Health is a personal responsibility

At Issue: The large increase in the number of locals contracting diabetes and other long-term illnesses.

Our View: We can help pare down costly health bills by taking control of our individual and collective health.

Modern lifestyles have contributed to neglect in personal health. The net result is the rather alarming number of indigenous people who have contracted debilitating long-term illnesses attributable to local diet, fueled by sedentary lifestyle.

The number of kidney failure has gone from a negligible number to about 80 people between Saipan, Tinian and Rota. And this alarming number will jump by leaps and bounds for as long as locals treat personal health without any sense of responsibility.

Indeed, the rather sumptuous and tasty local diet is very tempting and difficult to pass and not when we meet in family gatherings at the beach or the ranch. It usually begins with lots of burn meat, chased down by alcoholic beverages. We drink and eat like there’s no tomorrow.

It isn’t surprising why there’s an increase in diabetics and heart patients. The local diet is loaded with fat, salt and sugar. It is this triad that eventually knocks out the wind in our health. It is here where public health officials must take an aggressive and proactive role explaining what happens as, i.e. fat is broken and filtered by the kidney.
This is where public education is most needed — an explanation of the dangers of the by-products of fat, salt and sugar and what happens as one joins the ranks of diabetics where normal kidney and liver functions are constantly sent to work overtime. This type of explanations are vital and must be disseminated aggressively.
The rest is really up to the community.

It is encouraging though that since 1986 young pupils are heard talking about dieting, exercise and personal hygiene. Perhaps this is the target constituency which public health officials must focus its efforts in school classrooms, in addition to a media blitz. Video actualities with dialysis patients discussing their tri-weekly bout should be able to help bring home the message.

Furthermore, health education must not be viewed by policy-makers as another cost but more of an investment in the future health of the local populous. This continuing misconception has got to come to an end and be viewed as an investment to improve health down the stretch.

Friends, you are what you eat. The Internet is loaded with information on healthy habits. Otherwise, seek a dietitian’s assistance to get back on the road of healthy living. Health is a personal responsibility. Let’s take proactive control of our health, now! Si Yuus Maase`!