James Kon
The Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday launched the National Strategy for Salt Reduction 2023-2030 – a guide to achieve the national target of 15 per cent reduction in salt intake by 2030.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar was the guest of honour at the launch at Grand Cesar Hall, Mulia Hotel.
Health Promotion Centre (HPC) Head Dr Hajah Norhayati binti Haji Md Kassim said the MoH came up with the strategy to help control non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Sultanate by introducing effective and sustainable measures such as healthy eating practices.
She said the strategy took into account the number of patients suffering from high blood pressure and heart diseases due to high salt intake. Dr Hajah Norhayati said salt consumption in Brunei is high at 10 grammes a day, twice the daily recommended amount by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The strategy is a guideline with cost-effective actions recommended by WHO. It is also an initiative under Brunei Darussalam Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (BruMAP-NCD) 2021-2025.
The strategy also supports WHO’s Global NCD Compact 2020-2030 and Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2030 to decrease salt intake by 30 per cent among member countries.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also toured the exhibits on healthy food and bruneihalalfoods products by Ghanim International Corporation Sdn Bhd.
The National Strategy for Salt Reduction 2023-2030 laid out a set of recommended actions for ministries and stakeholders to achieve the target of 15 per cent reduction in salt intake by 2030.
The MoH called on stakeholders – public and private sectors, institutions of higher learning, the food industry and the community – to provide full cooperation, commitment and support in the implementation of the strategy.
There’s an annual Salt Awareness Week aimed at raising public awareness on the health effects of excessive salt intake. High salt intake increases blood pressure and causes hypertension which leads to higher risks of cardiovascular diseases and stroke – leading causes of death from NCDs worldwide and in the Sultanate. This year’s theme, ‘Shake the Salt Habit’ urges people to be more aware of their salt intake in daily diet.
Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the MoH Dr Ang Swee Hui, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Management) at the MoH Haji Kamarul Azam bin Haji Mohamad, Acting Director General of Medical and Health Services Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Khalifah bin Pengiran Haji Ismail were also present at the event.
