When you attend funeral after funeral of persons whom, by virtue of their age, you never thought would precede you in death, it brings you face to face with the reality that our lives could end at any moment. It also causes you to think about the way you live, and how you can improve the quality of your life during your temporary sojourn on this part of the divide. I am of the belief that when it is our turn, nothing can stop death. Many persons criticize heavily the quality of healthcare available in Anguilla and blame the demise of their loved ones on its facilities. While it is not perfect, I have known many people who travelled across the globe to receive, or lived in countries where they have access to, the best medical treatment and care available but could not defeat death when it called. Interestingly, many visitors to our shores have written to this paper expressing their gratitude for the level of service and care received right here in Anguilla at our hospital.
But this editorial is not about the merits or demerits of our healthcare system. Rather, it is to encourage us to take personal responsibility for our own health. Recently, we heard the Honourable Evans McNiel Rogers, Minister of Social Development, say, in a radio address, that non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer are the number one cause of death in our region. In many cases these are preventable through proper diet and exercise. This means that the very illnesses that are placing increasing demands on our healthcare system are, to a large extent, within our power to control.
I believe it is for this reason that there are many initiatives, being undertaken by personnel in various departments of the Ministry of Health, the Health Authority and community-based organizations, to encourage the general population to take better care of themselves. Such initiatives include holding health fairs where free health checks are done, organizing physical exercise activities, and weight loss challenges. I am hopeful that as a population we take full advantage of these opportunities, not so much with a view to living longer (as I have already expressed my view on this), but more so with ensuring that our lives can be happy, healthy, comfortable and productive.
For some reason it seems that the more advances we make in technology, the less healthy we become. This may be because we have become slaves to the technology (our smart phones, tablets etc) which promote sedentary behavioural traits instead of physical activity. Hours in front our computer screen, on social media etc, do not get our bodies moving. This technology which was supposed to be a blessing is also a curse in the workplace. Since it has resulted in improved efficiency, we are expected to produce more in less time. Additionally, since it has resulted in easier access and communication, we are never really off the job because we can be reached at anytime. The result is higher levels of stress and less time for eating right, exercise and rest.
It is therefore incumbent on us to make a special effort to pay attention to our health and not get too caught up, or overwhelmed, with the increasing demands of work and daily life. I encourage all of us to take charge of the lives that we have been blessed with – ensure that our bodies are properly nourished, active and receive sufficient rest. We should also ensure that we get regular health checks especially in relation to those areas for which there is a family history of illness. Our goal should be to maintain good health so that we can fully enjoy the time allotted to us on earth.
