SI’s duel health crisis
Samson Sade writing in today’s edition of the Solomon Times Online newspaper quotes “Pacific Possible’ research stating that NCD’s are now the leading cause of death in the Solomon Islands, an estimated 60 percent of deaths in the country.
The four main types of NCDs include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes.
Mr. Sade’s piece goes on to comment about the vulnerability of the population should there occur an outbreak of Covid-19, and I quote his words.
Research indicates that a large segment of our population is very vulnerable should there be an outbreak of COVID-19. Vaccination rates are currently low, and government, with the support of donor partners, is working hard to change that.
More vaccines are on their way and relevant health agencies are now going out to communities, making the vaccine more accessible.
In trying to manage a possible COVID-19 outbreak, we already have a crisis that has not been managed – NCD’s are not transmittable still kill our people.
This comes back to people’s choices – we all know the source of NCDs, it is bad eating habits and lifestyle. Yet, the rates are still rising.
Non-communicable diseases are, as the name implies, not transmissible, it is entirely up to the individual to save him or herself from the disease simply by changing lifestyle choices. Unfortunately, people choose to ignore early warning signs, leading to fatal outcomes.
Similarly, to protect oneself from COVID-19, it is really up to the individual – take the jab and you protect yourself and your loved ones, don’t take the jab and you put others at risk. Yet vaccination rates are low, people have a chance to save themselves, we know that the virus kills, yet we choose to watch and wait.
We must change our attitudes if we are to protect ourselves from this virus – otherwise, like the NCD crises, we will lose the fight before it even starts by not vaccinating.
End of quote.
Comment
Plain words from Mr. Sade. Yes, it really is a question of changing attitudes to the twin issues of NCD’s and Corona=19. I hope all will listen and take the measures necessary to safeguard health and, in case of getting vaccinated, not only protecting and safe guarding their own lives, but others and the country.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
