Materia Medica Malaysiana

Ministry Uses Holistic Approach In Healthy Lifestyle Campaign

The Health Ministry has used a more holistic approach in its healthy lifestyle campaign from 2003 that carried the healthy-for-life theme, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
He said the new approach focused on four factors, which were healthy eating, engaging in physical activity, cultivating a healthy mind, and refraining from smoking.
He said the message was conveyed to the people right to their homes, schools, work places and recreational centres.
Dr Chua spoke to reporters after the launching of the national-level healthy lifestyle campaign 2005 at Dataran Kemang in Teluk Kemang here by Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The campaign, aimed at promoting health and eliminating diseases acquired through a poor lifestyle, was started in 1991.
Chua said that initially the campaign focused on instilling awareness among the people on the diseases which affected them. This was followed by emphasising the ways to avoid serious diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer.
He said that this time the ministry had extended the promotion to the whole country.
"State Health Departments are holding carnivals on healthy living at state level and they have received good response from the people and leaders," he said.
"Various activities which increase awareness among the people on maintaining health were held during the carnivals," he said.
He said the people should acquire sound knowledge of how to maintain their health after attending the carnivals.