HALF OF MALAYSIANS WHO HAVE DIABETES UNAWAVE THEY HAVE THE DISEASE

NST

By FAZLEENA AZIZ
13 June 2016 @ 2:03 PM

 

 

 

PUTRAJAYA: Half of Malaysians who have diabetes are unaware that they have the disease, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.He said said there is also an increase in the number of kidney patients in Malaysia, as such the dependency on hemodialysis treatment is also on the rise.He said the number of patients receiving dialysis treatment has more than doubled from 2005 to 2014, at 14,657 and 35,580 respectively.

 

The number of kidney failure patients seeking dialysis hemodialysis treatment in Malaysia has also increased from 563 individuals per one million of the population 2004 to 1,182 patients per one million of the population in 2014, he added.

The latest National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015, showed that 17.5 per cent of those aged 18 and above, or 3.5 million people have diabetes.“What bothers us is that half of those people with diabetes do not know they have it,” he said today.

 

He was speaking after witnessing a handover ceremony of a kidney dialysis machine and two hi-flow nasal cannulas to the Putrajaya Hospital today.The items were presented by Sun Life Malaysia (Sun Life Malaysia Assurance Berhad and Sun Life Malaysia Takaful Berhad) and Cuepacs.

 

It was handed over by Sun Life Financial, President and Chief Executive Officer Dean Connor and Cuepacs president Datuk Azih Muda.The contribution is aligned with Sun Life Financial’s commitment to diabetes awareness and prevention as well as promoting healthy living.The machines would also be distributed to government hospitals identified by the ministry to complement their existing supply of equipment for the benefit of more Malaysians. 

 

Connor said they were confident the contribution would go a long way in helping to strengthen health service delivery for Malaysians.“Sun Life is committed to slowing the advance of diabetes and its related complications by aiming to improve the health and wellness of our clients, employees and the community.

 

“Since we announced our commitment to diabetes in 2012, we’ve focused our support on diabetes awareness, prevention, care and research, with over USD13 million committed to date,” Connor said.

 

Azih said the equipment would also complement the existing machines at the hospital and go a long way in strengthening the health service delivery for the residents of Putrajaya.