Brunei - Healthy citizens are also national assets

LEGISLATIVE Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin (pic) yesterday reiterated the government's call for society to start adapting a healthy lifestyle.

He said by having a healthy nation, this can reduce the national health budget by 30 per cent by 2035.

Speaking during the 13th day at the Eighth LegCo session, YB Pehin Dato Goh said citizens must realise that even though the government is providing free healthcare, it does not mean they should neglect their own health.

"The health of citizens is a country's asset. Healthy citizens will result in having happy families and nation," he said.

However, the LegCo member highlighted there are still many who were not concerned with their health.

"They must think of the negative impact when they are ill. This will pose as a burden to their family," he said.

YB Pehin Dato Goh encouraged the public to start practicing good habits on a daily basis, such as exercising, jogging and eating healthily, among others.

"Prevention is better than cure. We must have a vision that by 2035, we will be able to reduce our health budget by 30 per cent," he said.

He said the importance of good health should be stressed starting at schools.

"Every school must perform healthy activities every morning. Food in schools must also be monitored more strictly, by providing healthy meals," he said, adding parents also play a crucial role towards their children's health at home.

Speaking to The Brunei Times after the morning session, Minister of Health Yang Berhormat Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Md Yusof said with guidelines on recommended food and beverage sold in school canteens introduced late 2009, this was a warning for school children and parents to avoid consuming food and drinks that were not healthy.

"This is a (good) system because it tells you what kind of food and drinks are dangerous and if you continue taking it, the effect will be on yourself," he said.

YB Pehin Dato Goh said Penghulus and Village Heads also play a role in ensuring their constituents are in good health. "They must have activities every weekend, such as collaborative clean-ups, gardening or participating in walkathons. These activities can be a practice for village residents in becoming healthy," he said.

The Brunei Times

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