Peka B40 programme beneficial for people - Christina Liew

25 Sept 2022

By Wartawan Nabalu News

TAWAU: The Peka B40 health screening programme is a good government initiative via the Health Ministry (KKM) to meet the people's healthcare needs, said Tawau MP Datuk Christina Liew.

She will not hesitate to endorse any programme that is beneficial for the rakyat.

Christina stressed that free health screening is what people from the low-income group really need.

"Do not take health matters lightly. Good health is important for one's overall physical and mental well-being. This is especially so for mothers to enable them to raise healthy families. If they do not enjoy a clean bill of health, how do they expect to take good care of their families? Healthy mothers raise healthy children.

"Which is why my side (Tawau Parliamentary People' Service Centre) decided to implement Peka B40 in collaboration with Permai Polyclinics Tawau," Liew told reporters at the recent screening programme held at the Community Centre here when asked to comment on the perception that organising the Peka B40 programme was a "gimmick" in view of the upcoming polls.

She rebuffed the perception, saying this was not true as she supported the programme for the good of the B40 population. "The focus is rightly so on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and Hypercholesterolemia."

She advised mothers to undergo regular health examinations at any health clinic to ensure they are in good health at all times.

Going by the turnout of 177 people from Sri Tanjung despite a rainy day, Liew said she would consider holding Peka B40 in Apas and Balung.

She thanked the Tawau Municipal Council (MPT) and Teck Guan Company for contributing to the success of the one-day programme.

Meanwhile, Dr Kurshid Ihsan Jabarulla of Permai Polyclinics Tawau who headed the programme said although the medical health screening exercise was mainly for the B40 group in Tawau, others also received the same benefit of a free medical check-ups.

"It was mainly to screen for hypertension, diabetes, kidney failure and cholesterol. It was for early detection and to initiate early treatment for patients," he said, adding that there was also breast examination for female participants. "I hope more people will come forward to participate in the programme in future."

Also present was Permai Polyclinics General Manager Datuk Margaret Lim who lent a helping hand during the event.