11/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 11, 2026

26

HEALTH

A healthcare worker helps a

MAAEDICARE EXPANDS FREE PREVENTIVE HEALTHCARE MODEL WITH THIRD NILAI CLINIC Maaedicare Charitable Foundation has launched its third Klinik Amal Percuma in Nilai, expanding its preventive healthcare model for underserved communities after treating over 8,176 patients nationwide since 2023. Developed in partnership with the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, the free clinic focuses on early detection, chronic disease management and ongoing treatment for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease. The initiative aims to remove financial barriers that often delay healthcare access for lower-income families, while shifting care from reactive hospital treatment to proactive community-based intervention. Operating six days a week, the Nilai clinic offers free consultations, health screenings and lifestyle counselling. MUDAH HEALTHTECH Mudah Healthtech has launched its Sihat Xpress Kiosk at the Health Ministry’s Sandakan Wellness Hub, supporting Malaysia’s push towards preventive healthcare and improved rural access. The digital health kiosk enables remote communities to monitor key health indicators, allowing earlier detection of potential conditions before they worsen. Backed by Measat’s satellite connectivity, the initiative addresses healthcare access challenges in underserved East Malaysian regions by overcoming geographical barriers. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad said the programme aligns with Malaysia’s broader shift from reactive “sick care” to proactive health management, while Mudah Healthtech aims to reach up to 1 million Malaysians in remote areas. The kiosk strengthens local healthcare inclusivity by combining digital innovation with community based accessibility. FOR years, Aurelie Hamon struggled with painful, heavy legs that continued to enlarge despite strict diets, regular exercise and personal training. Walking for extended periods became difficult, yet medical advice repeatedly focused on weight loss rather than investigating deeper causes. It was only after discovering similar experiences online that the 47-year old Frenchwoman recognised the possibility of lipoedema – a chronic condition marked by abnormal fat accumulation, most commonly in the legs and sometimes the arms, unrelated to obesity. “But I had tried every diet imaginable – even my personal trainer could not understand why I wasn’t losing weight. Walking for more than 20 minutes was impossible without feeling extremely heavy and a tightening sensation,” the 47-year LAUNCHES SIHAT XPRESS KIOSK TO BOOST RURAL PREVENTIVE CARE

visitor undergo a test for early signs of asthma.

BR I E F S

Kerol shares her experience of living with asthma.

Breathing easy with asthma o Biologic therapy offers hope to patients with chronic respiratory conditions

O NCE an avid mountain climber, diver, cave explorer, marathon runner and long-distance cyclist, Kerol Noraashikin Shafiee never imagined that simple activities such as walking to the bathroom would one day become physically challenging for her. The mother of five now has severe stage-five chronic asthma, a condition that forced her to give up her active lifestyle. “Cycling 40km used to be normal for me. But after being diagnosed with severe asthma, everything changed. I even sold all my sports equipment. Today, my biggest achievement is being able to return to work and help support my family despite my health condition,” she told Bernama. Recalling the early days of her illness, the 45-year-old government employee said the ordeal began when she was pregnant with her second child at the age of 31, when she started experiencing shortness of breath and persistent coughing. “At the time, I simply bought a blue asthma inhaler from a pharmacy after asking friends for advice, without seeking medical consultation. Although it provided immediate relief, the real problem was never treated,” she added. Her condition gradually worsened with each pregnancy, becoming especially critical during her fifth pregnancy in 2021 and sixth in 2023.

Muhriz (HCTM) Endoscopy Services Centre head Prof Dr Mohamed Faisal Abd Hamid said HCTM, a teaching hospital, is the first under the Higher Education Ministry to use tezepelumab, with Kerol becoming its first patient. He said the treatment serves as an additional therapy for stage-five asthma patients whose condition can no longer be controlled even with maximum inhaler use. According to him, the treatment is administered through regular subcutaneous injections, usually once a month. “This biologic therapy works by regulating the immune system to prevent chronic inflammation of the airways. As the first patient to receive this treatment at HCTM, Kerol has shown positive progress.” Mohamed Faisal, who is also a senior consultant pulmonologist and internal medicine specialist at the hospital, stressed the treatment must be continued consistently and should not be stopped abruptly without medical supervision, despite its cost exceeding RM100,000 annually. However, he added asthma management does not rely solely on medication, but also requires a very comprehensive approach that includes identifying attack triggers, managing body weight and maintaining a healthy diet and environment. Hospital

Members of the public visit and receive explanations regarding a variety of inhalers during the 2026 World Asthma Day Awareness Programme held at HCTM recently. – PICS FROM BERNAMA

disrupted her daily life, with environmental factors such as confined spaces, perfume scents, cigarette smoke and weather changes capable of triggering sudden asthma attacks. She added she underwent continuous treatment for her various health complications – including slipped disc and chronic sinusitis – as well as used several asthma inhalers to manage her condition. However, her condition became more stable in 2024 after she started taking tezepelumab, a biologic therapy for asthma. Meanwhile, Canselor Tuanku

“During my sixth pregnancy, I was not only struggling with frequent asthma attacks that forced me to sleep sitting upright, but I was also diagnosed with multiple health complications, including systemic lupus erythematosus. The most heartbreaking moment was losing my baby at 26 weeks of pregnancy while I was battling a severe asthma attack, as well as blood clots in my lungs (pulmonary embolism),” she said. Kerol, who has a degree in nursing from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said her condition has significantly

Hidden in plain sight: Reality of lipoedema in women

many globally. Conservative management often focuses on anti-inflammatory diets, regular physical activity, compression garments and lymphatic drainage to help reduce symptoms and improve mobility. Barrier of high treatment costs For more severe cases, therapeutic liposuction may significantly improve pain, mobility and overall quality of life. However, the treatment often requires multiple procedures and remains financially inaccessible for many patients due to limited public healthcare coverage. Some patients have turned to crowdfunding or personal loans to finance surgeries that can cost tens of thousands of euros. Unlike cosmetic liposuction, this specialised treatment targets diseased fat tissue and may offer lasting symptom relief. Despite women

identified in 1940, it was only officially recognised as a disease in France in 2018, reflecting how long the condition has remained underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Many patients face years – sometimes decades – before receiving an accurate diagnosis. According to French patient advocacy groups, the average diagnosis timeline can stretch up to 20 years, with many women initially misdiagnosed with obesity or lymphedema instead. This prolonged medical uncertainty often leaves patients dealing not only with physical symptoms, but also emotional distress, including guilt, disordered eating and depression. Recent research published in Nature Communications highlights medical understanding of lipoedema remains limited, with underdiagnosis continuing to delay proper care for

old French sales representative told AFP. Lipoedema can cause persistent pain, swelling, easy bruising and disproportionate body shape, often severely affecting mobility and quality of life. Despite estimates suggesting it may affect up to one in 10 women globally, awareness remains low and diagnosis is frequently delayed. Hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause are believed to influence the condition, while genetics and inflammation may also contribute. Additionally, because it almost exclusively affects women, lipoedema has been compared to endometriosis and other female health problems long overlooked by a historically male-focused medical establishment. Decades of delayed diagnosis Although lipoedema was first

growing evidence supporting its benefits, many national healthcare systems have yet to formally cover lipoedema surgery due to insufficient large-scale research. Advocacy groups continue pushing for broader recognition and healthcare support, with hopes that increasing scientific evidence will eventually lead to better treatment accessibility for women living with this often-overlooked condition. Lipoedema is a chronic condition marked by abnormal fat accumulation unrelated to obesity. – 123RFPIC