KUALA LUMPUR, JUNE 2019 – Malaysia has the highest rate of diabetes in Asia, and more effort is required to both understand the root cause of this problem and engage high-risk individuals at the grassroots level to improve the prevention, diagnosis and management of this disease.
In support of the Ministry of Health’s on-going war against diabetes, Ascensia Diabetes Care, the world’s leading provider of solutions for diabetes care, has been spearheading a unique campaign aimed at reaching out to communities within the Klang Valley to promote the pro-active prevention and management of diabetes. At the same time, the campaign also aims to gather better insights into why Malaysians have an apathetic attitude when it comes to diabetes.
The six-month campaign called ‘#DriveAgainstDiabetes’ was conducted in collaboration with Diabetes Malaysia. At the heart of the campaign is a full-size 44-seater passenger bus unit that will travel to various high-traffic locations throughout the Klang Valley.
The bus carries a team of trained individuals from both Diabetes Malaysia and Ascensia, who will provide free blood sugar check-up and engage members of the public with a host of interactive activities such as games and contests centered around diabetes with attractive giveaways. The campaign is designed to educate people on diabetes symptoms, prevention and management. As an important part of the campaign, participants are also being asked to fill out a survey, aimed at acquiring better insights into urbanites' mindset in relation to diabetes.
Maximilian Lim, Business Manager of Ascensia Diabetes Care Malaysia, said “#DriveAgainstDiabetes is Ascensia Diabetes Care Malaysia’s initiative in Malaysia to support the on-going War on Diabetes.”
“We understand that Malaysians are both well-educated and well-aware of the disease but are not taking proactive efforts to prevent the disease or get diagnosed. We want to understand why, so that we can provide ways to overcome these barriers to better prevention.”
“At the same time, as a world-renowned diabetes care solutions provider, we also want to drive home the message that Accuracy, Balance, and Commitment are the key elements to preventing or managing this condition effectively in at-risk Malaysians and those who have diabetes," he added.
‘#DriveAgainstDiabetes’ campaign started in January 2019 and will stop at 20 locations in total. To date, the campaign has successfully engaged more than 11,000 people from selected venues in Kajang, Kepong, Bangi, Semenyih, Bangsar, Petaling Jaya Town, Kuala Lumpur City Center, Puchong, Klang, Selayang, Shah Alam, and Ampang.
Prof Datuk Dr. Ikram Shah Ismail, President of Diabetes Malaysia, added, “It is essential that all Malaysians, including those living with diabetes, learn how to detect the early signs of this condition and manage their lifestyle effectively.”
“Diabetes Malaysia will continue to support initiatives like ‘#DriveAgainstDiabetes’, which we are confident will drive more Malaysians to take charge of their own lives and encourage their loved ones to do the same, especially during this festive period," he concluded.
For more information on #DriveAgainstDiabetes, please visit: https://contourmy.com/home. / FB – Contour Diabetes Solutions
ENDS
About Ascensia Diabetes Care
Ascensia Diabetes Care is a global specialist diabetes care company, dedicated to helping people living with diabetes. Our mission is to empower people living with diabetes through innovative solutions that simplify and improve their lives. We use our innovation and specialist expertise in diabetes to develop high-quality solutions and tools that make a positive, daily difference for people with diabetes.
Home to the world-renowned CONTOUR® portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems, our products combine advanced technology with user-friendly functionality that helps people with diabetes to manage their condition. We are committed to continued research, innovation, and development of new products and solutions. As a trusted partner in the diabetes community, we collaborate closely with healthcare professionals and other partners to ensure our products meet the highest standards of accuracy, precision and reliability, and that we conduct our business compliantly and with integrity.
Ascensia Diabetes Care was established in 2016 through the sale of Bayer Diabetes Care to Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd. Ascensia Diabetes Care products are sold in more than 125 countries. Ascensia Diabetes Care has around 1,700 employees and operations in 31 countries.
For further information, please visit the Ascensia Diabetes Care website at: http://www.ascensia.com.
About Diabetes Malaysia
Diabetes Malaysia (DM) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization formed in 1981 and registered in 1983. DM has 14 State Branches and 39 District Branches with about 13,351 active members in 2018 comprising people with diabetes, medical and health professionals and others interested in diabetes. Our mission is to promote diabetes care through awareness, prevention, education and management. DM is an affiliate of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) since 1985 and actively participates in its activities.
For further information, please visit: www.diabetesmalaysia.org.my or contact DM at pdm@diabetesmalaysia.org.my / 03-7957 4062
