Heart Health 2026 Strengthens Awareness Of Heart Disease Prevention
KUCHING: The Heart Health 2026 programme, organised by the Sarawak Heart Foundation, continues to serve as an important platform for raising public awareness of heart disease and stroke, while fostering healthy and active lifestyle practices among the people of Sarawak.
This community-based programme features free health screenings, talks, seminars and health promotion activities carried out in collaboration with the Sarawak Heart Centre (SHC), hospitals throughout Sarawak, as well as various related agencies and organisations.
Sarawak Deputy Premier, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, said that although Sarawak now has internationally recognised cardiac treatment facilities, continuous emphasis on prevention is essential to curb the rising number of heart disease cases.
“We are proud that the Sarawak Heart Centre is the only heart centre under the Ministry of Health Malaysia to be listed among the top 100 heart centres in the Asia-Pacific region.
“However, if preventive efforts are not strengthened, the number of patients will continue to increase,” he said in his address at the event on Saturday.
He stressed that since its establishment in the late 1980s, the Sarawak Heart Foundation has played a significant role in the development of cardiology services in the state.
This includes the provision of medical equipment, upgrading of facilities and the expansion of access to cardiac treatment in Bintulu and Sibu.
According to him, public awareness is the most crucial component in ensuring that Sarawakians remain healthy and do not rely solely on hospital-based treatment.
“We do not merely want to build hospitals and treat patients. Rather, we want to see the people of Sarawak remain healthy, active and enjoy a better quality of life,” he said.
Heart Health 2026 also received strong support from various parties, including the Padawan Municipal Council as the venue provider, the Sarawak Heart Centre which conducted health screenings and physiotherapy sessions, the Malaysian Red Crescent Society Kuching Branch which demonstrated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AED), as well as Borneo Medical Centre which managed the blood donation activities.
In addition to health screenings, the programme was enlivened by aerobics sessions, dance activities and musical performances by schools and local community organisations, aimed at encouraging the adoption of an active and healthy lifestyle.
The programme aligns with the Sarawak Government’s aspiration to build a healthy, resilient and well-informed society, while supporting the state’s development agenda towards achieving a Progressive and Prosperous Sarawak by 2030. -UKASnews
