PBB Nangka Women chief Sharifah Aminah Syed Junaidi (front row fifth right) handing over the electrocardiography machine to Abdul Wahid, witnessed by Dr Annuar (front row, third left).

SIBU: The new RM5,000 electrocardiography machine at 1Malaysia Clinic (K1M) in Bandong Road complements the ongoing ‘I Love My Heart’ programme here.

The equipment, donated by PBB Women Sibu, was presented to K1M Bandong assistant medical officer Abdul Wahid Putit at the Nangka Service Centre here yesterday, witnessed by Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.

Dr Annuar, who is a UK-trained cardiologist, said the new equipment would be among the machines to be used for the ‘I Love My Heart’ programme here.

“We have been receiving good response to the programme, seeing that more and more people are registering for it,” he told The Borneo Post.

He further acknowledged that K1M Bandong was the first and only clinic in the country to be equipped with the state-of-art echocardiography and electrocardiography machines used for the cardiovascular risk screening programme.

“Patients merely need to make appointment and pay RM1 for the services, which include full consultation on cardiovascular diseases,” he said, noting that more people had been diagnosed with symptoms of cardiovascular diseases nowadays – with sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles being dubbed as the primary factor.

On the programme, Dr Annuar explained that it was to screen patients and determine if they had heart disease, as well as their risk of contracting one within 10 years.

“We will also measure your waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, as well as provide full consultation on cardiovascular diseases focusing on coronary artery complications, which may lead to heart disease and stroke.

“We will carry out physical assessments in relation to heart disease, including investigations using the machines.”

However Dr Annuar clarified that the clinic did not dispense medication under the screening programme.