IJN ON HEALTH TOUR AROUND SABAH
Staff will cycle to districts to raise health awareness, provide check-ups
AGROUP of National Heart Institute (IJN) employees will tour Sabah to provide free medical check-ups and raise health awareness among communities.
Clad in their cycling apparel, 17 clinical and non-clinical IJN employees will cycle a total of 625km.
Besides going into Sabah’s interior, the group will also visit the state’s west coast and Kudat divisions.
They began their journey at Mitsubishi’s TNBC Motors Sdn Bhd office compound at 7am here yesterday.
The group was flagged off by Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia regional sales manager Bernard Kee and TNBC Sdn Bhd Motor sales manager C.K. Wong.
The “My Heart, My Life — Sabah 2017 Cycling Tour” programme, co-organised by IJN Foundation and IJN Cycling Club (IJNCC), will also see the group teaming up with cyclists from other districts.
IJNCC captain Azran Ahmad, who led the team, said the programme was aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle through cycling, besides allowing IJN to engage local communities.
“During the tour, we will stop in four districts, namely Sipitang, Keningau, Kundasang and Kota Marudu, before returning to Kota Kinabalu.
“The team’s size will increase to about 40 people when other cyclists join us in Keningau and Kundasang.
“At each stopping point, we will conduct free screenings for the locals so that they can check their cholesterol, sugar and heart rate levels, among others,” he said.
IJN will also conduct a community social responsibility (CSR) programme in Kundasang Saturday in conjunction with Malaysia Day and World Heart Day.
Azran said at the event, IJN chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Azhari Yakub would give a talk on cardiac health.
Under its Patient Aid programme, IJN Foundation has spent about RM4 million to finance treatments and operations for 157 less fortunate patients, including 77 children.
IJN Cardiothoracic Surgery Department deputy head Dr Alwi Mohamed Yunus said the institute had provided support to hospitals in Sabah to do surgeries.
“Prior to the establishment of the heart surgery centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 here, we often sent our specialists to Kota Kinabalu.
“Some 10 years ago, we used to do (surgeries) here when there were no heart surgeons in Kota Kinabalu.
“However, Sabah now has surgeons. In fact, a surgeon, who was a trainee of ours, is attached to Queen Elizabeth Hospital 2 and heading the cardiac services unit,” he added.
In support of the IJN Cycling Tour programme, Mitsubishi Motors has provided two vehicles to help transport medical supplies and equipment.