Keeping fit: A man skipping rope as he exercises in Putrajaya. — GLEN GUAN /The Star
PETALING JAYA: With the increasing concern on Malaysians afflicted with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Putrajaya will be shaped as a model township where elements of healthy living will be highlighted.
In the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 released last week, it was revealed that more than 500,000 or 2.5% of the adult population in Malaysia suffered from four NCDs, namely diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and hyperactivity.
The report found that some 54.4% of Malaysian adults are overweight or obese, a 10% increase from the 44.5% reported in NHMS 2011.
To make matters worse, the NHMS 2023 also revealed that only 4.9% of adults consumed the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables while 29.9% of adults were physically inactive.
In an effort to address unhealthy lifestyles, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the “Putrajaya Sihat Sejahtera” initiative in March, a six-year programme that will begin this year and involve collaboration with health experts.
Holistic health expert Datuk Dr Rajen M. is hopeful that the programme will address unhealthy lifestyle, since Malaysia has the highest obesity rate in South-East Asia.
“The government is trying to push for Malaysians to consume less sugar or no sugar at all as a way to reduce diabetes and obesity. There’s a plan to make Putrajaya a model city... the country’s first healthy district.
“Many programmes and precise details are included in this initiative, and one of them is to decrease sugar consumption,” he said when contacted.
Describing the Putrajaya Sihat Sejahtera programme as an “excellent idea”, health expert Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said the initiative is timely as the country needs to reduce the burden on the healthcare system due to the high number of NCD sufferers.
With Malaysia “quickly developing as the diabetes capital of the world”, he expressed hope that the programme would be extended nationwide soon.
“High sugar affects every organ and cell. From head to toe, every system is affected. There is an increasing number of women who become diabetic during pregnancy, adding to the risks.
“No system is spared, including mental health and depression,” he said, adding that the number of people awaiting kidney transplants is shocking too.
Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said it was appropriate that such an initiative begins in the country’s administrative capital.
“Putrajaya should start as an example to others as its people are among those with a high rate of obesity and other NCD risk factors.
“They don’t adequately practise a healthy lifestyle by consuming a healthy, nutritious diet or exercising and quitting smoking. These are all stressful conditions.
“It will be easier (in Putrajaya) because most people there are civil servants and schoolchildren,” he said.
On March 4, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (Healthy Malaysia National Agenda) chairman, revealed that obesity and cholesterol levels of Putrajaya residents had exceeded national rates.
The Putrajaya Sihat Sejahtera initiative, according to Ahmad Zahid, will focus on civil servants and their workplaces where elements of healthy and active lifestyle, supportive environment, healthy nutrition and mental wellness will be highlighted.
In 2022, the Statistics Department reported that 16.1% of deaths in Putrajaya were caused by ischemic heart disease, 10% by pneumonia and 5.2% by stroke.
