NHMS 2025 focuses on elderly health in Malaysia
Approximately 16,700 randomly selected households nationwide will participate in the study. The survey includes three key modules: mental health (covering cognitive function, dementia, and geriatric depression), physical health (assessing chronic diseases, mobility, and frailty), and social well-being (evaluating caregiver burden and quality of life).
Lukanisman explained that 43 teams have been deployed to gather data through interviews, questionnaires, and clinical tests. 'Clinical assessments involve blood pressure checks, cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, and sarcopenia evaluations like handgrip strength and muscle mass tests,' he said.
The findings will help the Ministry of Health refine policies and health programmes for the elderly. Lukanisman urged government agencies, healthcare workers, and community leaders to support the initiative, ensuring seniors lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. - Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Japan discards state-acquired Covid-19 drugs worth US$1.6bil
TOKYO: (Bernama-Kyodo) The Japanese government discarded Covid-19 oral medicines believed to be worth around 240 billion yen (US$1.6 billion) in the fiscal year through March as they had passed their expiry dates, Kyodo News Agency reported, citing health ministry officials on Wednesday (July 16). While the exact purchase price remains unclear, the value was calculated in accordance with current prices. The amount is enough to treat some 2.5 million people. The government acquired the oral drugs at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and provided them free of charge to hospitals and clinics nationwide. But many of them were unused after Covid-19 was downgraded to the same category as seasonal influenza in May 2023, which required people to pay for Covid-19 treatment. Drugmakers had also started general distribution of Covid-19 medicine in Japan themselves. A Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare official said offering the drugs to other countries was considered but legally difficult. Among the two million doses of Pfizer Inc.'s nirmatrelvir and 1.6 million doses of Merck & Co.'s molnupiravir procured by the government, about 1.75 million doses of nirmatrelvir and some 780,000 doses of molnupiravir were disposed of, according to the ministry. The government also secured two million doses of Shionogi & Co.'s ensitrelvir but about 1.77 million of them are unused, the ministry said. They are expected to be discarded after they reach their expiration dates starting next fiscal year. - Bernama-Kyodo
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Covid-19 exposed our healthcare system's weakness, say doctors
PETALING JAYA: The Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the country's healthcare services, says consultant paediatrician and child disability activist Datuk Dr Amar-Singh HSS. 'It is not that we did not know that our health services had been slowly decaying for decades, but we were not allowed to speak publicly about it and always 'today, you will have to manage with what you have'. 'During the height of the pandemic, we experienced desperate cries for help to find an ICU bed for their family members. The support for carers was weak, equipment and resources were limited even in non-pandemic times, stretched thin. 'Some doctors placed their children with grandparents and did not see them for months,' said Dr Amar at a launch of the book titled 'Crisis and Community: Covid-19 in Malaysia' at Gerakbudaya here Sunday (July 27). The book is a compilation of essays on the Covid-19 crisis by all levels of society, edited by Bridget Welsh. Speaking further at the event, which was attended by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, Dr Amar said that there must be better preparation for the next pandemic by placing greater emphasis on building our institutional services, especially health, education and social services. Fellow panellist Ampang Hospital paediatrician Dr Tan Hui Siu narrated how the medical officers and healthcare workers trudged through the pandemic and had to make do with what they had as frontliners. 'We were giving our best in caring, but also to provide compassionate care and treatment that soothes and comforts everyone. 'So there was a gap where we were actually preparing those guidelines and with some of the clinicians, but by the time they were implemented, it was inadequate,' said Dr Tan. She talked of how she struggled to cope with the deaths of patients younger than her and how her teams had to care for patients on their deathbeds alone due to the lockdown. Meanwhile, virologist and policy analyst Dr Lyana Khairuddin called for better education on the vaccine naysayers as well as more investments to be made into vaccine research and development. She labelled the frantic search for vaccines during the pandemic as the 'Vaccine Hunger Games'. 'The Hunger Games aside, there was also the fight to actually get a slot to be jabbed,' said Dr Lyana. She said that the pandemic revealed the need for more science education among Malaysians. 'There are still people saying 'I have survived the pandemic and I am not vaccinated and I am okay and healthy'. Then, there are those who say that 'my mother died because she got the vaccine',' said Lyana. She stressed that there must be more conversations on why vaccines were given during the pandemic and more critical thinking so that people do not fall easily for 'popular traditional cures' during the next pandemic.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
Laos urges vigilance as dengue risk rises amid persistent rainfall
VIENTIANE (Xinhua): As persistent rainfall continues across Laos, health authorities urge the public to remain alert and take preventive measures against dengue fever. Although Laos has reported a significant drop in dengue cases, health officials caution that the risk remains high during the rainy season. They urge residents to participate in local clean-up efforts and practice home prevention measures to combat the spread of the disease. To further prevent dengue, local officials in many villages have organized collective activities that encourage authorities and villagers to work together to eliminate mosquito breeding sites around their homes. Mithouna, a Vientiane resident, actively participates in local clean-up efforts. "My neighbours and I clean our homes and surroundings at least once a week. Everyone needs to work together to reduce the risk of dengue fever, especially during continuous rainfall," Mithouna told Xinhua on Sunday. She stressed that dengue affects entire communities, not just individuals. "Dengue is a deadly disease, and it doesn't affect just one household. That's why I believe everyone needs to stay alert and take responsibility." Chanxay emphasized the importance of disease prevention, especially during the current period of continuous rainfall when many children are home on summer break. "The rain hasn't stopped, and water is collecting everywhere. On top of that, children are home from school, which makes this a very dangerous time for us," said Chanxay. "As parents, we have to be more careful than ever." As of July 21, Laos has reported 4,308 cases of dengue fever, including one death. The highest number of cases was recorded in the Lao capital Vientiane, which reported 2,052 infections, according to the Ministry of Health. Health authorities recommend five effective dengue control measures for households, sealing unused containers, emptying water vessels, placing guppy fish in jars to consume mosquito larvae, cleaning around homes, and consistently performing these tasks weekly. - Xinhua
