BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

WITH the number of end-stage kidney disease patients now at 700, the Renal Health Promotion Unit at the Rimba Dialysis Centre is increasing its efforts to disseminate information and awareness on the importance of kidney health to students nationwide.

Head of Renal Health Promotion Unit at the Renal Services Department, Suriawati Hj Jumat, said she hoped that the students would act as ambassadors for healthy living and healthy kidneys and share the information gained to their families and friends.

Suriawati spoke with The Brunei Times during a visit by students from Tutong Sixth Form Centre to the Rimba Dialysis Centre yesterday.

In 2014, the Renal Health Promotion Unit had talked to 12 schools; three primary schools, five secondary schools and four colleges/sixth form centres, which are equivalent to 2,864 students.

Renal health activities were also extended as part of the activities for the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Mukim Programme.

A press statement from the Renal Health Promotion Unit said that last year, 3,132 (0.783 per cent) of Brunei’s population were briefed on the importance of healthy kidney, but only 268 people (0.067 percent) underwent kidney health screening.

The Healthy Mukim Programme is aimed at promoting healthy living at the grassroots level.

The Brunei Times