By Yasmin Ramlan
CYBERJAYA, Oct 24 — Selangor’s efforts to enhance healthcare access for the B40 group, particularly in promoting healthy ageing, has drawn high praise for ensuring that vulnerable communities can access vital nutrition and essential needs.
Epidemiology and public health expert Prof Dr Mohamed Rusli Abdullah said the various initiatives adopted by the state have helped ease the health challenges faced by lower-income population.
The Universiti Sains Malaysia academic cited the Box of Hope initiative by state agency Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd as a prime example of how Selangor has actively contributed to meeting the essential needs of elderly individuals within the B40 group.
“In Selangor, they have a programme where they engage convenience stores or retailers, and small and medium businesses to supply essential goods to the B40 group.
“That’s a really effective way of making sure that they are not short of food and other basic necessities,” he told Selangor Journal after his presentation on Healthy Ageing Interventive Prevention at University of Cyberjaya, here, today.
The programme is held as part of the two-day Selangor Public Health Conference, which ends today.
Rusli expressed hope the initiative will continue in the future, with improvements.
Box of Hope, which was launched by Air Selangor, aims to support the B40 community in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya and alleviate food insecurity among vulnerable populations by providing essential food supplies.
Rusli said the programme ensures that the B40 group, especially in urban areas, are not left without access to food or essential supplies, which is crucial in supporting their overall well-being.
However, he emphasised the need for better coordination among financial assistance programmes, as overlaps and gaps often result in unequal distribution of benefits.
To better support the elderly population, he suggested improving policies to streamline resource allocation and ensure all elderly individuals receive adequate support for healthy ageing.
Selangor has implemented various policies and programmes to address the health needs of its ageing population, including the Healthy Ageing: Frailty Prevention Among Senior Citizen initiative, which aims to raise awareness about frailty and enhance the health status of seniors.
Other programmes include the Skim Mesra Usia Emas (SMUE), which provides financial support, including shopping vouchers and death benefits, to improve the quality of life for elderly citizens.
To address the issue of overlapping and unequal distribution, Rusli highlighted the need to strengthen support systems for the elderly by collaborating with the Health Ministry.
“We need to strengthen this approach and collaborate more closely with the ministry, which has already established clinics for elderly care at specific health centres.
“These clinics address family health issues comprehensively. By integrating these efforts, we can create a robust support system for the elderly.”
He stressed the importance of mental well-being, noting that emotional preparedness is crucial as individuals age, especially when facing major life transitions such as retirement or the loss of loved ones.
“Focusing on both physical and mental health is crucial for promoting healthy ageing,” he said.
