HEALTH PROMOTION
An enlightenment health talk .The trust of health promotion is to enable the individuals and the community to take charge of their health by adapting measures and life styles that will ensure a positive health outlook..
As we know, health means more than the absence of disease or sickness. According to the WHO definition, Health is a state of complete mental, physical and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease.
Before now, only departure from the first two parameters namely mental and physical wellbeing were used to identify and define sickness. Suffice it to say that social maladies like poverty, maladjustment and poor adaptation and integration are evidence of poor health.
Implicit upon the above premises is that health promotion is multipronged and multi disciplinary involving such diverse endeavours like poverty alleviation programme, (PAP), food production and availability, education, environmental protection, water and hygiene, sports, housing, Material and child health and essential drug availability.
Every laudable human endeavour will have Health Promotion as an end or target. It is oftern said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. If we look closely, we will also find out that, more often than not, a healthy nation is a wealthy and powerful nation. President Obama’s health reform programme is a case in point. By this programme, the government picks the health bill of the common man in the street. With this health reform programme, the American government channels most of her budget towards ensuring the health of her citizens.
I am emphasizing on this because in this environment, we are yet to appreciate the fact that money is not an end but rather a means to an end which from the fore going is health. It may surprise you that a man who has millions of Naira stashed away in his bank account accommodates his family in one room face me-I –face-you apartment. Such a millionaire fails to provide balanced nutrition for his family. His pregnant wife does not attend ante-natal clinic rather she patronizes traditional birth attendants. The millionaire neither has a family doctor nor avails himself of the nearest health facility in his vicinity. He rather goes to the patent medicine dealer or the chemist because he feels it is cheaper.
He will not take his aged parents to the hospital during their illness. He would rather spend millions in public displays such as funeral and marriage ceremonies. Because I have been made a judge in this matter, I stand here to tell us that the man who named his son ‘AKUBUEZE’ is wrong. I also reiterate that the man who named his son ‘NDUBUISI’ is right. Indeed, health should be first. The foremost reason we worship God is because “He is the Lord that Health us”
The United Nations Organization underscores the priority position of health when it launched the millennium development Goals (MDGs) initiative. That four out of the eight elements of MDG revolve around health shows the pivotal role of health in international development. These are goals to be achieved as it were, by the year 2015. the four elements that concern health directly includes:
MDG 4. Reduction of child morality: to reduce by 2/3rd , between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate.
MDG 5. Improve maternal Health: To reduce by ¾, between 1990 and 2015,the maternal mortality ratio and to achieve by 2015, universal/access to reproductive health.
MDG 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
MDG 7. To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. To halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015.
The other four elements do not involve health directly. They, however, ultimately
tend to promote health.
Since those who should know have made health a priority, it behoves governments,
Communities, churches and individuals to make health a priority. Communities should partner with the government to ensure that adequately staffed and well equipped health facilities are located within their locality. The parishes, besides building their worship centres, should aim to have a functional health facility within the parish or archdeaconry at least.
Elements of Health Promotion:
1) On the individual: The individuals in the community should ensure environmental cleanliness and safe work environment. Most of us work and earn our livings in the market. Our market is very dirty. The dirtiness is our own making. Most of the refuses are combustible; yet we allow them to litter the front of our shops and business premises. May I re-emphasize that our markets and parks are too dirty to accommodate healthy individuals. Government will not sweep our business premises for us. Dumping of refuse into drainage system should be eschewed.
2) Housing: Every one should strive to ensure that his family lives in a decent accommodation. You may need to spend less on clothing and trivialities.
3) Food and Nutrition: Balanced diet containing the basic and essential nutrition in adequate promotions should be targeted. Malnutrition comprises a spectrum with two extremes. Under nutrition when feeding is inadequate and over nutrition where the feeding is excessive tending towards obesity, hypertension and disbetes mellitus and other diseases.
4) Water & sanitation: Water is necessary for health. Our government has not lived up to its obligation in this area. The government should be complimented by individuals. Instead of buying Hummer Jeep and attracting undue attentions, families should make their own bore holes to ensure constant water supply. Availability of water promotes cleanliness as we know cleanliness is next Godliness.
5) Material Health: The health of the woman is crucial to the overall health of the society. Pregnant woman should enlist for Ante-natal care early enough. This will ensure early detection of any departure from health of either or both mother and foetus.
6) Child Health: includes disease prevention by way of immunization, growth monitoring, nutrition and disease surveillance. Early detection of disease and treatment is important especially for malaria and other child killer diseases. Home treatment is an early intervention which is encouraged as it is beneficial to the overall outcome of disease management. But when the illness is perceived to progress, then the child should be sent to the hospital.
7) The government should make affordable drugs available in health facilities. This will encourage individuals to seek treatment early enough.
ROUTINE SCREENINGS
Routine screening for the promotion of health is necessary for all; but every group
of people has screenings are particularly necessary for early detection of diseases.
All individuals:
1a. Blood Sugar estimation: This test is best done in the fasting state ie before breakfast. The normal blood sugar in this state ranges from 65mg/dl-120mg/dl (3.3-5.6mmol/L) the doctor or health care giver will be able to detect departures from the normal range and give the required advice.
b. Blood Pressure Check: High Blood Pressure is a silent killer. Fortunately, it is easily detected by checking the mid- arm Blood pressure using the sphygmomanometer. If one is hypertensive and suddenly feels headache, you should see your doctor immediately, take the appropriate medication and rest. Both Diatetes Mellitus and hypertension predisposes the patients to cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) or stroke.
Stroke is avoidable if necessary measures are taken and on time
c. Serum Cholesterol: This is a fat-like substance found in the blood High level of Cholesterol predisposes an individual to heart diseases and even stroke. It is therefore advised that people check their blood cholesterol as often as once yearly. To lower the blood items rich in saturated fat.
Cholesterol check is particularly necessary for individuals of 45 years and above who have disbetes, high blood pressure, heart disease running in the family and those who smoke.
2. Peculiar Health screenings for women:
a. Every woman should always daily palpate her breasts and if any lump is felt, should report to her doctor. Mammography is a screening test for breast disorders and is available in some centres. Mammogram should be done every 1-2 years from the age of 40. it helps to detect breast centre at early stage.
b. Cervical screening: Quarterly swabs for culture of virginal and cervical secretions or discharges help to detect infections of the genital track.
Having a pap smear every 1-3 years helps to detect cancer of the cervix early enough for appropriate treatment. This is particularly necessary for women who are sexually active and between the ages of 21-65 years.
3. Peculiar screenings for men:
Men above the age of 40 years are advised to screen for cancer of the prostrate; at least once a year. This is very necessary because cancer of prostrate may mimick the more friendly benign enlargement of prostrate.
I wish to inform this gathering that most of the above screening tests are performed
in Nnewi Diocesan Hospital, (Akwudo) Otolo Nnewi and I appeal to the synod
here, not only to show the light in church activities but also importantly to lead our
various communities in health promotion.
Thanks and God bless.
