{
  "id": 15580686,
  "title": "Prevention and early detection vital to reduce NCD rates, says Penang Exco",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/prevention-and-early-detection-vital-to-reduce-ncd-rates-says-penang",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T08:16:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Vibes",
    "slug": "the-vibes",
    "url": "https://www.thevibes.com/articles/lifestyles/128536/prevention-and-early-detection-vital-to-reduce-ncd-rates-says-penang-exco"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "State executive councillor Daniel Gooi Zi Sen emphasized that prevention, early detection, and timely medical intervention are crucial for reducing non-communicable disease (NCD) rates in Penang. As one of the states with the highest NCD prevalence in Malaysia, Penang's data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) shows a significant disparity compared to the rest of the country. Gooi highlighted that obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are among the major NCDs affecting the state. Alarmingly, a substantial number of adults, such as 7.7% with undiagnosed diabetes, remain unaware of their conditions. Gooi stressed the importance of community health education and urged residents to take greater responsibility for their well-being by adopting healthier habits and undergoing regular health checks. He also emphasized the need to improve the quality of life, given that Penang is among the states with a high ageing population status. Gooi stressed that everyone should prioritize their health, including women, as these issues concern the entire community, affecting families, livelihoods, and overall quality of life.",
  "summary": "PREVENTION and early detection are now essential if Penang wants to reduce its non-communicable disease (NCD) rates, which are among the highest in the country. State executive councillor Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said there is a need to put in place preven...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}