MALAYSIANS are experiencing an incline of health risk and burden of disease due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, according to research from the National Health and Morbidity Studies (NHMS) 2019, as compared to 2015.
NHMS’ 2019 research also found that among the health risk factors include: Half a million of local adults suffer from depression; 4.8 million Malaysians aged 15 and above are smokers; one in two Malaysians are overweight and obese; one in four Malaysians are physically inactive and only one in 20 Malaysians eat fruits and vegetables as prescribed.
These factors contributed to the rise of the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with 3.4 million Malaysians having at least two NCDs, 1.7 million Malaysians with all NCDs. The main cause of death, however, is still attributed to cardiovascular diseases.
Things got more tricky when the Covid-19 pandemic got involved.
The Health Ministry (MOH) reported that 87% of Covid-19 death cases occur among patients that have at least one comorbidity.
Meanwhile, a research by the World Health Organisation and United Nations Development Programme in 2020 found that health risk factors and NCDs have the potential to raise the risk of infection due to complications related to Covid-19 – especially among those who are obese, smokers, diabetics, cardiovascular disease patients, chronic pulmonary diseases and those who drink alcohol.
Therefore, initiatives by the Government such as the annual Bulan Malaysia Sihat Sejahtera (BMSS) is vital to help Malaysians and aspires to nurture a healthier and happier Malaysian Family (Keluarga Malaysia) by cultivating healthier lifestyle culture.
BMSS 2022 was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Oct 15 and held throughout the month of October with activities to increase literacy, empower and build the ability for the Malaysian Family to inculcate a healthy lifestyle culture with a healthy environment, for the sole purpose of building body immunity to prevent and protect against infection and diseases, as well as healthier ageing.
This year’s BMSS is held in October in Conjunction with World Mental Health Day on Oct 10, Hari Sukan Negara, World Walking Day and Malaysia Environmental Day to promote a healthier culture and an environment that supports a healthier and fitter lifestyle.
In sync with the changing lifestyle of society heading towards modernisation and the need for health accountability of the public, BMSS marks the shift of focus from medical accountability to the accountability of healthy behaviour via a nationwide approach under the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS).
BMSS aspires to strengthen the partnership between strategic partners, where all parties including the MOH – on the national as well as district level – together with ANMS strategic partners work together to plan and execute programs and activities to cultivate a healthier lifestyle culture in a holistic and wider reach for the wellness of the Malaysian Family.
From now till the end of the month, citizens are still able to participate in exciting activities such as various social media contests: Langkah Sihat BMSS, Gerak Geri Sihat, Satu Dua Sihat, and Larian Kreatif. In addition, BMSS is also doing a road-tour, ‘Kembara Uni-Sihat’ drive in Universiti Malaya Kelantan, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Machang in Kelantan and UiTM Shah Alam.
For more information on BMSS, visit bmss.my. Check out the calendar with all their initiatives here.
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