Kemboja catat peningkatan mangsa periuk api, sisa letupan perang

PHNOM PENH: Kemboja merekodkan 35 kematian akibat periuk api dan sisa letupan perang (ERW) pada separuh pertama 2024, meningkat hampir 67 peratus berbanding 21 kes pada tempoh yang sama tahun lalu, lapor Xinhua pada Jumaat.

"Lapan orang terbunuh, 21 cedera manakala enam lagi cacat anggota badan dalam tempoh Januari-Jun tahun ini," kata jurucakap Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), Lang Kosal.

Mangsa terdiri daripada 21 lelaki, dua wanita dan 12 kanak-kanak.

Sejak 1979 hingga Jun tahun ini, letupan periuk api dan ERW meragut 19,830 nyawa dan menyebabkan 45,242 lagi cedera atau cacat anggota badan, katanya.

Sementara itu, Menteri Kanan Ly Thuch, naib presiden pertama CMAA berkata bahawa dari 1992 hingga 2023, Kemboja telah membersihkan 3,024 kilometer persegi tanah yang tercemar dengan periuk api dan ERW.

Tindakan itu memberi manfaat kepada kira-kira 12 juta orang atau 70 peratus daripada jumlah penduduk negara itu.

Namun, kerajaan masih perlu membersihkan baki 533 kilometer persegi tanah yang tercemar dengan periuk api dan 1,321 kilometer persegi tanah yang tercemar dengan ERW lain.

"Kita mesti menggandakan usaha dan mempercepatkan tindakan untuk mencapai matlamat bebas periuk api pada 2025," katanya dalam satu ucapan baru-baru ini.

-- BERNAMA

Niaga SPOTLIGHT: Costing The Silent Threat of Obesity

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Malaysia are a growing burden on the health system, with a number of associated health issues and economic costs.

The annual cost of healthcare for NCDs is estimated to be over RM 9.65 billion. Meanwhile, the cost of disability and loss of healthy life years is estimated to be around RM 100.79 billion. Absenteeism due to NCDs is estimated to cost the Malaysian economy RM 2.6 billion annually.

From the common NCDs, obesity is one of THE most significant health threats, with nearly 20% of the Malaysian population currently classified as obese.

Additionally, more than half of all adults (54%) are overweight or obese. According to the World Obesity Atlas, this figure could rise to 41% in Malaysia by 2035, if preventive action is not taken.

Niaga Spotlight focuses on immediate strategies to address this growing silent threat of Obesity, which also burdens the national healthcare system as well as national productivity levels with significant impacts and costs.