(From right) Dr Murallitharan and Muhammad Kamil visiting a patient during the Maschon launch at the NCSM-Caritas hall in Kampung Simee, Ipoh.
AN initiative to empower local communities to prioritise and take charge of their health has been launched.
The Malaysian Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Community Health Observatory Network (Maschon) is meant to empower local communities, especially women from B40 groups and Orang Asli, to be actively involved in ensuring their health is looked after.
The initiative, an effort of the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) was launched by Finance Minister’s political secretary Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim at the NCSM-Caritas hall in Kampung Simee, Ipoh, Perak.
Maschon will focus on seven locations: Tambun and Batu Gajah (Perak), Alor Gajah (Melaka), Kuala Kubu Baru (Selangor), Karak (Pahang), Iskandar Puteri (Johor) and Penang.
It aimed to target 1,500 individuals from various communities, empowering them with data and know-how to take care of their health.
NCSM managing director Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said through the initiative they hoped to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCD)by one third through prevention, treatment and promotion of mental well-being by 2030.
“Through this initiative, we want to ensure that the women and Orang Asli community would not only get treatment, but also be actively involved in monitoring and improving their own health.
“Our main focus includes promoting inclusive participation in the SDGs, particularly in relation to local health issues such as sexual and reproductive health, malnutrition, and the prevention and management of NCD,” he said.
“Some of the implementation components include establishing local community-led health observation centres, training 240 community monitoring agents, and establishing eight micro-health observation centres in target areas.
“To date, the NCSM has established the Maschon National Steering Committee and has conducted data mapping of Orang Asli communities across the nation as a preliminary preparation,” he said.
“The implementation of Maschon marks a significant step for Malaysia in the localisation of the SDGs, proving that efforts at the community level can be a catalyst for the achievement of global development goals,” he added.
Muhammad Kamil said the initiative showed that the government, non-governmental organisation and community could work together.
“It is not just a monitoring project, but an effort to create a healthy, inclusive and competitive community, in line with the principle of leaving no one behind,” he said, adding that the initiative was a proactive step to achieving the third SDG for good health and well-being.
