In September 2019, the Ministry of Health (MoH) launched its Strategic Plan 2019-2023. The plan provides a direction towards strengthening the country’s healthcare system and services through services that are of better quality, efficient, effective, responsive, equal and easily accessible.
With the theme ‘Investing for Our Future’, the plan is a motivator for the ministry’s employees to achieve the objective of National Vision 2035 in enhancing the quality of life in Brunei.
Brunei Darussalam has made remarkable achievements, particularly in meeting most of the global health targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, attainment of universal health coverage and certification of free from infectious diseases namely polio, malaria, measles and recently rubella.
The development of this strategic plan builds on these achievements while ensuring the ministry’s action plans continue to be forward looking, prepared and responsive to the challenges of time.
Aside from setting clear directions, the plan also places high emphasis on ensuring an effective implementation and review mechanism. Each strategic goal and initiative has its designated leads and owners responsible to operationalise the action plans.
The MoH’s actions today and the next five years is an investment in the future in pursuit of the vision for Brunei as a healthy and resilient nation.
Bandarku Ceria began in October 2016 to promote physical activity among the public. Every Sunday from 6am to 10am, the roads around Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien are closed and turned into a car-free zone.
Through Bandarku Ceria, the public is encouraged to use spaces available in the capital for recreation, cultural, family and community activities. The initiative transforms Bandar Seri Begawan into a vibrant urban park enjoyed by all through activities such as jogging, cycling and aerobics.
Bandarku Ceria has seen an increasing number of public participation including people cycling on the streets safely without cars, joining morning exercise as well as hunting for bargains at the stalls set up around the city.
Having gained popularity in the past years, cycling has been recognised as a national pastime. Cyclists can often be seen pedaling on weekends, especially on Sundays during the Bandarku Ceria programme.
Dozens of cycling activities are conducted throughout the country such as the grand cycling event in conjunction with His Majesty’s birthday celebration. In 2019, over 1,000 people cycled together to celebrate His Majesty’s birthday.
Cycling is made even more special with active participation of His Majesty and other royal family members in cycling, where the citizens and residents of Brunei take joy in being able to ride together and interact with the benevolent monarch. On March 1, 2020, His Majesty participated in a cycling event together with more than 1,000 people in conjunction with Brunei’s 36th National Day.
Copyright 2019 Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2019 All rights reserved.
