• LOOKING AFTER THE HEARTS OF SARAWAK: BRIDGING THE GAP IN HEART FAILURE (HF) CARE IN SARAWAK

    December 19, 2024 /

    By Dr Chung Bui Khiong Clinical Cardiologist, Sarawak Heart Centre   Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest state, spanning around 800 kilometres along its northwest coast. As of 2021, it is home to 2.8 million people from almost 40 different sub-ethnic groups across varied socioeconomic backgrounds. The state of Sarawak is divided into 11 divisions with its capital, Kuching city, on its southwest tip. Sarawak Heart Centre, Sarawak’s sole cardiology centre, is located in Kota Samarahan with a limited number of cardiologists to provide care for HF patients throughout the state. Owing to the expansive size of the state, access to cardiologists is constrained by logistical challenges. The care is often shared…

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  • Diabetes Heart Connection Day

    November 24, 2024 /

    Diabetes Heart Connection Day, a collaboration between Sarawak Heart Foundation and Sibu Hospital, was held at Permai Lakeside Garden on 16 November 2024. Diabetes and heart disease are two of the most prevalent health concerns globally, affecting millions of people worldwide. Despite their distinct characteristics, these two conditions share a strong connection, with diabetics having a 2-4 times increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in Malaysia accounting for 17% of deaths in 2022 and approximately 50% of patients with acute coronary syndrome have diabetes. Deputy President of Dewan Rakyat YB Alice Lau who is also Member of Parliament for Lanang, officiated at…

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  • Electricity For Life 2024 

    November 13, 2024 /

    A Sarawak Heart Foundation Initiative in collaboration with:  Sarawak State Health Department   Sarawak Heart Centre   Medtronic International (Malaysia)  Report by Dr Esteban Chin, Clinical Cardiologist, Sarawak Heart Centre on behalf of the travel team for Electricity for Life Initiative 

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  • MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR PROPOSED CARDIAC UNIT IN BINTULU HOSPITAL

    November 7, 2024 /

    The Sarawak Heart Foundation has successfully raised RM2.25 million for the purchase of medical equipment and consumables for the setting up of the cardiac unit in Bintulu Hospital. Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) contributed RM1.6 million while Press Metal Bintulu Sdn Bhd sponsored RM500,000 and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad added RM150,000.   Some of the basic infrastructure was already in place in Bintulu Hospital and upon the delivery of the equipment scheduled for early 2025, cardiology services will commence immediately. Cardiologists from Sarawak Heart Centre will be assigned to take care of the patients in Bintulu Hospital.  The cardiac unit will be able to address the immediate needs of Bintulu Hospital…

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  • Extending Diagnostics from Patients to Population

    July 29, 2024 /

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and ranks fourth in hospitalizations at Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals in Malaysia(1). Patients with CVD in Malaysia are on average 10 years younger than those in developed countries(2). Increasing burden of CVD is primarily due to the rising prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol(3,4). As of 2019, 3 out of every 10 adults in Malaysia had hypertension, 1 out of every 5 had diabetes, and 4 out of every 10 had high cholesterol(4). Access to critical cardiology services at a public tertiary level in Sarawak is severely hampered by the fact that there is only one cardiology centre…

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  • Health Screening on Sarawak Day @ The Spring Bintulu

    July 29, 2024 /

    Doctors and nurses from Bintulu Hospital conducted the free health screening held at the launching of the State-level Immunisation Programme “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) at the Spring Bintulu on Sarawak Day 22 July 2024.  Deputy Premier of Sarawak YB Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian who is also the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Public Health and Deputy Chairman of Sarawak Heart Foundation officiated at the event themed Leaving No One Behind: Eliminating Cervical Cancer in Malaysia.

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