Death Rate Of Brunei’s Infants Goes Down
By Laila Rahman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam is ranked 40 in terms of Health Achievement compared with other 191 countries around the world.

Based on a World Health Organisation study, Brunei is effectively the 4th in the Western Pacific Region and the 2nd in the Asean region.

This was disclosed by Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Hj Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Education, as the guest of honour at the closing ceremony of the "National Seminar on Health Promotion 2004" that took place at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.

Initially, the ceremony began with a welcoming speech made by Dato Paduka Awg Hj Zainal bin Hj Momin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the seminar resolution to the guest of honour.

Pehin Dato Hj Abdul Aziz added that the infant mortality rate has declined from 12.8 in 1984 to 8.3 in every 1000 in the year 2002, while the rate of mother's deaths for every 1000 live births is very low, at 0.3 in 2002. Life expectancy for Male is 73.5 and 76.1 for Female, which is on par with the United Kingdom, said the Minister.

Brunei Darussalam has achieved not only the international objective of "Education for all" but also one of "Health for all", which pictured the high living standard of the country, which meets the international quality of life, thereby enabling Brunei to compete with most developed countries.

Currently, Brunei has been declared as the country free from almost every infectious disease among children such as Dry cough, Polio and Malaria.

"Based on the data from the Ministry of Health, which was on titah by His Majesty that cancer disease, heart disease, diabetic complication, high blood pressure are among the main causes of death in the country," said the Minister.

"This may be prevented through maintaining our health, to change our attitude and to practice positive habits, as `Prevention is better than cure'."

"Proper Health Care is ensured through healthy food intake, balanced with regular exercise, a clean environment, avoidance from smoking and strengthening the relationships among us," he added.

He said health promotion is considered to be one of the efforts and measures for Brunei to be aware of the importance of upgrading health in every day lives.

Pehin Dato Hj Abdul Aziz was confident that an effective measure was through education.

"It is of major importance to train and to guide the students from school level before it is too late, which is through a balanced education that includes the importance of the pure spiritual and physical aspects. Evidence has shown that most of the individuals who are involved with the misuse of drugs and others are derived from people who are weak in the spiritual aspect."

In concluding, Pehin stated that the continuance of the follow-up action should be made as to implement the resolutions, which were provided by the parties that were involved. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News