James Kon

A mass media campaign for the National Strategy on Salt Reduction 2020 is slated to take off in early March, the Health Promotion Centre (HPC) said yesterday.

This was disclosed when Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar officiated the launching of the National Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Eating Brunei Darussalam 2020 (NDGs) during a symposium held at the MoH’s Al-’Afiah Hall to improve the dietary and lifestyle habits of the Bruneian population.

Head of the HPC and chairperson of the organising committee for the launching event Dr Hajah Norhayati binti Haji Mohd Kassim said, “This mass media campaign is aimed to improve the public’s knowledge of the link between salt and health, increasing consumer demand for lower salt products, and educating them on what they can do to reduce their salt intake and how to make lower salt choices.”

She added, “The campaign, which is also based on recommendations in the guidelines, will involve the development and dissemination of 10,000 table tents for food and catering premises, the development of short promos for television and radio, posters, and related newspaper articles.”

On the NDGs, she explained, “Apart from serving as an essential guide for health care providers, academics and relevant policy makers, the guidelines can inform and direct policy towards promoting and achieving a dietary intake which meets our population’s nutrient requirements.

“At the same time, it can be used in preventive measures to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in general.”

The NGDs is hoped to be utilised by important stakeholders in the shaping of school canteen guidelines, a nutrient guideline for food and beverages with the healthier choice logo, a guideline for serving food and beverages in the workplace, a nutrient guideline for healthy dinning, fiscal policy and sugary beverages, and others.

The NDGs also will provide a guideline to health professionals in the recommendation of a balanced diet, to reduce the risk of NCDs.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the MoH Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abd Latif was also preset.