Monday, October 6, 2014

SEANUTS : Bringing Health & Nutrition Back to Malaysian Children Discussion

I am invited to attend the SEANUTS (South East Asian Nutrition Surveys): Bringing Health & Nutrition Back to Malaysian Children A Conversation organized by Dutch Lady Malaysia on 23 April 2014 at The Garden Mall.
 
Contributing to this important discussion were Professor Dr. Poh Bee Koon, Head of Nutritional sciences Programme at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Principal Investigator for SEANUTS Malaysia; Dr. Mehander Singh Nahar Singh, sports and physical educator from the Ministry of Education; Dr. Yong Junina Fadzil, Consultant Paediatrician and two Malaysian parents.


It highlighted the nutritional status and lifestyle of Malaysian children and shared parental concerns as well as advice from the professionals on ways to improve the current health status of children. According to the findings of SEANUTS, one in 20 children were underweight, and one in five children were overweight or obese.

“Being active increases the amount of calories burned and tones up muscle. In fact, the WHO recommends that children and youth aged 5 to 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily,” said Dr. Mehander.

Dr. Junina explained that Vitamin D is an essential nutrient needed for healthy bones and to control the amount of calcium in the blood. Dr Junina explained that the growing child needs calcium and other vital nutrients, and milk is one of the sources of it. The bottom line is, milk is good and healthy, but it is important to drink in perspective.

In summary of the discussion, Professor Dr. Poh said, “The SEANUTS findings warrant urgent attention from parents and policymakers to look into improving the nutritional and health status of Malaysian children through working with health scientists, pediatricians and physical activity experts.”


Concluding the discussion, Rahul Colaco, Managing Director of Dutch Lady Malaysia, expressed that by initiating this discussion among parties who have the health of Malaysian children at their hearts, we hope to generate awareness and more conversations on the topic for parents, healthcare professionals and even policymakers, so that they can jointly take proactive measures towards improving our children’s health”.


Colaco also gave a preview to Dutch Lady Malaysia’s “Drink, Move, Be trong” Campaign, held in partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and underpinned by the findings of SEANUTS. 


The discussion is around 1 hour and we are being served for lunch after the discussion.


Dutch lady also given some children milk to us in the goodies bag before leaving.
 


Sunday, May 18, 2014

Return to Zero Review


I am invited by lifetime to do a review on the movie Return to Zero. Based on a true story, Return to Zero tells the story of a successful couple, Maggie (Minnie Driver) and Aaron (Paul Adelstein), who are preparing for the arrival of their first child. Just weeks before their due date they are devastated to discover that their baby son has died in the womb and will be stillborn.


While this film is intended for a wide-release to audiences regardless of their life experience, Return to Zero fills a particular niche for a market that has gone unserved — those who have or know someone who has experienced the devastating loss of stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death.


 
The statistics on stillbirth, which is the loss of a child after 20th week of pregnancy, are remarkable. In the U.S. alone there are approximately 26,000 stillbirths a year. That is equivalent to the amount of people who die in traffic accidents across this country every year. Yet, this topic has never been the central theme of a feature film.

 
The impact that one stillbirth has on the mother, the father, their family, and friends is devastating — a shock-wave of pain, guilt and then, too often, silence. The majority of those affected, especially the mothers, suffer in this silence often believing that their grief and trauma is theirs to bear alone.

While planning to entertain and enlighten all audiences with a dramatic tale of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, Return to Zero intends to break through the silence and become a beacon of cinematic light to the millions in search of answers, understanding and healing.


Here the picture of the director (Sean Hanish) and the actors.Return to Zero is based on the real-life experience of Sean Hanish and his wife. Sean and his wife Kiley had a stillborn child. In 2005, in week 37 of the pregnancy, after a healthy check just the previous month, there was no heartbeat from their unborn child. Their son, Norbert, was born still.

Sean used the actual diagnosis of his son in the film as well as some of the beautiful words that were said at his memorial service.


It is a great movie where this is the first time i saw a movie with a stillborn theme. The movie is unique and this happened in the real life. Mother is a great person, most women have to experience it. It was really pain experience, but somehow we must be strong and did not give up all the time. Time is the medicine to cure. Let's stay happy in our life and don't live in the pass. We must continue move forward with full of hope. The movie really inspire me a lot and change my mindset. Please cherish the person around you and satisfied with what you have. Love and take care of your parent and happy mother day to all the mother in the world.


It was a hard time to face the truth, but they is always somethings happening in our life. We must be courage and believe that it is always hope in our life.How this couple is going to pass though the hard time? What happen to their marriage? Do they still have courage to have baby again? Find out the answer on your own by watching the movie on next Tuesday on Lifetime (CH 709 on Astro)! Feel free to check out Lifetime official website, Lifetime Facebook or Lifetime Twitter for more info.