Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : HOTEL SUNWAY LAGOON RESOR,
PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR
Tarikh/Date : 13/08/97
Tajuk/Title : MAJLIS MAKAN MALAM SEMPENA
PELANCARAN YAYASAN HEPAR MALAYSIA
1. Terlebih dahulu saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada
pihak Penganjur kerana menjemput saya untuk melancarkan
Yayasan Hepar Malaysia pada malam ini.
2. Yayasan Hepar Malaysia adalah salah sebuah Yayasan
yang terbuka kepada rakyat Malaysia yang ingin
menyumbangkan tenaga dan masa untuk membantu mengawal
penyakit hepar dan membantu mereka yang mengidap penyakit
tersebut.
3. Pada hari ini terdapat kekurangan kemahiran dan
kemudahan untuk menangani penyakit hepar di negara ini,
khususnya dalam menjalankan pemindahan hepar.
Alhamdullilah sekarang telah ada usaha untuk menubuhkan
Yayasan ini supaya pelbagai program dan strategi dapat
dijalankan untuk membolehkan negara ini menawarkan rawatan
yang sebaik-baiknya dalam bidang hepatobiliari selaras
dengan aspirasi negara untuk menjadi pusat kecemerlangan
di rantau ini.
4. Rakyat Malaysia seperti rakyat negara lain juga tidak
terhindar daripada serangan penyakit-penyakit sekiranya
cara hidup mereka kurang baik atau mereka tidak menjalani
pemeriksaan perubatan dari semasa ke semasa. Ada beberapa
sebab tumpuan diberi kepada penyakit ini. Antaranya ialah
bagi memastikan rakyat kita tidak diserang oleh sejenis
penyakit yang memang boleh dibendung. Keduanya ialah
kerana inilah salah satu cara yang baik bagi kita mengawal
komplikasi-komplikasi bahaya seperti sirosis dan kanser
hepar.
5. The liver is a very interesting organ. It is the
largest organ in the body and is essential for life. It is
in essence a chemical factory with over 100 complex
functions. It is second only to our brain in its
complexity and is vital for life. The liver fights
infection, makes essential chemicals and filters poisons.
The adult liver is as big as a rugby ball and has an
amazing capacity to regenerate itself. Unlike people, it
does not complain very much and can still function
normally with half its size provided of course that half
is normal. We need therefore to take care of our liver.
If we do not, this non-complaining, complex chemical
factory will break down and soon enough we too will break
down and when that happens we have to look for a new
liver, if there is one.
6. Liver disease can affect all ages. Thousands suffer
and die each year from hepatitis, liver cirrhosis
(scarring of the liver), and liver cancer. Hepatitis, a
form of liver disease, is sometimes referred to as a
silent killer much like high blood pressure as people who
suffer from the disease often are not aware that they have
the disease until too late. We can, however, overcome
this silent killer with early diagnosis and better
treatment.
7. Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, is a problem
in Malaysia although the overall incidence appears to be
decreasing. The total number of hepatitis cases reported
in Government hospitals has declined from 2,450 in 1992 to
1,581 in 1996. Three types of hepatitis have been
reported in this country. They are hepatitis A, hepatitis
B and hepatitis C. There are other types of hepatitis
called hepatitis D, hepatitis E and hepatitis G. I am not
sure whether we will see the emergence of hepatitis M by
the year 2020.
8. The estimated annual incidence of hepatitis A
worldwide is about 1.5 million. The true incidence
however may be 3-10 times greater. In Malaysia, the
reported incidence of hepatitis A has decreased over the
years with improvement in sanitation, water supply and
personal hygiene.
9. Hepatitis A is, I am told, contracted by eating food
or drinking water which has been contaminated with the
hepatitis A virus. In the wake of the forthcoming
Commonwealth Games next year, we must continue to be
vigilant and ensure that no athlete or visitors to
Malaysia comes down with this disease from now as it will
cast a poor image of health standards in this country. I
would like therefore to remind all Malaysians especially
food handlers to be absolutely clean when they prepare
food. The rest of us can help in this crusade by avoiding
raw or inadequately cooked shellfish, raw salads and
vegetables, untreated drinking water, ice cubes and
unpasteurised milk and by maintaining a high standard of
personal hygiene.
10. There is an estimated 50 million new cases of
hepatitis B annually with 1.5 million deaths due to its
complications which include cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Like hepatitis A, the incidence of hepatitis B in Malaysia
has also declined over the years.
11. Primary liver cancer is one of the top 10 cancers
reported among Malaysian males in Malaysia. The major
risk factor is cirrhosis from any cause. Hepatitis B is
the most important cause in this region.
12. Liver cancer can be cured if discovered early i.e
when the tumour is small and the rest of the liver is
normal. Unfortunately up to 80 percent of patients with
liver cancer in Malaysia present too late for curative
treatment mainly because it is difficult to detect in the
early stages as the initial symptoms are usually vague.
13. These are some of the reasons why the Malaysian Liver
Foundation is established. By increasing public awareness
on the early symptoms of the disease and the diagnostic
facilities and treatment available, the Foundation is
hopeful that the disease can be curbed. By preventing
hepatitis B and C, one can expect a decline in the
incidence of liver cancer.
14. There are no special machines to take over the
functions of the liver. If it fails completely or
becomes seriously damaged, the only solution is a liver
transplant. Liver transplantation is the only solution
for end-stage liver disease. In Malaysia, there are at
least 2,000 new cases of end-stage liver disease each
year. Of these, 10 per cent will require a liver
transplant. For organ transplantation to succeed, we need
public co-operation and education. Organ donation in this
country is rather slow. I hope the Liver Foundation will
join forces with the Ministry of Health and other relevant
organisations to embark on an active public education on
organ donation nationwide.
15. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by the
Trustees and the Executive Committee and members of the
Malaysian Liver Foundation. By working closely with
people suffering from liver disease, their families and
friends, health professionals, medical practitioners and
researchers, the foundation will succeed in enhancing the
standards of care, garnering public support and improving
the quality of treatment for hepatobiliary diseases.
16. To make a greater impact in this region, we also need
to invest in basic and clinical research. Research offers
hope for the future and the possibility of prevention,
better treatment and cure of liver disease.
17. I urge all Malaysians to continue supporting the
Malaysian Liver Foundation in its efforts to combat the
disease and promote excellence in diagnosis and treatment.
18. Saya ucapkan terima kasih sekali lagi kepada pihak
Penganjur kerana menjemput saya dan isteri saya untuk
hadir di Majlis pada malam ini. Saya harap kita akan
berusaha dengan gigih untuk memberi rawatan yang sebaik
mungkin kepada rakyat kita dan juga sesiapa sahaja di
rantau ini yang memerlukan rawatan yang terkini dan
canggih daripada kita.
19. Saya harap kita dapat menyediakan semua program yang
berkaitan dan dapat membuat persiapan ke arah menawarkan
kemudahan-kemudahan pemindahan hepar kepada rakyat kita
supaya mereka tidak perlu lagi pergi ke luar negeri untuk
mendapat rawatan ini.
20. Malaysia boleh dan Malaysia akan terus berjaya dalam
apa jua bidang yang diceburi rakyatnya, Insya Allah.
Marilah kita bersama-sama menuju ke alaf berikutnya dengan
semangat yang kuat, badan yang teguh, hati yang tabah dan
hepar yang sihat.
21. Dengan ini saya dengan sukacitanya merasmikan
Pelancaran Yayasan Hepar Malaysia.
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