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BEAUFORT: Healthy eating is the main key to good health and food is also the basis of human life, according to Health Officer Dr Nur Farihah Nasir.She said this when officiating the Food and Nutrition Awareness N-Trial Tour Programme organised by the Beaufort Health Clinic’s Nutrition Unit at the Dewan Seri Dayang Weston on Tuesday.

The programme is a collaboration between the Weston, Meligan and Long Pasia Health Clinic Advisory Panel together with Dream Centre Penampang and Sabah Four Wheels Drive Association.

Dr Nur Farihah said in line with the rapid socio-economic development in Malaysia, there had been significant changes in the lifestyle and eating practices of the community today and these changes had indirectly impacted the nutritional well-being and disease patterns in the community.

“This situation causes our country to be dealing with the problem of malnutrition with increasing obesity rates at every age, especially among children under the age of five who need serious attention,” she said. She said the problem of malnutrition is a global health crisis, especially at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic which is hitting the whole world including Malaysia apart from the burden of non-communicable diseases caused by diet such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia estimates that in 2030, Malaysia is expected to reach the status of an “old country” with a population of 60 years and above at 15.3 per cent.

Dr Nur Farihah also said that with the alarming increase in numbers and the predicted increase in the burden of this disease, the prevention and control of the problem of malnutrition is a big challenge to the health care of the country.

The effort to combat and end all forms of malnutrition problems is not an easy task because it involves efforts from all parties and across all sectors whether the government sector, private sector, industry and the Malaysian population itself.

The three goals of Malaysia’s National Nutrition Policy 2.0 are to improve nutritional status, reduce the prevalence of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases and strengthen food and nutrition security in line with the concept of “whole of Government and whole of Society” in the National Nutrition Policy 2.0.

The Beaufort Area Office is committed to improving and maintaining the nutritional well-being of the Kuala Penyu, Sipitang and Beaufort communities through solid cooperation with external agencies such as schools, non-governmental organisations and others.

She also said that in line with the Malaysian Healthy Plate concept that had been introduced by the Ministry of Health, she called on everyone to immediately take the initiative to practise healthy eating from an early age.

Consuming a healthy diet that is low in fat, sugar and salt and high in fibre can make an individual free from any dangerous disease, especially non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

“I understand that Weston is the second pit stop area for this programme and will continue with Kg Meligan and Long Pasia,” she said. Also present at the programme were Lumadan UPPM Dioslen Agustin,  Dr Mohammad Kamal, Sgt Major Bawen Anak Mujib, Weston Health Clinoc Advisory Panel Chairman Anezam Abd Rahman and 150 students from SK Weston, SK Lingkungan, SK Lubok, SK Meraba and SK Bukau.