Melaka: A total of 76 percent, or 52,526 individuals aged 18 and above, have undergone free health screenings under the National Health Screening Initiative's (NHSI) target in Melaka this year. State Health director Dr Ruzita Mustaffa stated that the initiative aimed to encourage early health screening to detect non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, residents in the Alor Gajah district recorded the highest participation with 83 percent or 14,663 people, followed by Jasin with 75 percent or 7,449 people, and Melaka Tengah with 70 percent or 36,167 people. Dr Ruzita noted that screenings can be conducted at all nearby health clinics and at health counters during outreach programmes organised by the state Health Department or other events.

Dr Ruzita provided these insights after officiating the state-level 2025 World Diabetes Day celebration, launched by State Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem. She highlighted that NHSI, now in its third year, has consistently exceeded screening targets, indicating a growing public awareness of the importance of early health checks.

This year, screenings were made available to all individuals aged 18 and above, expanding from the previous two years when they were limited to those aged 35 and above. Dr Ruzita emphasized that recent health trends show many young individuals aged 18 to 29 face health issues such as diabetes and hypertension, often unaware of their condition until they undergo screenings.