Health dept conducts nutrition outreach programme
MIRI: The Health Department of Miri Division conducted a Nutrition Outreach Programme at Kpg Tudan Phase 4 & 5 here yesterday.
In collaboration with Miri Community Development Department (Kemas) and Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKK) Kampung Tudan Phase 4&5, among the activities held were health screenings for adults; weight and height screenings for children; health screenings for women - pap smear test, screening for cervical and breast cancer; food cooking demonstrations; health quiz and exhibition, among others.
The programme was part of Malnutrition Children Rehabilitation Programme (PPKZM) launched by Ministry of Health Malaysia in 1989 as a proactive public health initiative to improve the nutritional status of children aged between six months to five years identified from socioeconomically deprived families.
Findings from Malaysia National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 reported one in five children below the age of five years old had low weight problems and were found to have stunted physical growth parameters.
According to the Health Department, children having problems related to malnutrition are observed to have lower intelligent quotients (IQs), less active physically and become at risk for development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart diseases when they grow up.
As such, the programme gives nutritious food assistance to children with stunted physical growth parameters identified from very poor families, so that they can achieve optional physical and mental growth.
Between 2018 and 2020, a total of 375 children in Miri Division have been enrolled under PPKZM programme and average of 75 children per year are benefitting directly under this public health intervention from Miri Division health department.
The department also collaborated with local councils in Miri, Subis, Marudi, Beluru and Long Lama to place a friendly children’s height measuring board at selected public parks which allows children visiting the selected public parks to measure their heights as a fun activity with parents.