Fitness dance and free health screenings highlights of NKF Open Day

PETALING JAYA: Free health screening and fitness dance were the highlights of the National Kidney Foundation Malaysia (NKF) Open Day which was held today.
Aimed at increasing public awareness over their personal health concern, the event organised in conjunction of the World Kidney Day, was held at the NKF – Berjaya Resource Centre from 9am until 4pm.
The programme started with a Bollywood-themed fitness dance, with participants dancing over popular Bollywood tunes led by Bhangra dance master Kirenjit Singh.
Public were also able to keep track of their health condition with free health screening prepared at the event, with inspection conducted by NKF's health professionals.
The screening included the measurement of blood pressure, blood glucose level as well as glucose level, with counselling session provided to assist public in living a healthy life.
Apart from that, organ donation campaign was also held at the open day to encourage public to pledge as organ donors.
NKF chief executive officer Chua Hong Wee said the annual programme would be followed with other similar events organised by NKF, with cooperation with the Health Ministry, in other locations throughout the country.
Chua added there was an urgent need to increase the awareness of public on personal health concern, particularly with diseases related to kidney failure.
He added in Malaysia, the trend of kidney-related problems has been seeing an increase of late, a factor mostly contributed with the unhealthy lifestyle of Malaysians.
"The no 1 cause of kidney failure is diabetes. 60% of patients that suffer from kidney failure are diabetic," he said.
"Furthermore, diabetes will not only lead to kidney problems, but other diseases as well. We need to regulate our lifestyle and the diet we take," he added.
Chua noted that while NKF had been circling the country in raising awareness on health, it was hard to penetrate the message into the public's mind.
"It is very challenging. People just refuse to listen to health talks or even go for health screenings.
"Some are reluctant to do screening as they are afraid to see their health results," he added.
Chua also lamented on the low number of Malaysians stepping up to pledge as an organ donor, mainly because it is a taboo in our culture.
"However, we are trying our very best to promote people to pledge as an organ donor," he said, adding that the campaign it held at the open day as part of NKF initiatives to increase organ donors in Malaysia.
The NKF is a non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to help Malaysians suffering from end stage kidney failure.