World Heart Day 2024 event in Kuching draws 1,000 participants

KUCHING (Sept 29): Some 1,000 participants gathered at Reservoir Park here today for the World Heart Day 2024 event organised by the Sarawak Heart Foundation.

The event, which began at 6.30am, featured activities such as a Walk-A-Mile, health checks, fitness tests, and Zumba sessions, according to report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas).

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, who officiated the event, highlighted cardiovascular disease as a major health concern in Malaysia and Sarawak.

He revealed that 245,000 patients have visited the Sarawak Heart Centre over the past 20 years, with the number expected to rise in the future.

“Remember, there is only one day a year where we remind everyone to love their heart.

“We must also love our families and friends because we don’t want to lose anyone to heart disease,” he was quoted as saying.

Dr Sim noted that cardiovascular patients in Malaysia are, on average, 10 years younger than those in developed countries, due to rising rates of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

This year’s World Heart Day theme, ‘Use Heart for Action’, focuses on encouraging every country to develop a national action plan for cardiovascular diseases.

Also present were Dr Sim’s wife Datin Amar Enn Ong and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Datuk Bandar Hilmy Othman.