…with diabetes
With us being a part of a globalised world, we shouldn’t be surprised that we Mudlanders are affected by global trends. And diabetes is a global trend. But in that fact alone, our authorities ought to be wary of claims that diabetes is declining here without us doing anything radically different.
Seems the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reported that cases of diabetes made a Kamikaze plunge from 61,800 in 2014 to 49,800 last year. Can you believe this? The good Minister, not surprisingly, accepted the “good news” which he thought might be due to the “massive education programme” the PPP had to’ve conducted. But such a drop in one year??
While diabetes has no “cure,” it can be controlled …but only after massive changes in lifestyle, diet and exercise regimens. Where exactly were these changes inculcated in our country? This would make medical history and Guyana might become famous for something medical apart from having the highest suicide rate in the world. But upon reflection, it seems our Minister – being a doctor long in practice – realised all of this. He conceded the drop might be due to “migration or death”.
Well, those are two ways to cure an epidemic! And with the rate the US Embassy’s giving out visas, the good doctor might just be right. But that’s merely just transferring the problem to another jurisdiction, nuh? The afflicted persons would still be living with the “silent killer”. But your Eyewitness still thinks we need a coordinated approach to this epidemic which also reduces our national output and productivity.
For instance…on this diet business. We know it’s the massive modern shift to consuming processed foods that’s a big contributor to the worldwide epidemic in diabetes. So why can’t a poor country like Guyana insist we eat “more local”? Our lack of a manufacturing base might finally stand us in good stead! For instance, sweet potato grows and produces like rabbits! And sweet potato is a super source of carbohydrates – which we need for energy – but not in a form that’s quickly absorbed in the blood to give us that organ-destroying “sugar spike”. Why doesn’t the Government push sweet potatoes?
And at the other end, who do we encourage as “development” the influx of greasy “chicken and French fries” joints? We know being fat is highly correlated with diabetes..why then facilitate obesity? Then there’s exercise. Exercise has to be a habit –- and habits are only formed when we do something regularly.
Why don’t we follow up with Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine’s suggestion to focus more on sports in our schools?
More to the point, why doesn’t Minister Roopnaraine?
…with the Diaspora
Your Eyewitness noticed the Diaspora just launched their weeklong celebration of “Independence Jubilee” in the New York area. But have they learnt anything from what went down in Guyana?
The elephant in the room down here was the meagre participation from all the ethnic groups comprising our society. And for an administration that’s committed to “social cohesion”, this is potentially fatal. No one in the Government wanted to talk about it, but it’s to the credit that some of their supporters from the Diaspora who came down for the Big Bash told the Emperor he had no clothes.
But there’s no use crying over spilt milk…we just have to do better going forward…and this Eyewitness hopes the change will start from our “more enlightened” sisters and brothers in Region 11.
There was also the suggestion that a more inclusive “social conversation” be launched on how to ensure the next 50 years doesn’t repeat as “farce”, the tragedy of the first 50 years.
Can we talk?
…about crime
The diasporans who came down also reminded us we can’t fight crime through playing with numbers. And crime must be reduced to attract overseas investment.
“Prevention is better than cure” in health as well as crime fighting.
