| Azlan Othman |
CARDIOVASCULAR disease has been identified as the second leading cause of death in the Sultanate after cancer for the past five years.
Last year (2014), out of 1,470 deaths, 227 (15.4 per cent) were caused by cardiovascular diseases, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Health, said at the launching of World Heart Day 2015 at the Cardiology Centre of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital yesterday.
According to the World Heart Federation, about 80 per cent of premature deaths could be avoided if the four risk factors – use of tobacco, taking unhealthy and unbalanced food, lack of physical exercise and getting intoxicated – are stopped or controlled, the minister said.
The Ministry of Health is relentless in its efforts to implement measures to prevent and control non-communicable diseases by nurturing a healthy life style which should be embraced by all – individuals, family members, neighbours and the community, including at workplace, he added.
The minister called for intensifying multi-sectoral cooperative efforts to create a healthy life style among the society as such approach is crucial and cost-effective in preventing and controlling chronic diseases.
This year’s World Heart Day is themed ‘Healthy Heart Choices for Everyone, Everywhere’.
Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Yusof, delivering his speech at yesterday’s event
The Minister of Health performing a health check-up
The Minister of Health taking a closer look at some of the devices displayed at the launching of World Heart Day 2015
Welcoming remarks by Dr Sofian bin Dato Paduka Dr Haji Johar
A section of the attendees at the event. – PHOTOS: AZROL AZMI
Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan said one of the core strategies introduced by the ministry to detect at the earliest level the risk factors of non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular disease before it is getting chronic and complex is through health screening.
“This is carried-out at health centres targeting citizens and residents aged 40 years and above. Those who found to have early symptoms or signs of chronic diseases must see a doctor for further check up and treatment.
“Early detection enables treatment to be given effectively and prevents such disease from getting more chronic which could cause lifelong pain and even death. Patients must follow doctors’ advice and take medicine according to schedule for such treatment to be effective.”
The minister added that the Cardiology Centre of RIPAS Hospital has implemented programmes to detect heart diseases early via cardiac CT scan, especially for those who are vulnerable and at high risk. To mark the World Heart Day 2015, the Cardiology Centre will organise an open clinic and the public can undergo health screening there for checking blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels. The public could also interact with doctors, nurses, health technicians, dietitians and allied health professionals and attend health talks.
After the official launching, the minister received medical equipment for patients presented by Pengiran Haji Talip bin Pengiran Haji Lampoh, Director of Fiziq Enterprise Brunei before watching an exhibition and health screening.
The post Cardiovascular disease second biggest killer in Brunei for last 5 years appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.