Sunway Medical Centre marks World Diabetes Day for fourth consecutive year
Themed Eliminate Diabetes, this year’s event highlights
kidney-related diabetes complications
 |
| 30
Days to Happy Kidneys fundraising campaign From Left Clockwise: Ms Nadiah Wan, Organising Chairperson, Eliminate Diabetes and Director of Communications and Business Development, Sunway Medical Centre,
Mr
Chua Hong Wee, Chief Executive Officer, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia, Dr
Balachandran Satiamurti, Selangor State Health Director, Mr Choo Voon Chee, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Sunway Medical Centre, me and Miera Nadhirah, one of my blogging mentor.
|
BANDAR
SUNWAY, 14 November 2015
– Sunway Medical Centre (SunMed) today celebrated World Diabetes Day for the
fourth year running, as part of its five-year focus on creating diabetes
awareness. The celebration, themed Eliminate Diabetes, was officiated by Dr
Balachandran Satiamurti, Selangor State Health Director, accompanied by Choo
Voon Chee, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sunway Medical Centre and Chua
Hong Wee, Chief Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of
Malaysia.
 |
| Launching the event ;) With darling Effy |
This year’s celebration is part of the Let’s Take 5 umbrella campaign launched in 2012, which
focuses on one of five organs or body parts affected by diabetes complications
- brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, and foot, in conjunction with World Diabetes Day
each year. This year, the campaign themed Eliminate Diabetes focused on
diabetes-related kidney failure and sees the National Kidney Foundation of
Malaysia (NKF) coming on as a partner.
By
celebrating World Diabetes Day, SunMed aims to raise awareness, educate and
empower people to take control of diabetes. In line with the international aims
of the celebration, SunMed is spreading awareness on the prevention and management
of diabetes and its complications, including sharing information on the warning
signs of diabetes, encouraging early diagnosis, and promoting healthy
lifestyles to reduce the risks of type II diabetes.
“Sunway
Medical Centre believes in contributing to public health by raising awareness
on diseases affecting the people, and our World Diabetes Day celebrations and
campaigns since 2012 are some of our initiatives. There are still many undiagnosed
diabetics among Malaysians. With the overall number of diabetics set to rise, we
need to increase diagnosis and management of diabetes, plus encourage
preventive measures to reduce risk of the disease. Meanwhile, patients with
related complications such as kidney failure have also increased. With the 30
Days to Happy Kidneys campaign launched last month, we are raising awareness
and at the same time raising funds in aid of NKF,” said Choo Voon Chee, Acting
Chief Executive Officer, Sunway Medical Centre.
In
Malaysia, the International Diabetes Federation estimates* that 3.2m people** live
with diabetes and approximately 50% of them remain undiagnosed, with the total
number of diabetics expected to rise by another 50% by 2035. Many diabetics end
up with kidney failure, with statistics showing that approximately 60% of
kidney failure patients in Malaysia are diabetic – one of the highest ratios in
the world. Over 5,000 new kidney failure cases are diagnosed every year.
“With the continuous increase in the number of kidney
failure patients and the increasing cost of operations, we appreciate
organisations such as Sunway Medical Centre coming forward to raise funds to
benefit NKF. We help over 1,600 patients annually and spend close to RM15
million a year subsidising dialysis, while the total operational costs are
approximately RM30 million a year, including running 27 centres nationwide,
expenses for public education programmes, welfare contributions for hardcore
poor patients and their children, professional training for personnel,
transportation for patients, and replacement of equipment. Close to 60% of NKF
patients are hardcore poor with household disposable
income of less than RM800 per month, while the other
patients also fall into the low-income category,” said Chua Hong Wee, Chief
Executive Officer of the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia.
To
mark World Diabetes Day, SunMed has held a series of roadshows around the Klang
Valley and Penang, with the Main Roadshow held at Sunway Pyramid from 13 to 15
November 2015. At the roadshows, members of the public can get free health
screenings, play interactive games and receive attractive freebies. At the Main
Roadshow, there will also be a colouring contest and fashion contest for children
with cash prizes and hampers up for grabs.
 |
| The Event Hall |
 |
| Play interactive games and receive attractive freebies! |
 |
| I Love my Effi! |
 |
| Some of the free health screening. Happening from 13th to 15th Nov 2015 |
Beyond
marking World Diabetes Day, SunMed’s Eliminate Diabetes campaign also comprises
activities taking place from October 2015 to January 2016, including:
·
the
Fit2Climb Challenge, a diabetics-focused extension of the existing LEAN Club
programme, which is a holistic programme to address obesity in adults and
children through healthy eating and lifestyle interventions. The challenge will
culminate with a trek up a hill in January.
·
the
30 Days to Happy Kidneys campaign, in conjunction with NKF. The campaign aims
to encourage kidney-healthy practices by providing a 30-day calendar of
different activities, encourage spreading the word on kidney health through an
Instagram contest, and raise funds for NKF by making the calendar cum pledge
card available with a minimum RM11 donation. SunMed is also matching the total
amount donated by the public for a joint donation to NKF.
·
a
Diabetic Dialysis Patients’ Day that shares information on the importance of
keeping blood glucose in control even while undergoing dialysis as well as tips
and motivational advice on how to stay on course for both the patient and their
caregivers.
·
a
series of Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) programmes for diabetics
and their caregivers, to educate diabetes patients and facilitate the
knowledge, skill and ability necessary for diabetes self-care.
·
A
talk for general practitioners on wound care and management. The talk will also
coincide with the announcement of the winners for Fit2Climb Challenge.
 |
| I made my pledge.. How about you? Do join us! |
*IDF
Diabetes Atlas 6th ed., International Diabetes Federation, 2014
**
Age range from 20-79 years
No comments:
Post a Comment