Health Top Priority For Bernama Staff Undergoing Executive Screenings At National Heart Institute

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The participation of 80 per cent of editorial department staff from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in the Executive Screening Programme (ESP) at the  National Heart Institute (IJN) this year reflects a high level of health awareness among media practitioners.

Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said that in the past, some staff from the department were hesitant to take part in the ESP due to concerns about the results they might receive after undergoing the screening.

“Each year, we offer 60 staff the opportunity to undergo screening, and the response has been increasingly encouraging, reflecting growing awareness even though initially some were hesitant to know their health status,” she told reporters after attending the ESP programme at IJN today.

Bernama Head of Management Services & Finance Sharifah Zaini Syed Zain and Head of Corporate Affairs Mariati Mohd Arif were also present at today’s programme.

Nur-ul Afida said participation in the programme is not based solely on age, but also considers service grade and the individual’s willingness to undergo screening.

She also shared that Bernama intends to continue its collaboration with IJN if financial conditions permit, as the screening method provides fast results and facilitates follow-up actions, including further treatment.

Meanwhile, IJN Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Ezani Md Taib said the initiative is a positive and proactive step by Bernama, noting that the journalism profession faces high work pressure that can increase the risk of chronic diseases.

He said factors such as irregular working hours, stress, poor diet and lack of physical activity expose media workers to conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

“Early screening is crucial to detect risks before they become serious, enabling preventive measures such as adopting a healthy lifestyle and reducing risk factors like smoking and stress,” he said.

According to him, awareness among media practitioners still needs to be further improved despite showing progress, and continuous efforts by organisations and employers are essential to ensure employee well-being.

The ESP programme, extended to Bernama staff - Grade 44 and below, aged 40 and above, was first implemented in September 2024 and has entered its third year this year.

Bernama’s initiative to provide health screenings for its staff is seen as an important step in raising awareness about the importance of early disease detection.

Bernama TV Chief Cameraman Ahmad Azmai Awang, 57, described the opportunity to undergo screening for the first time as very meaningful.

“This is my first health screening in my life and I feel fortunate to be selected. Through this screening, we can detect diseases early and take immediate action,” he said, expressing appreciation to Bernama for the opportunity.

Meanwhile, Bernama TV Assistant Assignment Editor J Kavirajan, 43, who has served for 17 years, said the programme helps staff understand their health status despite busy work schedules.

“This is my first time undergoing screening at IJN. We rarely go for check-ups due to work commitments, so this opportunity is very beneficial,” he said.

-- BERNAMA