It’s another brilliant day in Sikaman but I am at a loss as to why so little is said about Climate Change especially at this time when thousands of Climate Change experts, pretenders and world leaders are deliberating on the way forward. The weather in the mornings is terrific and everything looks serene. You will not believe that a few hours later chaos will once again take hold of our roads and create scenes that mimic a jungle.
A little over six years ago when I wrote on “Dr. Essel’s Pick of The Fatal Five” COVID-19 did not earn a call up simply because it was not known. At the time my FATAL FIVE were:

• Cardiovascular Disease (heart and blood vessel disease)
• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Malaria
• Diarrhoeal Diseases and Ebola

If I had to reproduce this list in 2021, I will need to replace Ebola with COVID-19 and probably drop diarrhoeal diseases because of the miracle of handwashing but I am not sure yet. Then the almighty Climate Change and Road Carnage will be knocking on my door for consideration. If we have to look for an international flavour then maybe Climate Change will need to replace Malaria. Why? Climate Change like most of the others affects everyone in the world and has far reaching consequences including worsening instances of malaria that may make the malaria vaccine not optimize its benefits, increase the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases, respiratory infections, heart diseases, loss of jobs and incomes and poverty. This is scarier than we are making the world to understand.

It is amazing how people continue to disrespect our laws to the extent that some even drive facing oncoming traffic and the annoying aspect is that they are in a hurry to do nothing. Why will you cause accidents by driving without a brain in potholes interspersed with strips of tarred road? We intentionally make life difficult or are we simply tired of living and hope that by “committing suicide” we will re-incarnate as citizens of another country where milk and honey flow on gold-plated streets?

There are many pandemics that we have neglected for years and I noticed a trend since September where all these Fatal Conditions seem to be shouting hoarse for attention. World Heart Day came up in September reminding us of heart and blood diseases and the fact that it claims almost 18 million lives annually while keeping many others from being productive and wallowing in pity and poverty. Then Breast Cancer Awareness Month hit the scene in October throwing light on many cancers but with a focus on the breasts. For years at least one person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and even that is a huge understatement. Fast Forward to November and World Diabetes Day is just around the corner while the world attempts to reach a consensus on Climate Change; we all know too well what to do but keep shifting the posts.

We have been living with all these pandemics for years and we do not appear to want to change the status quo. I sometimes wonder if it’s easier to invest in prevention or to wait till complications set in and we have to drain our pockets and national coffers and stretch out open hands for hand-outs?
Will it be easier to fix roads and ensure discipline? Should we all choose to be more physically active, watch what we eat with emphasis on increasing fruit and vegetable intake while limiting salt, sugar and oils? Should screening for cancers be more aggressive?

Is the marketplace, an office or even a shop safer than a hospital or clinic when it comes to the spread of COVID-19? I see the precautions people take when they enter a health facility where protocols are relatively tight and clients are screened. Clients will maintain appropriate distance from others, keep masks on and rarely speak BUT these same people will enter a shop a few minutes later, pull their mask below their mouth, talk like there is no tomorrow and touch so many products on display while taking breaks to rub one’s eyes. I am sure you get the picture. We need to maintain the same discipline everywhere. Quite often we let our guard down where it matters the most.

I have more questions than answers and I hope you can help me out.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ St Andrews Clinic/Mobissel

Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise.

Thought for the week –“80% of heart disease is curable.”- Essential Heart Guide 2012 (Mayo Clinic)