Thursday evening, Her Royal Highness had a meeting with the Vice-Governor of Jiangsu Province, Her Excellency Huang Lixin. During the discussions, both sides exchanged views on ways of enhancing economic cooperation and highlighted the potential in a number of sectors such as manufacturing and services. Following the meeting, Her Excellency Huang Lixin hosted a dinner in honour of Her Royal Highness.

Throughout the official visit, Her Royal Highness is being accompanied by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz.

The role of the Mukim and Kampung Consultative Councils is not only to monitor the welfare of the community but to promote the spirit of unity among residents. The “memucang-mucang” or voluntary work is an age old tradition maintained until today.

In the year 2004, the department received a total of 512 urgent cases, 14 thousand 863 semi-urgent cases, 60 thousand 608 non-urgent cases, and 3 thousand 946 review cases. Patients who really need urgent treatment will be given the priority whilst the less urgent will be treated later. The condition of emergency treatment is when the disease or badly injured cases that can lead to handicap or even death if not treated immediately. The department is always prepared and ready to give prompt response and support to emergency cases requiring urgent or major medical treatment. For such purposes, it also organises advance courses on medical and nursing.

Out of 8 patients received at the Accident and Emergency Service Department in a day, there is usually only one serious or less serious patient. Treatment for the non-emergency cases can be done effectively on working days at the nearest Health Centre Services in the country. Meanwhile after the working hours, non-serious cases can be treated at the Ong Sum Ping Clinic which is open from 6 in the afternoon till 9 in the evening. During public holidays, the clinic is open from 2 in the afternoon until 9 in the evening; while for public holiday in lieu, it’s open from 2 in the afternoon until 11 in the evening.

Those who suffer mild ailment or minor injuries should not rush to go to the Accident and Emergency Service Department but are advised to seek treatment at the nearest Health Service Centre. If one gets sick during night time and is not seriously ill, he or she can see the doctor the next morning. If the person cannot stand the pain, only then he can seek medical attention at the Emergency Service Department. At the moment, there are 7 Health Service Centres in the Brunei Muara District after the launching of the decentralisation of outpatients services from the RIPAS Hospital to other Health Service Centres in the year 2000. Such services were also available outside the Brunei Muara District, 4 in Belait and another 4 in Tutong District. At the moment, the Ministry of Health is holding a roadshow aimed at channeling patients suffering minor injuries going to their nearest Health Services, so that the Accident and Emergency Service Department can function more effectively apart from upgrading its service as to handle serious cases that need urgent treatment.

According to a Neurologist at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Doctor Haji Hameed Nainar, Ischaemic Strokes are caused by reduction in blood flow to some regions in the brain, usually due to a clot obstructing the artery supplying that region. Haemorrhagic Strokes are caused by rupture of a blood vessel producing bleeding within the brain.

The report on the Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke, published by the World Health Organisation, WHO shows that heart disease and stroke are also becoming more deadly, with a projected combined death toll of 24 million by 2030. Both kill 17 million persons each year and are increasingly likely to afflict those in poor countries. Young people are increasingly adopting unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity, poor diets, smoking and physical inactivity are the leading causes of heart disease and stroke are now being seen at an alarmingly early age. WHO said that the young should be encouraged as early as possible to lead a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, before they can develop any serious problems.

Doctor Haji Hameed further suggested that most people know the symptoms of a heart attack and that they would come to the hospital immediately and gets an appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, very few people are aware of the symptoms and signs of a stroke and therefore come to hospital much later after the stroke.
In this matter, emphasis should be laid on prevention strategies. The public should be advised to have regular medical check-ups to monitor their blood pressure, to check cholesterol and blood sugar levels and to find out if they have any heart diseases. They should be advised to stop smoking, increase exercises and lose weight if they are obese. They must be strongly advised to seek medical attention immediately if they have any warning signs of stroke.