Advisor to the Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony has cautioned on how low health literacy contributes significantly to health disparities and can cause wide-ranging implications for people’s well-being and the provision of health services.
During his feature address at the opening of the St Joseph Mercy Hospital’s Health and Wellness Experience 2022 on Saturday, Dr Ramsammy shared that the common practice of shying away from early screening and not keeping up to date or being unable to recite the numbers that add up to good health: blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar level and body mass index is not ideal.
“The most important aspect of health is us, and how we live; our lifestyle is critical not just for to prevent Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) but other infectious diseases,” he said.
An elderly woman getting a check-up at the event
Dr Ramsammy reminded the audience that, unlike family history, ethnicity and gender – which cannot be changed – other factors can be altered by the choices a person makes every day to prevent the early onset of disease such as diabetes and hypertension. This, he said, starts with basic lifestyle changes in the way a person eats and their involvement in daily physical activities.
While congratulating the management of St Joseph Mercy Hospital and their partners on pulling off a successful event, the Advisor to the Minister made a public appeal for more public-private sector collaborations geared at taking health education and early screening to not only hospitals and health centres but to the homes of citizens.
Dr Ramsammy said that the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Health (MOH) is aiming to introduce the HbA1c test to all regional hospitals, health centres and health posts across the country.
HbA1c test is a simple blood test that measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. It’s one of the commonly used tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes and is also the main test to manage patients living with diabetes.
Earlier this month, in celebration of Wellness Day, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony shared that promoting a healthier lifestyle is a preventative measure against illnesses and health complications.
In Guyana, he had pointed out that many persons have adopted an inactive way of living coupled with poor choices and the Ministry is aiming to change this trend. This includes smoking, abuse of alcohol consumption, fast food, consuming sugar-sweetened beverages and lack of exercise in the daily routine. (G12)
