BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Health service providers are urged to be prepared in meeting health challenges. They must not only ensure the continuous better health care and well-being of the people, but more importantly, strive to improve the services, clinical procedures and also management, said the Minister of Health yesterday during the Inaugural of the Brunei Darussalam Cardiac Society and the Cardiology Symposium.

In his address, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Md Yusof said cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Yang Berhormat Pehin explained that most NCDs can be prevented by means of early detection of risk factors and adopting healthy lifestyle.

In this regard, he said his Ministry is working relentlessly to promote awareness and understanding about the importance of health care measures through prevention and control of chronic diseases as well as NCD's, through various healthy lifestyle programme being held from time to time.

Yang Berhormat Pehin added, the cardiology services have been expanding over the years and the quality of service has improved tremendously. Advanced cardiac procedures are already performed in the country.

Meanwhile, the Brunei Darussalam Cardiac Society was formed early this year, bringing together international speakers from across ASEAN to give lectures on various important cardiology related topics.

The objectives of the Society were to advance the science and art of cardiology in Brunei, and to achieve international standards of best practice for cardiology. It also promotes education, research and training in cardiology and related disciplines to enhance the professional status of cardiology, advocate high standards of practice and professional conduct.

The function saw the presentation of the Cardiac Society Awards to experts who have made contributions to cardiology services in the country. More than two hundred and fifty participants attended the two-day symposium.

Meanwhile in a media conference, the President of the Brunei Darussalam Cardiac Society said that the groups existence has helped to raise awareness on cardiac diseases. In the conference, Dato Dr Isham Jaafar also stressed that the cardiac society also acts as a guide in improving cardiology practises in the country and related disciplines apart from responding to the titah made by His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in relation to the issue.

The Brunei Darussalam Cardiac Society was endorsed by the Registrar of Associations early this year and has more than sixty members including doctors, nurses and allied professionals in the field. The association's objective is to improve cardiovascular health which can only be achieved through education, research, quality control and knowledge sharing especially among ASEAN member nations.

BRUDIRECT.COM

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