Ting calls for a ‘better’ approach to combat diabetes
Diabetes in Malaysia is at an alarming rate. The latest survey shows that more than 40 per cent of our fellow citizens are overweight, and obese Malaysians make up 17.7 per cent of the population.
Datuk Sebastian Ting
MIRI: It is crucial to develop a better approach in empowering Malaysians to change their behaviours towards attaining better health.
This was pointed out by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Sebastian Ting in his opening remarks for the division-level World Diabetes Day held at a mall here yesterday.
Organised by Diabetes Malaysia Miri Branch (DMMB), the event here carried the theme of ‘Access to Diabetes Care’, highlighting the centenary of the discovery of insulin, which had brought meaningful changes to the lives of over 460 million people around the world living with diabetes and millions more at risk.
“Diabetes in Malaysia is at an alarming rate. The latest survey shows that more than 40 per cent of our fellow citizens are overweight, and obese Malaysians make up 17.7 per cent of the population.
“An analysis over the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 data has shown that 63 per cent of Malaysians have at least one cardiovascular risk factor, 33 per cent have two risk factors, and 14 per cent have three or more risk factors.
“This means that the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases and its risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension are affecting many Malaysians,” said Sebastian.
According to latest statistics, 3.6 million adult Malaysians have diabetes.
“The more worrying phenomenon happening in the country is that for every one person diagnosed with diabetes, there’s another who goes on undiagnosed.
“It is similar to other diseases; the proportion of those undiagnosed continues to increase further.
“Thus, it is crucial to move beyond the usual way of delivering health education and develop a better approach in empowering Malaysians to change their behaviours towards attaining good health,” said Sebastian.
Meanwhile, DMMB chairperson Ting Chiew Moi thanked all parties including individuals and those from public and private sectors, who had always been supportive of the branch.
“We started out small, but gradually, we have managed to get the attention and support from many parties in terms of participation in our programmes.
“We hope to do more,” said Chiew Moi.
Miri Hospital director Dr Jack Wong, Miri Fire and Rescue chief Supt Law Poh Kiong, Dr Desmond Samuel, and Toh Ah Kaw Contractor Sdn Bhd’s representative Kelly Toh, were also present at the event yesterday.