Many rural folk with lifestyle diseases

BAU: Non-communicablediseases (NCD) such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascularrelated do not only affect people in urban areas nowadays but also those living in villages and rural areas.

Assistant Minister of Community Services Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie said sedentary lifestyle, coupled with poor eating habits, has caused many rural folk to suffer from NCD.

The Tasik Biru assemblyman even disclosed that he had come across a 10-year-old child in one of the villages, who was already suffering from high blood pressure.

"Even though living in villages, they lack exercise as they spend their time watching TV and go in cars to reach another place despite the short distance.

"As for food, it can be too salty which puts you at risk of high blood pressure, too much sugar you may get diabetes, and eating too much you can get high cholesterol.

"So, my advice is change your lifestyle, and eat a balanced diet. As for exercise, you do not need expensive gym equipments to do it. Thirty minutes of physical activity for five times a week, or walking 10,000 steps every day will do," he said when closing the ‘I Want Sihat’ camp at Serikin near here yesterday.

By staying away from NCD, he said the people can play a more meaningful role and contribute towards nation-building and prosperity of the country.

"There is now an increase in people affected by NCD, which is not a good trend. Based on the 2011 National Health and Morbidity Study, 2.6 million or 15.2 per cent of Malaysians aged 18 and above already suffer from diabetes, 5.8 million or 32.7 per cent suffer from high blood pressure while 35.1 per cent have high cholesterol levels," he said.

Nansian also spoke about stress, also a contributing factor to NCD, and shared with the audience how he personally handled and managed stress.

"As a politician and a YB (elected representative), there is a lot of stress. But I handled it by telling myself to do your best and accept your best. Do not be too emotional. And pray a lot.

"Don't hate people. Kill them with love. The more you love them, they come back to you," he said.

The objective of the two-day ‘I Want Sihat’ programme was to educate the target groups on healthy lifestyle.

Activities included free health screening, eye screening, health talk as well as recreational activities such as futsal and karaoke competitions.

Also present were Bau district officer Inting Nyami, Kuching Division health officer Dr Siti Khadijah Ahmad and Bau district medical officer Dr Melvin Chung.