Kuala Lumpur, 3 July 2009 - UCSI University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Faculty of Medical Sciences launched their third and last instalment of the 8th Annual Public Health Campaign at Sunway Pyramid today. The event was officiated by the University’s Chancellor, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Abdul Rahman Arshad, together with Mr. H. C. Chan, CEO of Sunway Pyramid, who sponsored the venue. Themed “Live Healthy: Without Diabetes”, the students gave the public vital information about the disease as well as free health screening tests.

In his speech, the Chancellor recognised the students’ efforts in ensuring that the public receive accurate information about Diabetes and its prevention. “Organising a three-day campaign of this magnitude takes a lot of planning, and such a noble undertaking deserves to be lauded,” said the Chancellor.

The students had worked hard indeed. Preparation for the 8th Annual Public Health Campaign began more than ten months ago, with many meetings held between the various university departments, as well as liaison with the sponsors. On the eve of the event, students stayed up until 4.00 a.m. to prepare for the last leg of the campaign.

Earlier this year, these students had organised two other smaller public health campaigns at Pandamaran (Klang) and Taiping (Perak). The two events catered for the elderly and the rural folks. Altogether, the students tended to almost 3,000 members of the public in this year’s Public Health Campaign.

Organising Chairman of the event, Ong It Seang said that he could not have pulled off the event without the support of the dedicated team who had worked alongside him. He said that it was “the organising committee’s deep commitment towards the campaign that was the main motivation for making the campaign the huge success that it was!”

Students from both faculties had combined forces to provide important health screening tests to the public. They gave free cholesterol, glucose, Body Mass Index and blood pressure tests. At the end of the health screening process, individuals were counselled by qualified members of the academic staff as well as by students on diet change, and methods of diabetes prevention. Members of the public also received complimentary vitamins and other goodies. Students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences also conducted demonstrations on CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation), surgical bandaging and the Heimlich manoeuvre which is used to prevent deaths by choking among adults and babies.

According to statistics from the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of global death by disease. Diabetes currently affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 380 million by 2025. Out of these, the largest increases in diabetes would take place in developing countries, while a further 7 million people around the globe will develop diabetes each year.

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