April 2004 

Over one hundred Malaysian Menopause Society (MMS) and their family members gathered early one Sunday morning at one of the country’s popular forest reserve to learn about the importance of bone health.  The event was one of the activities organized in conjunction with the society’s AGM and Family Day.

MSD Malaysia’s secretariat role to the society’s AGM and Family Day is one of the many initiatives that MSD Malaysia continues to undertake to support the promotion of medical education. By increasing awareness, it is then hoped that Malaysians will be better informed and hence empowered to make decisions focusing on preventive measures rather than cure.

The theme taken by MMS this year is the issue of bone health.  Because bone density decreases during one’s menopause years making bones brittle and susceptible to osteoporosis, exercise was encouraged through the Day’s activity.

The MMS Walk and Family Day was a sequel to the society’s AGM and health talk which was held the day before.

Before the AGM was called to order, Dr Yeap Swan Sim, President of the Malaysian Rheumatology Society, gave a talk entitled “Mind Your Bones.”

According to Dr Yeap, everyone is at risk for developing osteoporosis during old age.  However, for a woman experiencing menopause, the risk is far greater because of the parallel relationship between estrogen and bone density.  Bone density decreases along with the decreasing levels of estrogen.

Besides being secretariat, MSD Malaysia sponsored copies of The Merck Manual of Medical Information - Home Edition to winners of the walk.

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