Latest news with #WanAzizahWanIsmail
The Star
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
‘Do not neglect our well-being'
KUALA LUMPUR: As women shoulder growing responsibilities in the workplace and at home, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is calling for focus on mental health and work-life balance to avoid burnout. Speaking at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) Asean 2025, the Prime Minister's wife and former deputy prime minister stressed that true progress means not just economic empowerment, but also shared family duties and emotional well-being – areas often overlooked in the push for gender equality. 'Despite our hectic work schedules, we must not neglect our well-being, including mental health, in the pursuit of work-life balance. 'Achieving this balance involves dedication to personal growth and development to enhance professional skills while nurturing spiritual and emotional well-being,' she said in her opening speech at the event yesterday, which was attended by women leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers from across the region. Dr Wan Azizah, who is the Bandar Tun Razak MP, noted that work-life balance, however, remains a challenge for working parents who lack the extra support to afford living costs, manage careers and maintain good parenting. 'Yes, we want more women to contribute to the economy, yet we must also remind ourselves that caring for the family is a shared responsibility. 'Both parents should actively participate in the emotional, physical and logistical aspects of raising children and sharing household duties,' she said, adding that the balance may not always be equal but should be based on mutual understanding and tolerance. Speaking from her experience, Dr Wan Azizah called on parents not to take for granted the responsibility of taking care of our families. 'This responsibility extends beyond the visible and direct expenses. Unpaid care work, household management and emotional support have substantial economic value, but they are not quantifiable. 'Whether we realise it or not, the 'profits' can only be 'sown' in perhaps 20 years' time,' she said. In her address, Dr Wan Azizah said the concept of the 'SHEconomy' is a testament to the growing influence of women in shaping economic narratives. She said the forum's theme, 'Women Leaders Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of Asean SHEconomy', resonated deeply with her vision of leadership, inclusivity and cross-border collaboration. 'I believe this forum can highlight women's roles in advancing technology, sustainability, trade, and governance,' she said, expressing her hope that the dialogues will translate into actionable commitments and partnerships. 'Let us commit ourselves wholeheartedly to building a world where gender ceases to be a barrier to success and where every woman has the opportunity to shine,' she added. Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, who was at the event, called for urgent measures to enhance female participation in Malaysia's economy. He said there is a need for equal opportunities for women across all aspects of life, noting a discrepancy between women's educational attainment and their workforce participation. 'Although 65% of our public university students are women, the female labour participation rate lags at 56%, compared to 82.9% for men. This is a challenge we must overcome for Malaysia to thrive,' he said. Despite successes like women holding 58% of civil service jobs and 42% of decision-making positions, Liew identified barriers such as reliance on cheap foreign labour and inadequate childcare services. 'We need to change this. By moving our economy up the value chain, we can attract more skilled women into the formal labour market,' he said. The opening ceremony also saw several notable awards presented to deserving leaders and entrepreneurs. Among the awards presented were the Women of the Decade, Leaders of the Decade, Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All, and Exceptional Women of Excellence. Taking place until June 21, the three-day WEF Asean 2025 is organised by Yayasan Bina Kesejahteraan with the support of the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry. The forum focuses on efforts to create a cross-border economic ecosystem, emphasising dignity, inclusivity and data-driven policies, with gender equality as a core principle. Fireside chats, plenary sessions, workshops, roundtable meetings and WEF Awards will take place throughout the days before culminating in a closing ceremony tomorrow.
The Star
16 hours ago
- Health
- The Star
Dr Wan Azizah calls for stronger regional collaboration to tackle healthcare challenges
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on Friday (June 20) called for stronger regional collaboration in the medical sector to address shared healthcare challenges, particularly the growing burden of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders across the Asia-Pacific. She said such cooperation is essential in overcoming a wide range of regional health issues, from ageing population and increasing demand for care to emerging diseases and rapid technological shifts. "Our region is home to over half of the world's population. The scale of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders is vast and growing. "From congenital deformities in children to degenerative conditions in the elderly, the need for advanced, affordable and accessible care has never been greater," she said. Officiating the 14th Combined Meeting of the Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS), Asia Pacific Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APPOS), and Malaysian Spine Society (MSS) (APSS-APPOS-MSS) 2025 Congress here today, Dr Wan Azizah said platform like this are vital to help drive solutions, as they promote research, foster dialogue and strenghthen regional networks that transcend borders and disciplines. As the world enters the era of digital health, artificial intelligence and personalised medicine, she noted, gatherings that pool regional expertise have become even more critical. "We must ensure that while we embrace innovation, we do not lose the human touch. Our patients are not just case numbers or MRI scans, (but) they are people with stories, families, hopes and fears. And the best medicine is one that combines cutting-edge science with deep empathy," she said. Dr Wan Azizah, who studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, also underscored that Malaysia's role as host reflects its commitment to regional healthcare advancement and its long-standing belief in knowledge sharing and cross-border cooperation. "Our healthcare professionals have consistently demonstrated their ability to engage at the regional and global level, as researchers, practitioners and thought leaders," she said. The APSS-APPOS-MSS 2025 Congress, held from today until Sunday, convenes 1,232 delegates, including 1,014 spine specialists and 218 paediatric orthopaedic experts from across the Asia Pacific. With participation from 62 healthcare companies, the three-day congress serves as a strategic platform to promote innovation, education and research under the theme "Building the Foundation to Embrace Emerging Technologies." - Bernama
New Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Dr Wan Azizah: Stronger regional unity needed to tackle Asia-Pacific health woes
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today called for stronger regional collaboration in the medical sector to address shared healthcare challenges, particularly the growing burden of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders across the Asia-Pacific. She said such cooperation was essential in overcoming a wide range of regional health issues, from ageing population and increasing demand for care to emerging diseases and rapid technological shifts. "Our region is home to over half of the world's population. The scale of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders is vast and growing. From congenital deformities in children to degenerative conditions in the elderly, the need for advanced, affordable and accessible care has never been greater," she said. Officiating the 14th Combined Meeting of the Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS), Asia Pacific Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APPOS), and Malaysian Spine Society (MSS) (APSS-APPOS-MSS) 2025 Congress here today, Dr Wan Azizah said platform like this were vital to help drive solutions, as they promote research, foster dialogue and strengthen regional networks that transcend borders and disciplines. As the world enters the era of digital health, artificial intelligence and personalised medicine, she said that gatherings that pooled regional expertise had become even more critical. "We must ensure that while we embrace innovation, we do not lose the human touch. Our patients are not just case numbers or MRI scans, (but) they are people with stories, families, hopes and fears. And the best medicine is one that combines cutting-edge science with deep empathy," she said. Dr Wan Azizah, who studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, also underscored that Malaysia's role as host reflected its commitment to regional healthcare advancement and its long-standing belief in knowledge sharing and cross-border cooperation. "Our healthcare professionals have consistently demonstrated their ability to engage at the regional and global level, as researchers, practitioners and thought leaders," she said. The APSS-APPOS-MSS 2025 Congress, held from today until Sunday, convenes 1,232 delegates, including 1,014 spine specialists and 218 paediatric orthopaedic experts from across the Asia Pacific. With participation from 62 healthcare companies, the three-day congress serves as a strategic platform to promote innovation, education and research under the theme "Building the Foundation to Embrace Emerging Technologies."
Barnama
16 hours ago
- Health
- Barnama
Dr Wan Azizah Calls For Stronger Regional Collaboration To Tackle Healthcare Challenges
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today called for stronger regional collaboration in the medical sector to address shared healthcare challenges, particularly the growing burden of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders across the Asia-Pacific. She said such cooperation is essential in overcoming a wide range of regional health issues, from ageing population and increasing demand for care to emerging diseases and rapid technological shifts. 'Our region is home to over half of the world's population. The scale of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders is vast and growing. From congenital deformities in children to degenerative conditions in the elderly, the need for advanced, affordable and accessible care has never been greater,' she said. Officiating the 14th Combined Meeting of the Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS), Asia Pacific Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APPOS), and Malaysian Spine Society (MSS) (APSS-APPOS-MSS) 2025 Congress here today, Dr Wan Azizah said platform like this are vital to help drive solutions, as they promote research, foster dialogue and strenghthen regional networks that transcend borders and disciplines. As the world enters the era of digital health, artificial intelligence and personalised medicine, she noted, gatherings that pool regional expertise have become even more critical. 'We must ensure that while we embrace innovation, we do not lose the human touch. Our patients are not just case numbers or MRI scans, (but) they are people with stories, families, hopes and fears. And the best medicine is one that combines cutting-edge science with deep empathy,' she said. Dr Wan Azizah, who studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, also underscored that Malaysia's role as host reflects its commitment to regional healthcare advancement and its long-standing belief in knowledge sharing and cross-border cooperation. 'Our healthcare professionals have consistently demonstrated their ability to engage at the regional and global level, as researchers, practitioners and thought leaders,' she said. The APSS-APPOS-MSS 2025 Congress, held from today until Sunday, convenes 1,232 delegates, including 1,014 spine specialists and 218 paediatric orthopaedic experts from across the Asia Pacific.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Dr Wan Azizah calls for stronger regional collaboration
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today called for stronger regional collaboration in the medical sector to address shared healthcare challenges, particularly the growing burden of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders across the Asia-Pacific. She said such cooperation is essential in overcoming a wide range of regional health issues, from ageing population and increasing demand for care to emerging diseases and rapid technological shifts. 'Our region is home to over half of the world's population. The scale of musculoskeletal and spinal disorders is vast and growing. From congenital deformities in children to degenerative conditions in the elderly, the need for advanced, affordable and accessible care has never been greater,' she said. Officiating the 14th Combined Meeting of the Asia Pacific Spine Society (APSS), Asia Pacific Paediatric Orthopaedic Society (APPOS), and Malaysian Spine Society (MSS) (APSS-APPOS-MSS) 2025 Congress here today, Dr Wan Azizah said platform like this are vital to help drive solutions, as they promote research, foster dialogue and strenghthen regional networks that transcend borders and disciplines. As the world enters the era of digital health, artificial intelligence and personalised medicine, she noted, gatherings that pool regional expertise have become even more critical. 'We must ensure that while we embrace innovation, we do not lose the human touch. Our patients are not just case numbers or MRI scans, (but) they are people with stories, families, hopes and fears. And the best medicine is one that combines cutting-edge science with deep empathy,' she said. Dr Wan Azizah, who studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, also underscored that Malaysia's role as host reflects its commitment to regional healthcare advancement and its long-standing belief in knowledge sharing and cross-border cooperation. 'Our healthcare professionals have consistently demonstrated their ability to engage at the regional and global level, as researchers, practitioners and thought leaders,' she said. The APSS-APPOS-MSS 2025 Congress, held from today until Sunday, convenes 1,232 delegates, including 1,014 spine specialists and 218 paediatric orthopaedic experts from across the Asia Pacific. With participation from 62 healthcare companies, the three-day congress serves as a strategic platform to promote innovation, education and research under the theme 'Building the Foundat
