Heart diseases main killer — Foundation
by Eve Sonary Heng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on September 19, 2012, Wednesday
CREATING AWARENESS: From left, Teng, Dr Sim, Lim, Dr Ong and Tony take a close look at the banner for the World Heart Day event. — Photo by Eve Sonary Heng
KUCHING: Cardiovascular diseases are the largest killers in the world, claiming 17.3 million lives a year.
By 2030, it is expected that 2.3 million people will die from heart diseases annually.
Trustee of the Sarawak Heart Foundation Datuk Anne Teng said Malaysia was not exempted from this and in fact, the number of young people suffering from heart diseases was increasing at an alarming rate.
“Risk factors for heart disease and stroke are still the same, which are raised blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, smoking, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity.
“Heart diseases are actually preventable and the only way is for people to be disciplined by maintaining a healthy diet and healthy lifestyle with frequent exercise,” said Teng during a press conference yesterday.
Trustees Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Eric Lim, senior consultant cardiologist (head of Department of Cardiology) Dr TK Ong and Nestle Products sampling and event manager Tony Merril were also present.
She said in conjunction with the World Heart Day on September 29, the Sarawak Heart Foundation, Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre and Nestle Products Sdn Bhd will jointly hold several activities to create public awareness on heart diseases and to promote healthy living.
The activities which include ‘Walk A Mile’, aerobic dance exercise and free health screening will be held at the Friendship Park from 6.30am to 1pm on Sept 30, with registration for the Walk A Mile starting at 5.30am.
Teng said apart from these, a mini fund raising campaign for the foundation would be held, where stalls selling various food and drinks as well as some tools and equipment for living a healthy lifestyle would be set up.
“We would like to invite the public to donate and show their support to Sarawak Heart Foundation. For just RM10 of donation to the Sarawak Heart Foundation, each donor will be given a tee-shirt for the walk, a free health screening of their blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol level.
“Attractive prizes also await lucky draw winners and there will be aerobic dancing session and fun-filled balloon game sessions sponsored by ‘De Jackie Inspiration’,” she added.
A free healthy breakfast ‘Nestle Omega’ will also be provided by Nestle Products Sdn Bhd. The company is also sponsoring 900 tee-shirts for the event.
Those wanting more information can call the foundation’s office at 082-258 212.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim revealed that a ‘half way house’ would be built near the Sarawak General Hospital Heart Centre by end of this year for needy patients from outstations.
“The half way house will have 20 rooms and each room will have two beds,” he said.
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