august, 2019 | The Health
Current News
05
Briefs
SJMC RUN 2019 continues
fight against diabetes
NKF glow run
illuminates
MAEPS in
support of
kidney health.
Running and glowing
T
he Malaysia Agro
Exposition Park Serdang
(MAEPS) was recently
transformed into a lustrous
night of radiating fun and
excitement for the NKF Glow
Run. Taking on a carnival-like
atmosphere in conjunction with
the National Kidney Founda-
tion of Malaysia’s (NKF) 50th
anniversary, the event featured
among other activities, a lumi-
nous 5-kilometre fun run route
lined with neon lights which saw
over 3,000 participants celebrat-
ing life in an evening of pure
amusement, laughter, sweat and
sheer exhilaration.
Promoting kidney
health
The NKF Glow Run was aimed at
promoting kidney health among
young adults while increasing
awareness of the prevalence
of chronic kidney disease in a
fun-filled and exciting manner
through interaction with lights,
which was undeniably a radiating
feature of the entire event.
Runners and participants
were arrayed in neon-coloured
liquid and body paint while the
vivid theme of light continued
throughout the circuit. Another
highlight of the event was the lan-
tern light station adorned with
colourful glowing lanterns which
was also used to deliver messages
on kidney facts while serving as a
quirky photo opportunity.
A unique fundraiser
“A great amount of effort has
been put by the NKF team and
various partners to ensure that
the NKF Glow Run is a unique,
excitement-filled and exhilarat-
ing event. Though this event was
a joyous celebration of life, it also
carried with it a rather serious
message of the importance of
preventing kidney disease as
well as raising funds and hope for
1,700 NKF dialysis patients,” said
Chua Hong Wee, Chief Executive
Officer of NKF.
“Through this event, we are
pleased to announce that NKF
has successfully raised a total of
RM 120,000 cash and 3 dialysis
machines worth RM 121,900,
thanks to each and every one
of our donors. The funds will
certainly go a long way in giving
our patients a new lease of life,”
he added.
All proceeds garnered from the
NKF Glow Run will be channelled
towards subsidising dialysis
treatment for more than 1,700
poor patients who are currently
undergoing treatment at the
28 NKF dialysis centres across
Malaysia. The event also saw the
handover of 3 dialysis machines
by H.T.C Motorcycle Club, Global
Heal Group and Next Drive &
Friends to NKF.
There are currently more than
50,000 dialysis patients in Malay-
sia with 7,000 new patients every
year. It is estimated to double
more than that by 2040, which
puts Malaysia in third place of
the world’s highest kidney related
diseases. — The Health
Facts on dengue and influenza cases reported
The Ministry of Health takes
note on the recent upsurge of
information on social media
among Malaysians about the
high reports of dengue and
influenza infection cases.
Dengue at its highest
It is found that the dengue
cases reported on the 29th week
of the year (from 14 to 20 July
2019) were the highest since
2017. Further information which
includes control and preventative
measures has been described
in the press release of which the
information was first reported.
The public can also get the latest
info on dengue cases through
the Ministry of Health’s National
CPRC Facebook page, or
through the iDengue website at
idengue.remotesensing.gov.my/
idengue/.
No drastic rise in
influenza cases
Unlike dengue, influenza cases
are not required to be reported
under the Infectious Disease
Control and Prevention Act
1988 (Act 342). However, proxy
data for influenza infection trend
among the public is recirded
from the surveillance activities
that include several sentinel
locations nationwide.
Any breathing infections
caused by influenza virus are
constantly being monitored
by the Ministry of Health to
look out for any extraordinary
cases through said surveillance
activities. The monitoring
includes cases of influenza like-
illness (ILI) and when patients are
admitted with signs of severe
acute respiratory infection (SARI).
Out of the infection trend
monitored, no drastic increase
of influenza cases was
detected. Additionally, analysis
on the influenza virus through
surveillance do not detect any
signs of mutation that leads to the
appearance of a new type of virus
(novel virus).
Keep safe
The Ministry of Health implores
the public to take preventative
measures against influenza
infection as a severe infection
can potentially lead to death.
The public are encouraged to
sustain good personal hygiene,
always wash their hands with
soap or sanitizer, practice good
coughing practices, and keeping
a healthy lifestyle overall.— The
Health
SJMC Run 2019 concluded on a positive note, with
more than 3,100 enthusiastic runners of all ages and
abilities coming together to run for better health and
show their support for a great cause. Themed ‘Love Your
Feet, Adios Diabetes’, the annual run – organised for the
fourth time by Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) – not
only promoted healthy living, but also raised awareness
on diabetes and its complications, particularly foot
complications.
In conjunction with the run, SJMC contributed RM1 for
every run registration to a wheelchair fund, and successfully
brought in a total of RM31,013 for the purchase of 100
wheelchairs, which are pledged for distribution to the
needy throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The first wheelchair
– a custom-made model worth RM4,950 – was donated
to Pusat Penjagaan Kanak-Kanak Cacat Taman Megah
(PPKKCTM), a home for disabled children, in March 2019.
“It is encouraging to see people from all backgrounds
unanimously demonstrating a unified commitment to take
increased responsibility for their health and well-being.
We take our corporate social responsibility very seriously
and we are proud that SJMC Run 2019 has played a part
in empowering the community to lead an active, healthy
lifestyle through proper nutrition and exercise,” said Trish
Hogan, CEO, Subang Jaya Medical Centre.
Red Bean Assistance
Program announced
The number of patients with chronic kidney diseases
(CKD) are on the rise in Malaysia, and they are looking
at a possible lifetime of costly dialysis treatment. Among
the biggest issues plaguing patients of CKD is anemia,
hence, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF)
announced the Red Bean Assistance Program to help
relieve the economic burden of CKD patients with
anemia, especially from the low-income group. National
Kidney Foundation collaborated with Roche Malaysia, a
market leader in renal anemia to support these patients
in need. This program will be rolled out in Klang Valley
starting August 1, 2019, and subsequently nationwide,
starting January 1, 2020.
Datuk Seri Dr. Haji Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, Minister of
Health welcomed the corporate responsibility initiative
by NKF and Roche Malaysia. “The well-being of kidney
patients cannot be taken lightly. The Red Bean Assistance
Program will help meet the needs of kidney patients
especially since this is a growing issue around the world,
including Malaysia”, he added. “I am pleased to see that
the Roche Cares innovative co-payment program has now
been extended for kidney patients,” said Dzulkefly. He said
more partnerships between funders and pharmaceutical
players in the private sector are needed to reduce the
public sector’s healthcare burden.
MoU to distribute medicine
across South East Asia
International healthcare organizations, Novartis
and Mundipharma, have signed a landmark agreement
for the marketing, sales and distribution rights of Novartis
medicines in the general ophthalmology disease area
in Taiwan of Novartis. This includes medicines for
glaucoma and external eye diseases. This follows recent
agreements for the Philippines and Thailand.
A recent study found that there is a greater glaucoma
burden in South-Central Asia and East Asia, and that
strategies to combat glaucoma are needed.
Mundipharma CEO, Raman Singh, said: “Mundipharma
is constantly exploring opportunities to increase access
to important medicines for the people who need them
the most. This agreement with Novartis is an expansion
of an already successful partnership between our two
organizations and is another example of how we work with
partners to leverage our unique distribution network to
address unmet patient needs.”
“Novartis aims to develop life-changing pharmaceuticals
and transformative technologies for diseases and
conditions from front to back of the eye. Our partnership
with Mundipharma will help Novartis bring the benefits of
our ophthalmology medicines to more people in Asia and
focus our energies on the existing and future portfolio in
retinal disorders,” said Alexis Serlin, Head of Asia Cluster,
Novartis AG. — The Health