A MESSAGE from Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi in conjunction with ‘World Physical Therapy Day’ 2016.
It can be easy to retreat into the pleasing comfort of an armchair or sofa. But taking life too easy can actually speed up the slowing-down process of later life.
It is never too late to start being more active. Keeping active is key to staying fit, mobile and independent.
Regular exercise can help reduce the impact of several diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Physical activity can also improve sleep, prevent falls and fractures, and improve low mood and memory.
Being physically inactive, on the other hand, could be seen as a global issue as it not only is attributable to diseases and early deaths, but it also imposes a major burden to the economy.
According to a recent world-first study in 2013, physical inactivity has cost $67.5 billion globally at the expense of healthcare and lost productivity.
Thus, regular physical activity and keeping mobile could eliminate these problems and be one of the best things you can do to remain independent.
This is why, this year’s theme for World Physical Therapy Day is ‘Movement for Health – Add Life to Years.’
This day is an opportunity for physiotherapists in Brunei Darussalam and the world over to raise awareness about the importance of keeping people well, mobile and independent and the role that physiotherapists can play in this.
As part of the Ministry of Health’s objectives towards engaging with people to prevent long-term conditions and help to overcome physical limitations, physiotherapists in Brunei Darussalam will focus on addressing three particular issues relevant to this theme.
Firstly, the Ministry of Health will continue to support elderly people to be independent and maintain their quality of life.
Secondly, we must address the non-communicable diseases which compromise independence in older age.
And thirdly, where appropriate, physiotherapists can work with individuals in developing tailored exercise programmes that are often essential to promote independence.
Encouraging health and physical activity in the population starts with everyone, and the benefits that can be gained from such activities are plentiful.
These health benefits include primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, specific cancers (in particular breast and colon cancer) and osteoporosis.
At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, five days a week reduces the risk of several common non-communicable diseases.
Other benefits are assisting in weight loss; uplifts confidence; boosts overall mental health; strengthens the immune system; improves physical strength, toughens joints and stability; and improves sleep.
Active ageing and ensuring that people throughout the life course keep mobile and independent is not solely the responsibility of the ministry alone.
All stakeholders including government agencies, non-government organisations (NGOs), the private sector, community grassroot leaders, and each and every individual need to play their part.
World Physical Therapy Day 2016 marks a chance for us to take stock and no matter what our age we can work together towards the achievement Movement for Health – Adding Life to Years.
This is particularly pertinent for Brunei in its vision to be a highly developed nation with high quality of life and is especially well-aligned with the Ministry of Health’s three strategic priorities for the next five years, that is, to inculcate that health is everyone’s business, to deliver excellent services and to prevent and control non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
In support of the above strategic priorities, the Human Function Services under the Ministry of Health is undergoing major review to ensure such services are available across the continuum of care and are client-centric, holistic, integrated, responsive, sustainable, accessible, safe and effective, and based on population needs using the best available current evidence.
Participation from a multidisciplinary team which include physiotherapists, medical specialists and other allied health professionals further strengthen the services with a view to maximise each individual’s independence, function and ability.
Lastly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the team of dedicated physiotherapists for their relentless hard work in raising awareness about the importance of keeping people well, mobile and independent.
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