Public health issues especially those involving the Orang Asli community are always a priority of the government in line with the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS).
The initiative focuses on several factors such as healthy lifestyle, healthy environment, health access, self-care and health screening.
Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said that the implementation of a health inspection for the Orang Asli aims to ensure all Malaysians achieve optimum health status and no one is left behind
“Although many health programmes have been carried out by various agencies including the Ministry of Health (KKM) to improve the health and diet of the Orang
Asli, the Ministry has a lack of data on the health status of the Negritos in the rural areas compared to Negritos in the outskirts.
“Thus this health inspection for the Orang Asli is in line with the nationwide initiative. The government always cares about the people in every aspect.
He said so when launching the health inspection for the Orang Asli at the Kampung Sahom Community Hall in Kampar today.
This inspection will involve more than 20,000 Orang Asli respondents from 71 settlements representing three major groups: Senoi, Proto-Malay and Negrito from the rural areas, outskirts and urban areas.
The data from the inspection will be able to provide the real picture of the health status of the Orang Asli from various localities.
The Orang Asli community represents 0.6% out of the overall population of Malaysia or at approximately 200,000 people.
According to Khairy, at the moment, the Orang Asli community has access to all health facilities of KKM in addition to health services such as mobile hospitals especially for those in the rural areas.
“The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) is responsible for the welfare matters of the community while the health services specifically have been handed over to KKM beginning 2012.
“Congratulations to the Institute for Public Health (IKU) for carrying out this initiative to obtain necessary health data in order to improve the health services for the community.
by Rosli
