BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

NON-COMMUNICABLE diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes was charted as the cause of more than half the number of deaths in 2012, said the health minister yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of a health carnival yesterday, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Md Yusof said the local trend of NCDs is ever-increasing and represented the leading cause of death in Brunei over the past few years.

Diabetes particularly, has been the third leading cause of death in Brunei since 2007, the minister further said.

“The National Health Status and Dietary Survey conducted from 2009 to 2011 found that the rate of diabetes (cases) in Brunei is at an alarming level – (affecting) 12.3 per cent of the country’s total population. Many of these cases are type two diabetes.

“If chronic diseases and early signs of risk factors are not prevented or controlled as best as it can, and doctor’s advice in terms of treatment and medication within the required timeframe goes unheeded, the diseases can become more chronic and complex. Risks and consequences of NCDs and chronic conditions such as diabetes will become a burden felt by the patients themselves, which can affect their quality of health, welfare, employment, productivity, income and quality of life – in addition to becoming a burden for the patient’s family as well,” YB Minister of health pointed out. In this regard, the health minister urged all relevant stakeholders – government, non-government, education institutions as well as the private sector – to share joint responsibility and commitment towards further strengthening of steps and measures to prevent, control and combat NCDs, as well as rising risk factors.

The Brunei Times