Kota Kinabalu: A team of surgeons from throughout the country will descend on Sabah in September to carry out surgeries over a week at one go - except for cardio, orthopaedic and other non-elective ones - in the first such attempt in the nation.It would take place under the Janji Ditepati (Promises Kept) programme whereby Sabah would play host to the national-level Health Campaign.Deputy Health Minister, Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, said the Ministry has been given the mandate to hold this event.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Sabah has been selected as host. It is a big programme and focused on raising awareness on the importance of a healthy lifestyle among the local community. The highlight is on four elements, namely balanced diet, regular exercise, staying away from cigarettes and how to address the problem of stress."Elective surgeries will also be done during the Health Campaign period," she told a press conference after officiating at the Women Wellness Day Campaign on behalf of Health Minister, Datuk Sri Liow Tiong Lai.
Rosnah, who is Member of Parliament for Papar, said the State Government is expected to make known the venue in due course.
ADVERTISEMENT
Details of programme would also be provided later. State Health Director Dr Mohd Yusof Ibrahim said elective surgeries would be performed by a team of surgeons from Kuala Lumpur and other parts of the country."By elective surgeries is meant non-cancerous, non-urgent and uncomplicated operations for certain medical conditions like hernia.
ADVERTISEMENT
In other words, these are not life-threatening.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
"We will gather all those patients on the waiting list for operations (including dental surgeries. Our target is zero waiting time in the sense that patients concerned need not have to wait for three or six months," he explained.
