|
From left to right] · Yeoh
She Shiang, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Nutrition
and Health; ·
Juan Aranols, Chief
Executive Officer, Nestlé Malaysia; · YBhg.
Toh Puan Dato’ Seri Hajjah Dr. Aishah Ong, Chairman, IJN
Foundation ·
YBhg. Dato’ Sri Harjeet Singh, Vice
President, Yayasan Jantung Malaysia; marked
the launch of Nestlé® Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles 2026 by reaffirming
their longstanding partnership and shared commitment to championing heart
health through greater awareness, education and access to health screenings
for Malaysians.
|
In conjunction with World Heart Month and in support of the World Heart Federation’s 2026 theme, “Don’t Miss A Beat”, Nestlé® Omega Plus is strengthening its heart-health education, screening and preventive efforts among young Malaysians, together with its longstanding collaborators Yayasan Jantung Malaysia (YJM) and Institut Jantung Negara Foundation (IJNF). This year, Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) is also participating in the World Heart Month activation, which will see young adults within the PTPTN community among the beneficiaries of Nestlé® Omega Plus’ 10,000 health screenings and heart health education.
Recognising that lifelong health habits are often formed during young adulthood, Nestlé® Omega Plus aims to bring heart-health awareness and screening closer to young Malaysians nationwide. Through the 10,000 health screenings and heart-health education, Nestlé® Omega Plus hopes to encourage more young people to understand their health numbers, recognise potential risks and adopt healthier habits earlier.
Why This Matters
The initiative comes amid growing concern about cardiovascular health among younger Malaysians. While heart disease is often associated with older adults, cardiovascular risk factors can emerge much earlier and frequently go unnoticed.
[From
Left to Right]
· Nazrudin
Habibur Rahman, Emcee;
·
Dr Fa’iz Mashood, Clinical
Fellow in Cardiology, IJN;
·
Ms. Foong Pui Hing, Senior
Principal Dietitian, IJN;
Dr Fa'iz Mashood, Clinical Fellow in Cardiology, Institut Jantung Negara, said, “The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 findings highlight a concerning gap in awareness among young Malaysians with an estimated 95% of raised cholesterol cases, 80% of hypertension cases and 84% of diabetes cases remain undiagnosed. The survey also found that two in five Malaysian adults had not undergone health screening in the past year, often because they did not experience any symptoms.”
While screening is an important first step, prevention ultimately happens through everyday choices, from staying active and eating well to building sustainable habits that support long-term wellbeing.
Ms. Foong Pui Hing, Senior Principal Dietitian, Institut Jantung Negara, said, “Healthy nutrition is the foundation for long-term heart health. Daily food choices, focusing on a balanced diet rich in nutritious foods can help support heart health when practised consistently. This includes dietary patterns consisting of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and unsaturated oils while limiting highly processed foods.”
Addressing cardiovascular health requires not only individual action, but also sustained efforts that make education, screening and preventive support more accessible to the broader community.
The initiative builds on Nestlé® Omega Plus continued commitment to heart health in Malaysia, evolving from raising awareness to driving greater screening, and preventive action. Through its annual Nestlé® Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles campaign and ongoing collaboration with YJM and IJNF, the programme supported 98,593 health screenings in 2025 and aims to double its screening reach by 2027.
As part of this ongoing commitment, Nestlé® Omega Plus will continue its annual contribution of RM100,000 each to YJM and IJNF to support their efforts to expand heart-health outreach, education and screening initiatives.
Dato' Dr Aljafri Abdul Majid, Chairman, Yayasan Jantung Malaysia, said, “Nestlé® Omega Plus has been a valued partner in advancing heart-health awareness in Malaysia. Its continued contribution enables us to expand outreach programmes that encourage Malaysians to better understand their cardiovascular risks and adopt healthier lifestyles.”
Toh Puan Hajjah Aishah Ong, Chairman, Institut Jantung Negara Foundation, said, “Sustained partnerships are essential in driving meaningful health impact. Nestlé® Omega Plus continued support helps us extend the reach of our education and screening initiatives and empower Malaysians to take proactive steps towards better heart health.”
Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Malaysia, said, “Promoting healthier lifestyles requires more than awareness alone. Together with YJM and IJNF, we are helping more young Malaysians to access heart-health education, screening and preventive support. As we continue to expand Nestlé® Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles initiative, we are also committed to providing practical solutions that make healthier choices easier to incorporate into everyday life.”
Reinforcing this commitment, Nestlé® Omega Plus is also expanding its heart-health portfolio with the introduction of Nestlé® Omega Gold UHT, a convenient format developed for working and on-the-go adults. Nestlé® Omega Gold UHT offers three nutritional benefits: 1.2g of plant sterol ActiCol® to help lower cholesterol, potassium to support normal blood pressure, and inulin to support good blood glucose control, when consumed as recommended as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
The Nestlé® Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles 2026 media launch at MyTOWN Kuala Lumpur brings this approach together through a healthcare forum themed "Don't Miss a Beat", health screenings, education and a pledge platform for Malaysians. PTPTN will also be present with a dedicated booth at the event, offering an additional touchpoint to engage young Malaysians.
Building on 2025's milestone year, the Nestlé® Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles virtual challenge runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026, with the physical walk taking place on 19 September 2026 in Putrajaya.
For more information on Nestlé® Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles 2026 please visit https://www.nestlehomeofgood.com.my or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NestleOmegaPlus
