one of the ways to get non-communicable diseases is smoking. I hope volunteers can cooperate to handle this issue. If there is a need for assistance, we offer counselling service to the smokers so we can help them to quit.
“Do take this opportunity to refer them to the nearby clinics where we have medical experts who can assist them to quit smoking professionally and to reduce the risks of getting NCDs,” she added.
Kospen (Program Komuniti Sihat Perkasa Negara), which first started in July 2013, aims to build Malaysia into a developed country with healthy citizens by 2030.
Apart from health screening, weight management and healthy lifestyle routines, Kospen also emphasises on creating awareness of the advantages of smoking through the implementation of non-smoking areas in shops and “My Home is Smoke-free” programme.
The Kospen mini convention yesterday started at 7am with aerobic exercises and the “Walking 10, 000 Healthy Steps” activity. The morning session was attended by 453 civil servants and members of the public.
The afternoon session included competitions for oral presentation, poster presentation, healthy exercises and healthy Kerabu preparation.
