HYPERTENSION and high cholesterol are now on the list of major health woes afflicting Malaysians, said Sibu Member of Parliament Oscar Ling.
"Hypertension and high cholesterol are closely behind diabetes as major health problems in our country.
"They add to the financial strains of the rakyat and the government," he said when presenting New Year food aid to needy families in Sibu with representatives from churches.
Ling said the Government last year already spent RM4 billion to finance the treatment costs of diabetes patients nationwide.
"These health woes are mainly associated with unhealthy lifestyles like lack of exercise and poor diets like excessive consumption of sugary food and drinks.
"Treatment of hypertension and high cholesterol are putting a lot of added financial burdens on the country, along with the RM 4 billion spent last year to treat diabetes.
"The rakyat needs to improve their daily eating habits fast," he said.
Ling, who is from Sarawak DAP, called on community bodies to organise more public health awareness campaigns in Sarawak.
On Nov 25, the Federal Health Ministry launched a public campaign against excessive sugar consumption to tackle the surging diabetes woes in the country.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the ministry wants to get people to cut down on the consumption of food and drinks that are high in sugar content. - January 2, 2025
