Staying safe doesn’t really make a difference if the enemy is closer than we think. In a world crowded with gadgets and technology, we’re often all too engrossed in external hazards that we fail to take note of the imminent dangers literally closer to home. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a clear and present danger to most of us.
Healthy Malaysia, an NGO focused on conducting free health screening exercises for various brackets of society held a special health screening program for members of Prostrate Cancer Society Malaysia (PCSM) this Saturday. The health evaluations encompassed lung function, hearing, fatty liver, vascular, blood tests and BMI which was followed by a brief consultation.
With PCSM being a society that actively engages its members by providing prostate cancer survivors support through sharing, education and assistance, the event proved to be an effective initiative based on the participation it received.
According to Dr Audrey Lim, who heads Healthy Malaysia’s outreach and health screening programs, these screening exercises are conducted regularly to raise awareness and assist particular pockets of society who would normally not have access to medical means or are more vulnerable due to other ongoing health conditions.
‘NCDs are silent intruders that can go undetected. Conditions like stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic lung disease can surface at any point in life,’ says Dr Audrey. On the question of who would be more at risk, she says, ‘Anyone can easily become a victim. The only way to avoid being caught unprepared is to participate in regular medical check-ups and inculcate a healthier lifestyle.’
‘Being a survivor doesn’t necessarily mean we can let our guards down. Instead, we have to actively monitor ourselves and take precautions,’ says Bob Nyam who successfully underwent a surgical procedure several years back. He goes on to say, ‘As survivors, we understand what those afflicted with prostrate cancer go through, and PCSM is here to provide the necessary support.’
When asked about the general response to the program, Dr Audrey said, ‘Despite it being a Saturday, the turnout was good. And due to them being PCSM members who knew each other, the general atmosphere was light-hearted and friendly.’
By the looks of things, enemies are everywhere but the most sinister of them are the ones that can lurk within and manifest when least expected. The general objective with NCDs is to detect, educate and steer people in seeking remedial steps.
Healthy Malaysia is an NGO driven with the objective to provide health screening exercises to communities who would normally not have access to such necessities. Aligned with the intents of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which addresses health and wellbeing for all, Healthy Malaysia feels more can be achieved by reaching out to less privileged and overlooked communities in Malaysia.
For more information, log-on to www.healthymalaysia.org.my or call Ai Nie at 011-7220 1700.
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