Daniel Lim
Seven senior citizens received the Anugerah Warga Emas Sihat award for living a healthy lifestyle at the Healthy Mukim Programme at Seria Energy Recreational Park yesterday.
The senior citizens were selected based on a number of criteria, including being over the age of 60, a non-smoker, living an active lifestyle, meeting with doctors regularly and maintaining discipline with their prescription medication.
The awards, which included a fruit basket, was presented by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar to Hee Chun Fo, 99; Hong Kong Nam, 97; Haji Mat Said bin Tundak, 92; Yoh Sei Poh, 91; Lee Hoi Kong, 84; Wong Chong Choi, 83 ;and Chow Man Fook, 81.
The award highlighted age was not a factor when maintaining a healthy lifestyle, said Panaga Health Centre’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Haji Ahmad Fakhri bin Dato Paduka Haji Junaidi, also the co-chairman of the HealthyMukim Programme for Mukim Seria.
“They set a healthy example as role models,” he said.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with the Mukim and Village Consultative Council of Seria and local businesses and agencies.
Dr Haji Ahmad Fakhri said that the programme served as a catalyst to adopt a healthy lifestyle in everyday activities. It also raises awareness of facilities to help as health-related companies had set up booths advertising products and services. He said that maintaining a healthy routine can help prevent non-communicable diseases while also boosting productivity in the work environment.
One example was Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP), where they provided health screening facilities through the Panaga Health Centre and encouraging the ‘healthy lifestyle’ through various programmes.
The programme began early in the morning with a 3.2-kilometre walkathon through the park and the Seria Energy Lab compound. Physical activities such as silat and karate-do were also held with booths set up by health service providers.
The Healthy Mukim programme has been held 31 times across the country since 2006, with the primary goal of supporting the MoH‘s vision 2035 of ‘Together Towards a Healthy Nation’ as well as the Brunei Vision 2035 of a reaching a higher standard of living for the country’s citizens.
Legislative Council (LegCo) Members Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin and Yang Berhormat Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, as well as permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary at the MoH, Acting Belait District Officer Mohammad Yassin bin Haji Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director and Technical Director of BSP Yap Kong Fah and BSP Commercial Director Haji Mohammad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah were present.
