DO REGISTER: Visitors registering to have medical check-ups from various hospitals.
BINTULU: More people-oriented health programmes should be carried out especially in rural areas.
In making this call, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh commended the six-day Bintulu Hospital health carnival programme held from July 30 to Aug 4 for being a people oriented health programme.
The programme was divided into two sections namely, surgical programme and health promotional programme.
“I am confident that through this carnival, we will be able to close the gap between the Health Department and the local community,” he said when officiating at the closing of the event yesterday.
His text of speech was read by Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Community Development Datuk Peter Nansian.
The programme, he said, was timely, in line with the prime minister’s vision for all government agencies to provide transformational programmes.
This programme was the second one after the one in Sarikei held last November also themed ‘Closer to you’. It will be held in Sri Aman next month.
Medical experts and the staff involved in surgical operations during the health carnival are from Bintulu Hospital while the rest are from Miri Hospital, Sarawak General Hospital, other hospitals in the state and also from Peninsular Malaysia.
“During the six-day carnival, they have successfully conducted a total of 73 surgeries, including general surgery, eye, obstetrics and gynaecology, otolaryngology and orthopaedic surgeries,”
Wong said adding that these patients underwent their surgeries without having to wait for months.
Wong also urged everyone to do health checks at regular intervals.
“Early detection and early treatment will control the disease so it can be treated and monitored to prevent complications and other risks,” he said adding that recovery chances were also higher particularly for cancer if detected earlier.
He thus urged the people to be more proactive in seeking information about personal health care so that they would be aware of the status of their health.
The government, he said, was always improving its health services to the people in Bintulu by increasing the number of experts as well as utilising facilities and other resources in Bintulu Hospital and its new polyclinic which began operations last month.
“When health services are closer to the community, the more people will come for treatment and use the existing services in order to improve their quality of life,” said Wong.
He said one could change the course of a disease by ensuring an ideal BMI between 18-23, reducing sugar and salt intake, exercising at least three times a week for at least 30 minutes each time, taking prescribed medications and going for regular medical follow-up.
Also present at the function were Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman, State Health director Dr Zulkifli Jantan, Bintulu Hospital Board of Visitors chairman Senator Pau Chiong Ung and Bintulu Hospital director Dr Azlee Ayub.