Aznil (right) and the late Din co-hosted Riuh Pagi Era since 2008
Aznil is the icon for the Health Ministry’s Jom Ganyang Aedes campaign
AZNIL Nawawi’s eyes go teary each time he recalls the memory of his best friend, the late Mior Ahmad Fuad Mior Badri, or better known as Din Beramboi.
Din, who was Aznil’s co-presenter in Era FM’s popular morning show, Riuh Pagi Era, passed away in April this year from dengue haemorrhagic fever.
“It happened so fast. I’m still coping with the loss and trying to fit in the show without him,” says the popular TV host, radio presenter and actor.
What seemed like regular fever turned fatal for Din. “I remember him telling me that he was not well and I advised him to see the doctor for a check-up. But Din didn’t like any doctor or hospital visit,” says Aznil.
“I thought it was only a normal fever. Since he refused to see the doctor, I asked him to take some medicine. I thought it would help him, but I was wrong.” On the fifth day of having the fever, Din fell unconscious and was rushed to Selayang Hospital, where he was diagnosed with dengue haemorrhagic fever. He was placed at the Intensive Care Unit for three days before he succumbed to the fever.
“I didn’t expect a normal fever could turn fatal. The doctor told me that except for the heart, all of Din’s internal organs had shut down. I felt as if my whole world had crumbled,” recalls Aznil.
“I still feel very sad about his passing. He died in vain, just because of a mosquito.” This incident became a turning point for Aznil, who admits being one of the many ignorant public who take dengue fever lightly.
“From young, I have been taught and have heard one too many stories about dengue fever. But more often than not, I have failed to take a closer look at the deadly disease. “Din’s passing was a blow to me and since then I told myself that I won’t stop at anything to fight the Aedes mosquito. I vow not to let myself and people around me die in vain,” says Aznil after a dialogue session with members of the press recently. He is also the Health Ministry’s icon for the Jom Ganyang Aedes campaign. With the theme 2010: Transforming Mindsets In The War On Dengue, the dialogue featured three panellists — Datuk Dr Hassan Abdul Rahman, deputy director-general of health (public health), Health Ministry, Dr Salehuddin Abu Bakar, director of health, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and Dr Mohd Yusof Abdullah, head of communication and public policy programme, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
Jom Ganyang Aedes, launched in June, serves as a platform to disseminate the right information about dengue and Aedes mosquitoes to the public for an Aedes-free community.
According to the Ministry, as at Nov 1 this year, 40,959 dengue cases had been recorded, with 119 death cases. This is a 60 per cent increase when compared with 34,357 cases with 74 deaths in the same period last year.
Aznil is all geared up to do his bit in the campaign.
“We will go to dengue hotspots, affected housing areas and schools. Besides talks to educate the public, we will hold gotong-royong (group activities for the benefit of the community),” he says.
This ongoing effort is no walk in the park for Aznil, though.
“Some people were very resistant when asked to join the campaign. I even came across some who just shut the door the moment we talked about the campaign,” he says.
“A lot of us are still ignorant about the issue, especially those who have never experienced dengue fever. They have no idea what it feels like to lose a loved one to it.” But Aznil, who is the famous face for Astro Ceria’s kids programme Tom Tom Bak, is glad that his little fans are embracing the campaign.
“I see a lot of kids, be it in the school campaign or in housing areas, who turn up every time we hold the campaign at their place. They show interest in the campaign and for me, it’s a good start. We have to nurture them from young," he says.
Read more: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Health_All-outfightagainstdengue/Article#ixzz15kv78xeP
No comments:
Post a Comment