It is well known that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month; it is internationally observed. And during this month, all things pink can be seen everywhere: ribbons, t-shirts, pins and the like. Rallies and walks are held to promote awareness as well as push for a cure and people, women especially, are encouraged to get mammograms and other screenings since early diagnosis can lead to a better outcome.
But breast cancer awareness is not the only observance in October. Some of the other global observances include World Mental Health Day on October 10, World Food Day on October 16, World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, and World Cerebral Palsy Day on the first Wednesday in October each year. In the US, Mental Illness Awareness Week starts on the first Sunday in October. In the UK, October 9 to 15 is Baby Loss Awareness Week. Internationally, Rett Syndrome Awareness and SIDS Awareness are also observed during the entire month.
While some causes tend to garner more support and funding because of their prevalence or high mortality rate, every one that is connected to our well-being is equally important. Health is not merely the absence of disease or illness, as the World Health Organisation’s Constitution tells us, but a state of complete physical, mental and social wellness. It is, or should be, one of the main elements of a good life since it would not be possible to enjoy success, wealth, property, or family life without it. One wonders then why a cavalier approach to health tends to be the norm rather than the exception.
Globally, there are more people who do not have annual physical examinations than those who do. Of course, much of this is accounted for in the fact that poorer people make up the larger portion of the global population and healthcare, including preventative services, is expensive and therefore more easily accessible to the haves than the have nots. However, and for the record, this cuts across social and financial status, people seem to prefer to involve themselves in practices that are detrimental to their health, such as smoking cigarettes and vaping, using illegal drugs, having unsafe sex, and abusing alcohol among other things. Some change their behaviour when they learn that they are predisposed to an illness, others block, ignore or play Russian roulette with their health trying to see if they can dodge the bullet.
Furthermore, even fewer avail themselves of the opportunities, where they exist, to ensure their own mental wellness. This in no way references psychologists and psychiatrists, who many do not have access to, but simple things like being kind to oneself, getting enough sleep and exercise, developing meaningful connections with other mentally aware souls, expressing emotions rather than clinging to avoidance, learning contentment and reducing stress.
It is the height of incongruity that such issues exist in a world which has advanced technologically and scientifically to the point where people can explore space, build nuclear bombs and quickly diagnose practically every disease.
As a case in point, one can examine maternal morbidity and mortality. It has been found that rates dropped significantly across the board when countries were able to introduce free antenatal clinics and push for adherence in women’s visits. Indeed, a deeper look will reveal that these clinics played and continue to play a major role in eliminating and reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Similarly, postnatal clinics have assisted with a reduction in infant mortality. Structured visits allow for children to receive vaccinations on time and for health professionals to monitor their progress. In some cases, these provide an early warning of illnesses that might otherwise have been missed.
Antenatal and postnatal clinics fall under preventive services. Let us be clear here that pregnancy is not an illness, therefore what the clinic does is monitor the process with the aim of nipping in the bud any illness that might arise and so ensuring the well-being of both mother and child. And since there is ample evidence that they work well, then it stands to reason that the concept can be expanded to making annual wellness checks available for all other groups: tweens, teens, young adults, adults and the elderly.
This is not a new or unheard-of idea. One only needs to look at the UK’s National Health Service or the provision of healthcare in Canada or Sweden for example where such systems have been in place for decades. Of course, in many countries, these services are funded by taxes and that is surely an option for Guyana. A good head start could be made with the use of oil revenues and, obviously, making accountability the watchword.
