Moving health/wellness to centre stage
MORE AND more Jamaicans have begun to take better care of themselves. This is evident in the recent surge observed in people walking, j ogging, riding, attending a gym or just increasing their physical activities by playing more sports, on a regular basis.
Across the length and breadth of the nation, more and more people of all genders and ages have become involved in physical activities by early morning, noon, or night! The nation is becoming more health-conscious.
This is a good sign for a society that, traditionally, has been somewhat laid-back and is not known to heed health warnings, especially where it means that a change in lifestyle is needed.
Ministries of health across successive administrations have literally begged and besieged the nation to be more responsible health-wise, over time, but I have not observed much change until now.
NO LONGER A DEATH SENTENCE
I suspect the message is now getting home and people are becoming far more knowledgeable in the need to maintain good health and what is required of them to do so. Perhaps, advancements in science and exposure to vital information have convinced most that even the most debilitating illnesses today are no longer a death sentence! The healthier the nation, the more we can achieve and the less expenditure to be made by health services.
Having said all of that, there are some things which the government should now consider and implement. Significant portions of people have no alternative but to do their physical activities on our roadways. I am among those. We literally go about our routines in great fear of motor vehicle traffic, which in the early mornings or late evenings has no regard for those moving about on two feet. In some areas we literally ‘walk a tightrope ’in the knowledge that we might not make it back home in one piece, if at all. So, while we are trying to maintain good physical condition, we are subjected to very high stress factors by the dangers presented by motorists and occasionally motorcyclists.
In this reality, I am particularly concerned about the elderly who can be seen in my community doing their morning walks from as early as 5:00 each morning. They are no longer nimble enough to avoid a vehicle bearing down on them at great speed as we are accustomed to experiencing at that time of day.
It is time that steps be taken to make the new surge in physical fitness safer and more attractive to current enthusiasts and those yet to join the trend. Every new housing development in 2024 and beyond should be mandated to have proper sidewalks and cycle paths for pedal cyclists. Commercial areas should ensure the safe transitioning of both the pedestrian and cyclist and not just cater for the movement of motor vehicles and motorbikes. New developments should be required to provide adequate ‘green areas’ that make allowance for bicycle riding pathways and the same for people walking or jogging. Older communities can be modified over time to provide the same facilities to residents.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET
These fixtures will go a far way in reducing road casualties, the national healthcare bill, fear, and anxiety among people who are currently ‘running the gauntlet’, or, the fear already present in those who have not yet tried to improve their status because of the current reality.
I believe, based upon my observation, that the time to be bold and do what is required to allow personal physical improvement momentum to continue, is now. This is a simple but critical step forward in showing that governments care for the populations they serve. Financial expenditure on health issues would be greatly reduced and that money put to better use elsewhere, and here I suggest improving the welfare of the health workers themselves and general improvements to public hospitals, in particular.
This is not a country that is short of ideas. Our government must be objective in their implementation, and this means taking politics out of the equation and putting the people first. I hope this time my plea will not fall on deaf ears and something positive can commence.