SIBU: Seventy-one kidney disease patients received dialysis aid funds from the Sibu Parliamentary Constituency Service Center in Rejang Park, here on Monday (March 10).
The aid is limited to voters within the Sibu parliamentary constituency.
Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew said that among the 71 recipients, 41 are male and 30 are female. The youngest is a 22-year-old Chinese patient, while the oldest is an 81-year-old Iban woman.
Highlighting the increasing prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, cancer, and kidney disease, Ling emphasised the need for greater public awareness of health.
He urged people to pay attention to their diet and adopt healthy living habits to maintain their wellbeing, allowing them to work, earn a living, and avoid placing financial strain on their families.
For middle-aged and elderly individuals diagnosed with lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, he advised taking medication on time, exercising regularly, eating nutritious food, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Since all organs in the body are interconnected, he stressed the importance of caring for each organ to preserve overall health.
Ling also encouraged the public to reduce their intake of white sugar, sweets, carbonated drinks, and cakes to lower the risk of diabetes. Additionally, he advised minimising fried food consumption to reduce the chances of developing high cholesterol and hypertension.
He further noted that kidney disease patients require regular dialysis to prevent physical exhaustion. Given the financial burden of dialysis, he urged the public to prioritise their health.
“Maintaining good health not only prevents families from falling into financial hardship due to medical expenses but also reduces the nation’s healthcare costs, allowing more funds to be allocated for national infrastructure development,” Ling added.
