Health minister is right

The column by Loane Sharp, “Stop this health hazard”, refers ( Cover Story, On My Mind December 18-24).

I am a medical doctor who has the privilege of serving in both the private and public sectors.

In the private sector, I regularly have hypertensive patients, in a state of exasperation, who complain about finding high amounts of sodium in every single foodstuff they purchase. Sodium is in every manufactured foodstuff, and is the ingredient that contributes to the development of hypertension, along with other factors.

In the public sector, I see people who are semiliterate and cannot afford healthier food options. Even though they may be counselled regarding proper dietary choices, their low socioeconomic status leaves them at the mercy of food manufacturers and their products, which often contain unhealthy amounts of sodium.

I may not agree with everything health minister Aaron Motsoaledi says but I agree with him 100% on his quest to regulate the reduction of sodium. He is absolutely on point!

There are innumerable individuals walking around with large waistlines and chronic medications in their pockets precisely because of additives in our food. And they are the lucky ones. The unlucky ones are consigned to wheelchairs and nursing homes due to strokes, and others still are in graveyards.

Instead of being quick to view Motsoaledi as an “individual set on misadventures”, rather view his intended targets. Advise accordingly if there is a wrong instead of writing disparaging articles stating how “he is a health hazard and must be stopped”.

He may not be the most articulate, but he is quite easily the best health minister this country has had.

I am at the coal face, and see the results of his policies. Admittedly all is not well, but I like his stance and approach. Motsoaledi is not a health hazard. Not by any means. Gagu Matsebula, via e-mail