Sun Life Malaysia Announces Five-Party Collaboration to Combat Rising Threat of Diabetes in Malaysia

10,000 Malaysians to Benefit From Early Diabetes Detection Campaign 

(L-R) Lim Jack Shen, Business Development Director of Tigas Alliance; Hiew Kai Ming, Deputy Chief Marketing & Branding Officer of AM PM Pharmacy; Alan Lee, National Sales Manager of Roche Diagnostics; Khor Xin Yun, CEO of Walnut Wellness; Raymond Lew, CEO & President/Country Head of Sun Life Malaysia and Leo Grepin, President of ASEAN, Sun Life Financial Asia, officiating the launch of Brighter Health Screening Programme that offers free diabetes screening to 10,000 Malaysians.

At least 10,000 Malaysians will benefit from free diabetes screening thanks to a new initiative announced today by Sun Life Malaysia Assurance Berhad and Sun Life Malaysia Takaful Berhad (collectively Sun Life Malaysia), a life insurance and Family Takaful provider respectively, in partnership with Walnut Wellness, Roche Diagnostics (M) Sdn Bhd, AM PM Pharmacy Sdn Bhd, and Tigas Alliance Sdn Bhd.

The Brighter Health Screening Programme will offer free diabetes screenings at 47 pharmacy branches across eight states – Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Perak, Johor, Penang, and Sabah. The scheme aims to enhance early diabetes detection among Malaysians and is part of Sun Life Malaysia’s “Brighter YOU” Corporate Responsibility initiatives.

Raymond Lew at the launch of the Brighter Health Screening Programme to benefit 10,000 Malaysians from early diabetes detection and raise overall awareness of the disease.

Raymond Lew, the CEO and President/Country Head of Sun Life Malaysia, shared, “Our Diabetes in Asia: Empowering Communities to Lead Healthier Lives report unearthed a troubling finding that Malaysia ranks the highest (3.5 million Malaysians) on the list of diabetes prevalence amongst Asian countries. The report also showed that 93% of Malaysians thought screening for diabetes was necessary, but only 27% have actually been screened. This means, while there is good awareness levels in terms of the importance of pre-emptive action, there is a worrying lack of actual preventive measures being taken by Malaysians”

“The partnership with these 4 healthcare providers is our immediate reaction to addressing these findings. As part of Sun Life Malaysia’s purpose to help people live healthier lives, we are committed to empowering more Malaysians to be proactive in mitigating this silent killer and we believe the blood glucose screenings will be a crucial first step in the right direction,” he added.

The signing ceremony to signify the five-party collaboration for the Brighter Health Screening Programme that offers free diabetes screenings at 47 pharmacy branches across eight states.

The free screenings also aim to identify potential undiagnosed diabetes among Malaysians in order to prevent or delay substantial long-term complications. Beyond direct intervention to screen potentially diabetic patients, the programme is also looking to raise overall awareness of the disease and educate them on proper diabetes management to lead healthier lives.

Sun Life Malaysia has focused on diabetes since 2013, collaborating with Diabetes Malaysia and HOPE Worldwide KL through financial aid for diabetic patients and awareness cum diabetes prevention programmes for the underprivileged.

The five-party collaboration committing to offer early diabetes detection among Malaysians and helping them live healthier lives.

Present at the signing ceremony were Leo Grepin, President of ASEAN, Sun Life Financial Asia; Raymond; Khor Xin Yun, CEO, Walnut Wellness; Alan Lee, National Sales Manager, Roche Diagnostics; Hiew Kai Ming, Deputy Chief Marketing & Branding Officer, AM PM Pharmacy; and Lim Jack Shen, Business Development Director, Tigas Alliance.

Leo Grepin added, “We need to fight the rise in diabetes by encouraging and empowering people to be active, eat healthy, and get screened. Simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference and the early screening available through this initiative will help thousands of people make the first step in better managing their health. Sun Life is committed to helping people live healthier lives. Winning the fight against diabetes is an important cause for Sun Life around the world and our largest community wellness initiative.”

Standees of Sun Life Malaysia's Brand Ambassador, Hairul Azreen will be placed at pharmacy branches across Malaysia in support of the Brighter Health Screening Programme to highlight the importance of early detection for diabetes.

Sun Life Malaysia’s ongoing efforts in promoting wellness among Malaysians include several community-focused initiatives such as its annual Resolution Run, a yearly race that advocates healthy living through running, and Live Healthier Lives events that feature regular community workout sessions and health activities to raise awareness on healthy living to the general public.

The Brighter Health Screening Programme will run from September to October 2019. For more information, please visit: bit.ly/SLMBrighterHealth or follow Sun Life Malaysia on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/sunlifemalaysia and Instagram at www.instagram.com/sunlifemalaysia_my.