The HEALTH : September 2019 | Page 4

The HEALTH | SEPTEMBER, 2019 04 CURRENT NEWS Briefs Network for lung cancer Newly-launched Lung Cancer Network Malaysia building awareness of lung cancer through education and advocacy for patients and healthcare professionals Royal visit to rehab centre HER Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Binti Al-Marhum Al- Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj have recently visited the Cheras Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) as part of Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong’s coronation. Her Majesty was keen on visiting the paediatric ward and the Rehab Technology Unit,as well as presenting the centre with RM30,000 in donation. The CRC was built with the aim to be the referral centre for public and private hospitals, be it from local or international in intensive rehabilitation treatment and management. As of today, the centre stands to be the largest rehabilitation centre in Southeast Asia at 38.9 acres. The centre houses six wards and 166 beds. The centre has accommodated around 10,509 patients last year. Home improvements for the elderly TENA, The Understanding Specialist and Continence Foundation of Malaysia recently launched the ‘Sentiasa Denganmu Mak Abah di Mana Jua: Idea Mudah Untuk Rumah, Ibu Bapa Kita Lebih Selesa’ Campaign to empower adult children to be more aware of the little things they can do and how they can play an active role in understanding the many challenges their parents face, including the onset of incontinence which occurs in one out of two older persons. As incontinence can affect one’s parents’ mobility and quality of life, the campaign offers practical suggestions from experts on proper care, management and simple improvements in their homes to help elderly parents feel more comfortable while reducing the risk of falls. Incontinence affects 1.4 million Malaysians and is estimated to increase by 4.5 percent annually. Despite this, studies have shown that 69 percent do not seek hel largely due to embarrassment and social stigma. Charity family fun ride and walk PANTAI Hospital Penang and The Lions Club of George Town Mutiara is hosting a Charity Family Fun Ride and Walk 2019 to raise funds for the underprivileged community in getting medical assistance. In collaboration with Lions Club of George Town Mutiara the fun ride will begin at 7.00am while the walkathon will start at 7.30 am on 20 October 2019. The 38 km fun ride is expected to draw 1000, both ride and walk. The ride will be fl agged off at Pantai Hospital Penang, starting route to the Teluk Kumbar area from Jalan Sultan Azlan Syah to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Jalan Permatang Damar Laut, Gertak Sanggul, Jalan Tun Dr Awang before heading back to the hospital in Jalan Mayang Pasir. The 5km walkathon will start from Pantai Hospital Penang towards the Bayan Baru area. — The Health L UNG Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM) is the first national level, non-commercial, non-governmental organisations (NGO) dedicated solely and exclusively to addressing all aspects and all stages of lung cancer in Malaysia. The network, compromising healthcare professionals from multidisciplinary backgrounds, aim to improve patient outcomes through advocacy, educa- tion and awareness for both the Malaysian public and primary care doctors. “In Malaysia, the majority of patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease. Contemporary data from the National Cancer Registry suggests a staggering 90 per cent of lung cancer cases are diagnosed at stage three (locally advanced disease) or stage four (metastatic spread),” said Dr Anand Sachithanandan, President of Lung Cancer Network Malaysia and Cardiothoracic Surgeon. “Prompt diagnosis and successful treatment of lung cancer often requires a multidisciplinary approach and multi- model therapy. Our aim at LCNM is to conquer lung cancer together and to provide a platform for patients, care- giver as well as healthcare professionals to access verifi ed information that is From left: Dr Tho Lye Mun, Dr Anand Sachithanandan and Dr Hilmi Lockman showing the fi gures and facts of lung cancer. locally relevant,” he added. “Lung cancer is often perceived as a smokers’ disease and may be overlooked by many, who assume they are not at risk. Th is perception of the disease needs to be altered, to recognise its true burden and gravity. Th erefore, it is pertinent to equip patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals alike with the right information about lung cancer,” said Dr Th o Lye Mun, Vice President of Lung Cancer Network Malaysia and Clinical Oncologist. According to Dr Hilmi Lockman, Committee Member of the LCNM Committee members of MySepsis: (from left) Dr Mohd Sidqi Mohd Soel, Dr Nursaleha Muhammad Pala, Dr Ong Sheue Fen, Dr Nurul Huda Ahmad, Associate Professor Dr Tan Toh Leong, Dr Mohd Fazrul Mokhtar, Dr Christabel Kang Wan-Li, Dr Khor Chin Chuan, Dr Syed Farid Almufazal bin Syed Salim. MySepsis marks World Sepsis Day EVERY year on 13 September, the world celebrates World Sepsis Day. Sepsis remains one of the important health issues globally where 20 to 30 million people suff er from sepsis every year. Recognising the magni- tude of this health issue , Malaysian Sepsis Alliance (MySepsis) was established in 2018 with a mis- sion to provide Malaysian leadership to reduce the country’s burden of sepsis. As their major event in 2019, Malaysian Sepsis Alliance (MySep- sis) together with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), the Ministry of Health and few interna- and Respiratory Medicine Physician: “On average, lung cancer causes nearly one in the fi ve cancer deaths globally, creating an urgent need to address the severity of the disease . With these high statistics, we hope to encourage early detection for better treatment.” LCNM's vision is to reduce mortal- ity rates from lung cancer in Malaysia and improve the quality and durabil- ity of life for such patients. LCNM also seeks to correct misconceptions surrounding the disease and increase society’s understanding and empa- thy for lung cancer. — Th e Health tional healthcare industrial partners (especially Edwards Lifescience & SCHMIDT BioMedTech) organised the 2nd Malaysian Sepsis Evolution (MySE) 2019. Th is two-day seminar was held with the goal to foster awareness and augment knowledge with the current discoveries and fi ndings related to sepsis as well as to educate partici- pants on management of sepsis. To spread across professionals and the public, President and founder of Malay- sian Sepsis Alliance (MySepsis), Associate Professor Dr Tan Toh Leong stated: “The mission and objectives of MySepsis is to dis- seminate sepsis information for the healthcare providers and public. We aim to advocate the importance of sepsis and infection through seminar and courses as well as publication of books, articles and research publica- tions,” he stated. “Sepsis contributes to a high number of preventable deaths. The cost of managing sepsis if early is actually cheap. We urge the gov- ernment to place focus on sepsis. We urge sepsis survivors to look for us to share their experience in order to create awareness amongst Malaysians. In this way, we can reduce the burden of sepsis, and if possible a world free of sepsis.” — The Health