KUCHING: Sarawak is facing a growing challenge in managing diabetes due to the rising number of diabetics.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said efforts to tackle diabetes have as a result become more critical than ever.
He made these remarks at the launch of the Multi-District Diabetes Awareness Campaign and free fundoscopy screening at the Malaysian Diabetes Centre, Sarawak Branch, on Saturday (Nov 23).
The campaign, scheduled to run from December to January 2025, aims to raise awareness on diabetes prevention and management.
It will include activities such as free health screenings and educational talks to help the public better understand the disease.
During the event, Malaysian Diabetes Centre, Sarawak Branch chairman Dr William Voon, stressed the importance of health screenings, especially for those with diabetes.
He said efforts are underway to increase the frequency of health screenings to meet the needs of the expanding diabetes community.
Dr Voon also introduced a new data collection system developed which allows participants to submit screening data digitally.
This system will streamline the analysis process, making the campaign more effective.
“The data collected will play a key role in helping us better understand the scope of diabetes in Malaysia, enabling us to take more targeted actions,” he added.
With Malaysia now among the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes, Dr Voon stressed the urgency of addressing this growing health crisis.
“We should not remain at the top of these statistics. It is time for us all to come together and take more decisive action to tackle this crisis,” he said.
The campaign aims not only to raise awareness but also to encourage more individuals to undergo regular health screening.
Dr Sim called on all sectors — government and community alike — to work together in addressing this health challenge for a healthier future.
