Nestle Omega Plus has launched its annual Walk A Million Miles 2026 campaign and roadshow on Sept 3, 2026 at MyTOWN Shopping Centre, Kuala Lumpur, in conjunction with World Heart Month.
The campaign under the theme “Don’t Miss A Beat” for World Heart Month 2026 features a strategic collaboration with new partner Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) and long-standing partners Yayasan Jantung Malaysia (YJM) and Institut Jantung Negara Foundation (IJNF) to provide 10,000 heart health screenings and educational programs for Malaysian youth.
The event featured expert healthcare forums, free health screenings and interactive booths and exhibits designed to raise awareness of heart disease risks and promote healthy lifestyle habits.
Experts from Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) shared insights on heart disease prevention and nutrition during the “Don’t Miss A Beat” sessions.
In his opening speech, Nestle Malaysia chief executive officer Juan Aranols highlighted that promoting healthier lifestyles requires active community engagement, practical tools and collaborative partnerships rather than just sharing information.
“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 Nestle Omega PlusWalk A Million Miles initiative, we are also committed to providing practical solutions that make healthier choices easier to incorporate into everyday life,” he said.
Dato’ Dr Aljafri Abdul Majid, chairman of Yayasan Jantung Malaysia stated that their long-standing partnership with Nestlé Omega Plus has played a vital role in promoting heart health and cardiovascular disease prevention in Malaysia over the past 25 years.
“Nestle Omega Plus continued contribution enables us to expand outreach programmes that encourage Malaysians to better understand their cardiovascular risks and adopt healthier lifestyles,” he said.
Institut Jantung Negara Foundation chairman Toh Puan Hajjah Aishah Ong said: “Sustained partnerships are essential in driving meaningful health impact. Nestle 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.”
This year’s programme places a specific focus on encouraging younger Malaysians to take charge of their heart health through movement, screening and early preventive action.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, among Malaysians aged 18 to 29 with the respective conditions, 95% of those with hypercholesterolaemia, 80% with hypertension and 84% with diabetes were undiagnosed.
The initiative comes amid growing concern about cardiovascular health among younger Malaysians.
According to Dr Fa’iz Mashood, a Clinical Fellow in Cardiology at Institut Jantung Negara, the data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 highlights a concerning gap in awareness among young Malaysians with an estimated 95% of high 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,” Dr Fa’iz Mashood said.
Foong Pui Hing, a senior principal dietitian at 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,” she said.
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
Nestle Omega Plus’s latest health initiative builds on its continued commitment to heart health in Malaysia, evolving from raising awareness to driving greater screening and preventive action. The programme supported 98,593 health screenings in 2025 and aims to double its screening reach by 2027.
Alongside this outreach, Nestle Omega Plus continues its annual contributions of RM100,000 each to YJM and IJNF to support their efforts to expand heart-health outreach, education and screening initiatives.
Building on 2025’s milestone year, the Nestle Omega Plus Walk A Million Miles virtual challenge runs from Sept 1 to Oct 31, 2026, with the physical walk taking place on Sept 19, 2026 in Putrajaya.
For more information, visit https://www.nestlehomeofgood.com.my or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NestleOmegaPlus.
