A healthy lifestyle from young, screening essential
MIRI: Diabetes, hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity and dementia are the common health problems among senior citizens or the elderly living in rural areas.
These health problems are preventable by adopting a healthy lifestyle from a young age, said Long Pilah Health Clinic medical assistant Willy Joseph during a recent health screening for senior citizens in Long Pilah.
Based on the clinic patients record, 51 senior citizens are suffering from hypertension, diabetes (six), psychiatric (two), prostate (two) and coad lung disease (two).
Pointing out these health problems are preventable through healthy living – by not smoking or consuming excessive alcoholic drinks, having a healthy diet, exercising regularly and to have regular check-ups.
“However, it is common for the community living in the interior to go to the clinic or hospital only when they are sick or not feeling well. Many chronic health problems were only detected almost at the last stage as regular health screening is still not a common practice among them” he added.
Willy said the Health Ministry is aware of the problem faced by rural folk in the interior of Baram to commute to hospitals in towns thus the government has built health clinics in villages with a big population like Long Pilah.
“These health clinics can make a basic diagnose and provide medication while serious cases will be referred to hospitals in Miri, Marudi or even Kuching. There are also medical assistants and nurses stationed in these clinics,” he said.
Meanwhile, the local community requested for the Health Ministry to look into the possibility of stationing doctors at some the clinics with emerging health problems and for emergency cases.