3 September 2022
We have learned in the past few days from Solomon Islands own Heath Minister the grim news that there will be no replacement National Referral Hospital (NRH) for at least another decade
Given that notice and knowing how NCDs are of great health concern at home, adding year on year to the loss of loved ones from preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart conditions, stroke, lung conditions, liver and kidney issues, I believe it is really timely for every effort to be made in putting much greater focus on reducing the risk to people of NCD preventable diseases and life threatening complications.
I have repeatedly given advice on safe health practices, on diet, on exercise, on reducing the consumption of alcohol, stopping cigarette smoking and reducing the incidences of high blood pressure leading to heart conditions including cardiac failure and premature death.
I am not a doctor but from my long and caring concern for the people of the Solomon Islands, I would please urge the MHMS to bring about a change in primary health care with advice and practical lessons in reducing NCDs, thereby lowering the risk of mortality, pressure on existing health facilities, including the present NRH, and resulting in cost savings in health if hospital admissions can be radically reduced and medication limited from what it is today.
A major part of a re-defined and health care programme must, in my opinion, see the introduction of screening operations at new health centres to check for early signs of cancer in men, women and girls and other medical issues which, if detected early enough, can be treated without necessarily resulting in hospital admissions and lengthy patient care.
To add to my expressed heath concerns today, I would like to add a piece that I have just read and a matter that has re-focused my attention and prompted my letter.
I quote from Yahoo news.
According to CNN, two new, extensive studies of people in the United States and Italy published this week in The BMJ (British Medical Journal) found that eating large quantities of ultra-processed foods can cause heart disease and early death in both men and women. These foods include sauces, frozen pizza, hot dogs, french fries, store-bought cookies, cakes, candies, doughnuts and ice cream.
Fang Fang Zhang, the co-senior author of one of the studies, said ultra-processed foods are typically industrial ready-to-eat or heat concoctions created using components taken from foods or synthesized in laboratories.
“Literally hundreds of studies link ultra-processed foods to obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and overall mortality,” said Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, CNN reported.
Several organizations, including the American Cancer Society, have also found that eating processed and ultra-processed meats such as ham, bacon, salami and hotdogs, has long been linked to a higher risk of developing bowel cancer in both men and women.
But the latest research discovered that all forms of ultra-processed food contributed in some way.
End of quote.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
