THOSE ABOVE 45 SHOULD BE CONCERNED
The Medical Research Council Report on the state of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney ailments and cancer is at best alarming and at worst catastrophic. The facts are in the details of the press release issued by MRC which is published in this issue.
The state, especially the health ministry, and the Gambian population are being compelled by the facts to enter into a dialogue on the possible causes or aiders of such ailments that are likely to give short lives to the most experienced sector of the producers of the economy and the backbone of family life. When those between 45 and 75 die, a whole generation of institutional memory and family support is lost. Many children are now orphaned and many marriages are now terminated not by divorce, but are kept apart by death.
Living conditions, especially diets and physical exercise must change. Foodstuff, whether locally produced or imported, must be subject to quality control by Food Safety and Quality Authority. Bureaucracy should come to an end to save lives. The war against death must be fought vigorously to alter the trend indicated by MRC. Those who sell food unfit for human consumption must know that they are committing crimes against humanity.
Life is precious and should not be treated with contempt. The MRC findings should not merely be figures on paper. They should be taken as warning and a clarion call for speedy action to prevent a catastrophe. The same urgent action taken against the Covid-19 pandemic should be taken against the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
