| Azlan Othman |
DIABETES is a lifestyle sickness and a change towards an active living is the best way to prevent the disease, said Minister of Health, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar.
“People need to change their mindset and behaviour at a younger age to ensure the health of the society in the future,” he said.
The minister made these comments at the Ministerial Conference on Diabetes in Singapore, held from November 26 to 27.
At the conference, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham was invited as a panellist for a forum titled ‘The Diabetes Epidemic: Current Situation, Challenges and Opportunities.’
During the session, the Minister of Health, among others, shared the diabetes situation in Brunei Darussalam and the efforts undertaken by the ministry in the control and prevention of the disease.
He stressed on the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) commitment with the involvement of other government agencies, the private sector and non-governmental organisations, in pursuing efforts to raise public awareness in reducing the risk factors as well as providing effective care for diabetic patients.
The conference, participated also by other senior officers from the MoH, served as the cornerstone for the exchange of knowledge and best practices in dealing with diabetes as well as sharing of information on the development of global efforts in the control and prevention of the disease.
The Ministerial Conference, held for the first time in Singapore, was attended by 18 countries and 12 Health Ministers from ASEAN, Finland, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, as well as senior government officers, academicians and representatives from the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
Among other things, the conference discussed the agenda with measures to further enhance efforts to highlight the benefits of managing and preventing diabetes at a global level; identify effective and cost-effective strategies to strengthen healthcare services to prevent diabetes; share information on practices and experiences on preventable diabetes risk factors; and build capacity for the benefit of the public to practise a healthy lifestyle. It was also aimed at strengthening healthcare cooperation between countries and supporting commitments internationally, especially to achieve ‘Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 – Ensure Healthy Lives and Promote Well-Being For All Ages’.
The Minister of Health has also been invited to participate in the Ministerial Roundtable session to discuss topics related to innovation, social mobilisation and collaboration with stakeholders.
The Minister of Health and entourage also visited the Diabetes and Metabolism Centre at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) as a continuation of the conference programme.