Guyana has to be the leading country within the Caribbean Community, as well as among those in the wider international arena that has adopted and put into practice, national health awareness programmes of a public kind.

These seek to draw to citizens’ attention not only an awareness of their physical well-being; but also the absolute necessity of being responsible for what they do to themselves – the lifestyle choices that are made, and the consequences thereof.

If these prior medical outreaches sponsored by the Ministry of Public Health were those that were done with the aim of encouraging citizens to be pro-active about their health, while offering treatment for well-known ailments; the just concluded four-day Health Expo 2018, the first of its kind in Guyana, not only continued this critical national awareness exercise, but also showcased the full gamut of medical services that the State medical institution has to offer citizens.

This has taken public health to several ascending rungs, with lectures for both males and females as to their respective physical peculiarities, physical examinations, diagnoses and treatment given, as an example. This means that citizens have been further encouraged to seek medical assistance, and not wish away what might be looming serious maladies.

The precursors to this four-day event would have been collaboration among government agencies, non-governmental bodies, and visits to Guyana by North American medical teams as they seek to render medical assistance to citizens needing of same. These, however, have assumed a greater urgency within recent years, given revelations about the increasing numbers of citizens falling prey to illnesses that could otherwise be prevented.

What has just been demonstrated was the taking of public health services to citizens, under the auspices of a key social ministry that has since 2015, been re-named – the Ministry of Public Health. One can understand this re-designation, since matters of health as administered by the State for its citizens are of a public kind, as distinct from the private medical institutions.

There can be no debating or doubt as to the relevance of the theme of this seminal event, “Reaching for a better life with good health”. It is timely, as it is necessary given the very high percentage of cases of citizens who have been found to have either one of several of the known non-communicable diseases. It is also a reminder as to the critical necessity for citizens to embrace the necessity of good health, as their daily mantra and as a guide to daily living.

In seeking to inculcate such a disciplined approach to life, citizens must begin to make a conscious effort to depart from traditional patterns of personal choices, such as processed, and “junk foods”, sugary beverages, and alcoholic drinks; the types which are definite causes and contributors to bad health. It is a challenge that was so expertly and passionately referred to by President David Granger during his featured address at the inauguration of Health Expo 2018, when he cautioned about the dangers of abusing fast foods and alcohol. We all need to understand the importance of what good health is for a better living. It is simply reminding us that we as humans cannot hope, first, to have a good life, or secondly, enjoy it if our health is not at optimum levels.

For the family, an ailing member will undoubtedly cause worry and stress on the household, particularly if he/she is the breadwinner and economic mainstay. And even if financially secured, the emotional/psychological value of that member to the spiritual growth and development of the family collective becomes impaired and diminished, because being ill means both the physical and mental reduction of active participation in family social activities. No family is happy when any of its members young or old are ill.
But it is from within the family where the theme “Reaching for a better life with good health” has to be given life, thus making it an everyday reality.

In this regard, parents/guardians especially, must begin to dialogue with their children and other young family members about the reasons for bad health, and how these are best avoided; what bad health does to the body; and that unhealthy children do not enjoy being children as other children who are healthy do. They will also not become healthy adults. Hence, they themselves will not be able to become mothers/fathers of healthy offspring. Negative choices such as alcoholic intake and substance abuse must also be emphasised, since there is growing evidence that young people are increasingly affected by these two social scourges.

Parents must illustrate to their children that consuming too much sweet meats, inclusive of starches and sugary drinks can only lead to obesity, and further serious illnesses which in time, can become chronic and uncontrollable, leading to early demise. Further, parents/guardians must begin to inculcate the sustained practice of preparing meals that are of a nutritious nature, and not of the fatty, oily type that is inundated with processed ingredients and spices. Vegetables in the daily diet must be emphasised, and explained as very vital in defending the body against ailments. This was alluded to in an opinion piece, a while ago.

Since it is upon these children’s shoulders that the future responsibility of nation building will rest, then parents/guardians have the important responsibility of ensuring that their total well-being, inclusive of healthy choices for good healthy living, begin without delay. This task must therefore commence in the home. Let us remember always, that a healthy nation means a healthy human capacity that is ready and available to undertake the mental, physical, and spiritual task and responsibility of socio-economic development, for their children, grandchildren and future generations.