| Achong Tanjong |
MORE members of the community should become health ambassadors regardless of their age or background, said Minister of Health Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Jaafar.
“Those who have been appointed are hoped to be facilitators for the local health promotion programmes and activities as well as links between patients or the local community and local health authorities,” he said.
He made this statement at the launching of the ‘Healthy Mukim Programme for Mukim Mentiri’, a health campaign at Dato Mohd Yassin Primary School in RPN Kampong Mentiri yesterday.
Health is one of the gifts from Allah the Almighty which has no substitute, a gift which needs to be valued and taken care of well, the Minister of Health said.
He said health encompasses a person’s physical, mental and social wellbeing, with the spiritual aspect playing an important role in achieving holistic health according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition.
“The overall health of an individual is dependent also on such factors as individual lifestyles, social networks and communities, as well as the person’s socio-economic, cultural and surrounding environment,” said the minister.
The minister said to ensure optimum health among the community, concerted multi-sectoral efforts from the government and private sectors, community groups and non-government agencies are needed.
“The measures to ensure the cleanliness of the environment and villages are important to prevent infectious diseases spread by mosquitoes and other vectors, especially during the rainy weather period which creates conditions conducive to mosquito breeding,” he said.
The minister emphasised that the maintenance of cleanliness begins from home, and all residents in mukims and villages have roles to play and responsibilities to bear in maintaining the cleanliness of their mukims and villages and need to show initiative in doing so, and not just wait for assistance from the government.
Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham said that in the country’s collective efforts to embed within society a healthy lifestyle culture, cooperation and commitment from all stakeholder parties are of prime importance.
“We must be more prepared to face more complex challenges to keep up with the rapid technological changes and advances in the field of health. Focus should be given to capacity building among communities through positive attitude changes and progressive mind development through the adoption of holistic approaches based on good practices,” he said.
“The appointment of heath ambassadors for Mukim Mentiri coincides with the ‘Healthy Mukim Programme for Mukim Mentiri’ health campaign’s theme, ‘Warga Ku Sihat’. The theme reflects the efforts made to enhance awareness, knowledge and understanding among the mukim community on practising a healthy lifestyle,” he said. “I hope that all these health-related activities will continue to be organised from time to time. All these activities are part of the Ministry of Health’s ‘Health is Everyone’s Business’ policy introduced under the wider goal of realising Vision 2035.”
The minister participated in an aerobic session and the 3km walkathon, before touring the health exhibition set up at the venue and health products and handicrafts sale organised by the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils of Mukim and Kampong Mentiri. He presented prizes to winners of the mini competitions held during the programme and planted a fruit sapling at the school compound.
Residents of Mukim Mentiri, penghulus, village heads, and government officers were also present.
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