THE number of sudden death cases involving people aged 40 and below in Sarawak is seeing a rising trend yearly.
This is a worrying phenomenon as health ministry statistics have shown that most of these cases were due to heart attacks and strokes.
Deputy Federal Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam revealed this during a community health event in Kuching.
"The number of youths aged 40 and below who died suddenly due to strokes and heart attacks is rising in Sarawak.
"This is a warning sign that health problems among youths must be given more urgent attention by the authorities and the community.
"There have also been numerous cases of severe stress among youths and related cases that ended up in suicide in Sarawak.
"These are mostly linked to work and personal issues.
"All these show that health matters must be given more priority attention now even among the younger section of the Sarawak population," he said.
Razi said his ministry encourages public and private sectors to organise more healthcare campaigns among their employees.
He said inculcating a healthy and happy working environment is also essential in enhancing the physical health and emotional well-being of workers.
"Inculcating good health among our workers is a key element in fostering socio-economic progress.
"The responsibility of inculcating good health is not just a matter for the government ministry to handle.
"The private sectors and public departments and agencies must also be more involved and active in such health matters," he said.
Sarawak has a population of about three million, with about one million of them in the working age categories. - December 12, 2024
