Latest news with #MariaSuleiman
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Blood donations in Sabah increase, but still insufficient
Tunku Mariam (third from left) visiting a blood donation booth during the Sabah State-Level World Blood Donor Day 2025 celebration. – Information Department photo KOTA KINABALU (June 23): Blood donations in Sabah have shown an increase, with 77,996 bags collected in 2024 compared to 75,644 bags in 2023. Sabah State Health Director Dr Maria Suleiman stated that despite the rise, the supply remains insufficient to meet the growing demand from patients, increasing cases of cancer and chronic diseases, and the aging population. 'The high demand for blood in the state is also driven by thalassemia patients, who require transfusions at least once a month. 'Sabah has the highest number of thalassemia patients in Malaysia, with 1,995 cases, of which 1,380 are Transfusion-Dependent Thalassaemia (TDT) patients who rely entirely on blood supply to survive. 'In 2024, 73 new thalassemia cases were recorded in Sabah, with an additional 20 cases reported as of May this year,' she told the media during the Sabah State-Level World Blood Donor Day 2025 celebration at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) recently. The event was officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's younger sister, Paduka Puteri Tunku Mariam binti Almarhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj, who also presented certificates of appreciation to 53 individuals, including voluntary blood donors and blood drive organizers from across the state. The program successfully collected 193 bags of blood. Tunku Mariam expressed her gratitude and pride for the concern shown by the people of Sabah towards blood supply needs, describing it as a noble sacrifice.
The Star
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Sabah seeing worrying rise in lifestyle-related diseases
Dr Maria Suleiman (centre) officiating the Jom Sihat Sandakan programme SANDAKAN: Sabah is grappling with a worrying rise in lifestyle-related illnesses, as health authorities highlight a 'double burden' of malnutrition, where communities are affected by both undernutrition and excessive calorie intake. Sabah Health Department director Dr Maria Suleiman said the spike in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension and stroke is closely tied to poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles. 'We are dealing with a dual challenge: undernutrition on one hand and overconsumption of calories on the other, along with poor dietary choices. 'If we consume too much, we open ourselves up to health issues such as diabetes, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure,' she told reporters after launching the Jom Sihat Sandakan programme at Sejati Walk here on Saturday. Dr Maria revealed that 298 new stroke cases were reported at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and 198 at Duchess of Kent Hospital in 2024 alone, many of which were closely linked to high blood pressure. She urged the public to take charge of their health by adopting healthier diets and incorporating more physical activity into their daily routines. Citing data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey, Dr Maria noted a steady increase in chronic illnesses across Sabah. 'For diabetes, the prevalence in Sabah rose from 5.7% in 2011 to 8.8% in 2023. Dyslipidemia increased slightly from 31% to 32%, while overweight rates rose from 28% to 30.9%. Obesity, which is very concerning, almost doubled, from 10.6% to 19.5%,' she added. The programme held at Sejati Walk included health screenings, nutrition exhibitions, counselling, interactive activities and health talks to raise awareness on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Dr Maria added that the initiative aligns with the goals of the National Nutrition Policy, which promotes sustainable food systems and improved access to nutritious diets.
The Star
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Sabah sees rise in lifestyle diseases amid malnutrition concerns
Dr Maria Suleiman (centre) officiating the Jom Sihat Sandakan programme. SANDAKAN: Sabah is experiencing a troubling increase in lifestyle-related illnesses as the state faces a "double burden" of malnutrition, where communities suffer from both undernutrition and excessive calorie intake. Sabah Health Department director Dr Maria Suleiman said the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes as well as high blood pressure and strokes are linked to unhealthy diets and a lack of physical activity. 'We are dealing with a dual challenge—undernutrition on one hand and overconsumption of calories on the other, along with poor dietary choices. If we consume too much, we open ourselves up to health issues such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure,' she said. She spoke to reporters after officiating the Jom Sihat Sandakan programme at Sejati Walk on Saturday. Dr Maria said 298 new stroke cases were recorded at Hospital Queen Elizabeth and 198 at Hospital Duchess of Kent in 2024, many related to high blood pressure. She urged communities to take proactive steps to improve their health through better diets and increased physical activity. She also highlighted a steady increase in chronic illnesses across the state based on data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey. 'For diabetes, the prevalence in Sabah rose from 5.7% in 2011 to 8.8% in 2023. Dyslipidemia increased slightly from 31% to 32%, while overweight rates rose from 28% to 30.9%. Obesity—very concerning—almost doubled from 10.6% to 19.5%,' she said. The programme featured health screenings, nutrition exhibitions, counselling sessions, interactive activities, and talks aimed at raising awareness of healthy lifestyles. Dr Maria added that the initiative supports the National Nutrition Policy's goal of promoting sustainable food systems and improving access to nutritious diets.
Daily Express
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
120,000 blood pints needed yearly: Hajiji
Published on: Thursday, May 15, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 15, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Shahelmey (middle) chats with a blood donor while accompanied by Dr Maria Suleiman (right) in the event. Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor wants more programmes to be implemented to raise awareness on the importance of donating blood. 'I have been informed that the daily blood requirement for Sabah is 300 units and each year, we need about 110,000 to 120,000 units to meet patients' needs. Advertisement 'However, to date, only 75,000 units are collected each year,' he said at the State-level 2025 Nurses' Day celebrations and blood donation event held at of Queen Elizabeth II Hospital here on Tuesday. His speech was delivered by the Deputy Chief Minister III/Minister of Works, Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya. Hajiji said collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the public sector can raise awareness on blood donation and to attract the public to become regular donors. 'Indeed, voluntary blood donatiion helps save patients' lives,' he said. Since the quality of the healthcare system heavily relies on the quality of the nursing workforce, Hajiji said investment in training, welfare, and career development for nurses is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the country's healthcare system. 'In this regard, the State Government always appreciates and supports nurses serving in Sabah who sacrifice their time and energy for the health of the people. 'I hope all nurses will continue to strive to improve the quality of healthcare services, particularly in this state,' he said. The Chief Minister paid tribute to nurses, whom he said are the backbone of the nation's healthcare system. 'The Nurses' Day celebrations is not just a symbolic event but a significant recognition of the group that serves as the backbone of the nation's healthcare system - our nurses. 'In line with this year's theme, 'Our Nurses, Our Future: Caring for Nurses Strengthens the Economy', the role of nurses extends beyond just being 'patient caregivers' in hospitals - they are also catalysts for community wellbeing, health educators, and frontline workers in managing health crises,' he said. Hajiji recalled the extraordinary role of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago, not only in terms of treatment and monitoring but also in providing emotional and moral support to patients and their families. 'Some had to be separated from their families, spouses, and children in order to fulfill their responsibilities at that time. 'Indeed, they are unsung heroes who remain strong, resilient and steadfast working under various challenging situations, whether in wards, emergency units, rural health clinics, or disaster areas,' he said. Also present were Sabah Health Department director Dr Maria Suleiman, State Nurses Supervisor head Matron Damica Kunsiong, Queen Elizabeth Hospital II (QEH 11) director Dr Ferro Firdaus bin Ibrahim and QEH II Department of Transfusion Medicine head Dr Shahnaz Irwani Binti Sabri. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Sharp rise in HFMD cases, but situation is under control
Published on: Thursday, May 15, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 15, 2025 By: Hayati Dzulkifli Text Size: Despite the surge, proactive control measures have led to a downward trend in recent weeks. - pic for illustration only Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah State Health Department reported a sharp increase in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) this year, but the situation remains under control. Sabah Health Department Director Dr Maria Suleiman said a total of 1,406 HFMD cases were recorded during Epidemiological Week 18, a significant rise compared to 266 cases during the same period in 2024 marking an increase of 428 per cent. 'Currently, we are seeing an increase in HFMD cases in Sabah. However, thanks to the control measures and care initiatives we've implemented, the situation is under control, and the number of cases is gradually decreasing. 'Despite the surge, proactive control measures have led to a downward trend in recent weeks. 'With the interventions and care we've put in place, the HFMD situation in Sabah is currently under control and showing signs of improvement,' she said when commenting on the current situation of HFMD cases in Sabah after opening the State-level 2025 Nurses' Day celebrations and blood donation programme themed 'Our Nurses, Our Future, Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies' held at of Queen Elizabeth II Hospital here on Tuesday. Cumulatively, Dr Maria said Sabah registered 6,919 HFMD cases during Epidemiological Week 1 to Week 18, which spans the period from January 1 up to May 10 (Saturday), this year. She is awaiting the latest figures for the current week, which typically runs from Sunday through Saturday. She said the department continues to monitor the situation closely and urged parents and caregivers to maintain good hygiene practices, avoid crowded places if children show symptoms, and seek early treatment to prevent further spread. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health recorded a total of 99,601 cases of HFMD. Nationwide as of Week 17 this year, with Selangor recorded the highest number of cases at 27, 118 cases, followed by Johor with 9,864 cases, Perak with 9,347 cases, Kelantan with 7,147 cases, Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur ( and Putrajaya with 6,850 cases. The Ministry stated that no deaths related to HFMD cases had been reported.
