4.8 Million Malaysians Suffer From NCD

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Almost 4.8 million Malaysians are suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCD), which include hypertension and heart-related illnesses, according to Health deputy minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.
Launching the 1Malaysia East Zone University Students Programme 2011 at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu here today, she said studies done at government health clinics in the country found 70 per cent of patients receiving treatment were at risk of NCD.
"The percentage is very worrying for the ministry as NCD is a predisposing factor to mortality, debilities and lifelong agony.
"In this respect the ministry wants to encourage the younger generation especially university students to make healthy living a culture," she said.
Also present at the function was UMT Assistant Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Prof Dr Norhayati Mohd Tahir.
The joint programme between the Health Ministry and UMT is the third after Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) respectively, since it was launched on Sept 23.
Rosnah cited the practice of walking 10,000 steps a day and reducing the intake of fats in the daily diet as among the initiatives to ward off NCD.
In another development, Rosnah said the ministry planned to hold a convention for university students who participated in the 'Kumpulan M10' programme after the completion of its last edition at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) before the end of this year.
She said the convention would deliberate on the results of the 'Cabaran Siswa Sihat' an intervention project carried out by students at the four universities.