Brunei - Committee for healthy lifestyle formed

THE Minister of Health announced the establishment of the Lamunin Health Care Centre Promotion and Practice of a Healthy Lifestyle Committee which aims to provide awareness on practising a healthy lifestyle and formulate steps to prevent non-communicable diseases such as diabetes or cancer.

Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Md Yusof said this yesterday during the launch of the Healthy Mukim Programme for Mukim Lamunin 2012.

He said that practising a healthy lifestyle does not only rest on the shoulders of the ministry, but cooperation of partnerships, support and commitment of all stakeholders as well as those in the private sector, non-governmental organisations, grassroots leaders and all members of society.

"This pioneering move is a milestone in creating awareness and commitment of people from all levels of society in Brunei with respect to its health care system and it's concept which is 'Health For All' and 'People-Centred Health Care'," he said.

In launching the Healthy Mukim Programme for Mukim Lamunin in Tutong district, the minister also said that a health dialogue session with mukim residents has also been introduced for the first time.

He said that the dialogue will not only discuss factors linked with chronic diseases and healthy life practices, but it was also an opportunity to interact with the doctors and dieticians.

"I hope that all activities that have been arranged (under the programme) will raise awareness on healthy lifestyles," he said.

The minister also said that patients suffering from chronic diseases who are registered in the Lamunin Health Centre are quite high compared with the number of residents in Mukim Lamunin and villages within the centre whose population is about 17,000 people.

Recent statistics up to January 31 was recorded that 657 patients had high blood pressure, 452 suffer from high cholesterol and 188 patients suffer from diabetes.

"These diseases are categorised as chronic diseases and non-communicable diseases. If these diseases are not controlled and patients do not adhere to the doctor's advice, it will become more chronic and complex," he said, adding that adapting a lax attitude towards these diseases might lead to other diseases such as heart and kidney diseases.

Aside from being complacent towards these chronic or non-communicable diseases, the cost of healthcare spent by the government will surely rise if nothing is done to manage these diseases, he added.

The minister also reiterated once again that it was necessary for everybody to adopt a healthy lifestyle and take the necessary steps to control and prevent themselves from doing the opposite as well as deliver the message to their families as well as members of society.

The penghulu from Mukim Lamunin, Hj Tujoh Talip, said in a speech that the Healthy Mukim consists of eight sports-related events, two healthy food exhibitions as well as eight events from school students in the Lamunin area and the sale of local products.

He also said that he hopes this programme does not extend to school grounds, but also continuously exposed in the future, whether it be a programme hosted by other villages or associations.

Certificates were given to members of the Lamunin Health Care Centre Promotion and Practice of a Healthy Lifestyle Committee as well as certificates of appreciation to the Lamunin Village Consultative Council members.

A "Model Senior Citizen Health Officer" award was also presented.

The event also included aerobics exercises as well as health forums presented by doctors from the ministry themed around "Chronic Diseases and Practice of a Healthy Lifestyle".

HANA ROSLAN

The Brunei Times

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