RA and Health Ministry help community through health programme
TAMAN SEA Residents Association in Seremban recently organised a non-communicable disease prevention programme (NCDP1M) in collaboration with the Health Ministry to educate the public on diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
Association secretary Ruben Rajkumar said medical staff from the ministry also explained to residents about blood tests, blood pressure checks as well as Body Mass Index during the programme to encourage greater participation from the community.
“It was a programme by the community for the community. Apart from having their health status checked, the residents mingled and discussed issues that needed to be addressed in the area,” he said.
Ruben said the committee decided to hold the event as recent reports on the massive increase in the number of NCD cases was frightening.
He said the residents must be enlightened so that they could take the necessary steps to stay healthy.
“We were happy as several residents from neighbouring residential areas joined us,” he said.
Ruben said 11 resident facilitators trained by the ministry’s community coordinator Dr Norul Hasna Hassan Basri were presented with certificates. This was followed by a health talk on NCD by coordinator Dr Farah Jihan Abdul Ghaffar.
“The speakers advised the residents the importance of keeping fit and exercising as well as the types of food they should consume and avoid,” he said.
Ruben added that the committee was happy that residents from all age groups attended the health screening.
“We are happy that some parents brought their children along as it is vital that the young are educated on NCD from an early age,” he said.
He said many residents expressed their gratitude to the health officials for sacrificing their time to help them.
“Many also realised that they were actually unhealthy and risked adding to the NCD statistics,” he said.
Source: The Star
Published: 29 Oct 2013
