James Kon
The collective is being called on to take a step towards healthier living following the launch of BN on the Move at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday.
BN on the Move is a promotional health plan featured in the BruHealth app, and its launch marks the start of the three-month-long 1 Billion Steps Together campaign designed to encourage the populace to collectively move towards becoming healthier versions of themselves. As of 7pm yesterday, over 80 million steps had been logged in by 21,347 participants.
Cabinet ministers launched the initiative before leading thousands of participants in a six-kilometre walkathon to the waterfront near Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge and back.
The initiative is the first of many health-promoting activities to be jointly organised by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and EVYD Technology, as they link arms in working to secure one of the Brunei Vision 2035 goals of having a healthy population contributing to a high quality of life.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said, “The launch of BN on the Move will hopefully encourage the public to lead a healthier lifestyle by exercising and conducting activities together.
“Activity trackers provide users’ data on their physical activity level, allowing them to monitor their progress as they work towards their goals. Studies show that walking and physical activities can lead to weight loss, improve glucose tolerance and reduce blood pressure.”
He shared that the MoH plans “to further develop BruHealth to become a digital health application that can be tailored to suit each individual’s health plans. The MoH and EVYD Technology will roll out in phases improvements to BruHealth to ensure the public can fully benefit from it”.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also said, “Alhamdulillah, the massive turnout today suggests that people are keen on carrying out physical activity toward the success of BN on the Move. Everyone has a mobile phone and the BruHealth app, so even if an individual is unable to show up at the Taman today, they can still join the movement and collectively add up their steps through the application.
“This is a platform for us to continue our efforts to raise physical activity. You do not have to run or be in a marathon. Step by step, we can do this together. And together we can maintain the well-being of the community and curb the non-communicable disease (NCDs) figures. Insya Allah, with the support of all, we will be able to achieve one billion steps.”
Discussing his personal goal, the minister said, “I hope to reach 10,000 steps daily. We actually need 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week – which may pose quite a challenge, depending on our daily commitments.
“Therefore, steps are important. Remember, every step counts and we can challenge ourselves.”
EVYD Technology Chief Executive Officer Chua Ming Jie said, “EVYD is pleased to partner with the MoH to launch 1 Billion Steps Together, to get Bruneians and residents out and about to get fitter and healthier together.
“This is part of our commitment – to improve the overall health at the individual, community and national levels. It also builds on our work with the ministry to optimise the healthcare sector in Brunei.”
Participants in the 1 Billion Steps Together campaign are able to view their personal rankings among friends and within the country through a leaderboard on the app. Active participants who continually track their steps and invite friends to join the plan will be rewarded with prizes to be announced soon.
