By Atira Khalisha Nor Adnan
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- For busy educators juggling lessons, administrative duties and the needs of their students, putting off a health check can seem easy, especially when the symptoms appear minor.
For Chung Hua High School principal Dr Sua Sin Zang, 63, who collapsed suddenly in his office several years ago, it served as a wake-up call, prompting him to take his health more seriously.
Sua had been under emotional stress following an incident at the school when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
“Before that, I already knew I had hypertension. But when I collapsed, that was when I realised it was a serious matter,” he told Bernama after the launch of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Teachers’ Health Screening Sponsorship Programme here, recently.
Sua, who has spent more than 25 years in the education sector, started undergoing regular medical check-ups, with subsequent screenings identifying concerns including high cholesterol and fatty liver that required dietary changes and medication.
His experience taught him an important lesson – symptoms that appear minor should not simply be dismissed as the result of stress or a demanding work schedule.
“If we do regular health screenings, at least we know something is happening to our body and seek treatment earlier,” he said.
Sua also learned the importance of managing stress.
Recalling that he was more easily angered when he was younger, Sua said he gradually learned to remain calm and manage his emotions when dealing with problems.
The need for teachers to pay greater attention to their health is also the focus of the Teachers’ Health Screening Sponsorship Programme, jointly initiated by MJ Health Screening Centre, Lee Chong Wei Foundation and OlyLife.
MJHM Group, which operates MJ Health Screening Centre, executive chairman Datuk Mike Tee Swee Guan said the initiative sought to encourage teachers to prioritise their own health while continuing their vital role in educating and nurturing the younger generation.
“Teachers are among the most important guardians of the foundation of a nation. Yet, amidst their demanding responsibilities, they tend to overlook their own health and well-being,” he said.
He said regular and comprehensive health screenings could support early detection and intervention of various health conditions, while reinforcing the message that caring for teachers’ health was also an investment in the future of education.
Under the health screening initiative, 1,000 teachers nationwide will receive the sponsored health screening package comprising 135 screening items, with a market value of RM3,380 per package.
Participating educators are required to pay an RM98 enrolment fee to secure their screening slot and can register via www.mjhealthscreening.com.
-- BERNAMA