RISING ISSUES OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN

Today in our communities there is  alot of issues that are of public health  concern . This issues basically affect our health status in different  ways  and the issues have brought the new normal which our communities find it difficult to understand and adapt  easily: 

1. COVID-19 

The breakout of the Corona Virus which caused COVID-19 has really changed the behaviours of  our communities.  This has changed how people interact , whereby the Ministry O f Health and World Health  Organization  have advised people to a void crowded places and maintain social distancing  wherever they interact , also there is wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Furthermore,  everyone is advised to sanitize using an alcohol based sanitizer .The behaviour has brought the washing of hands where the person shakes with other one. I took a walk around our local markets and shops , I found that most of them have  not adhered to the WHO and MoH protocols whereby there is  no washing of hands before being attended also there is no maintenance of social distancing these however poses the people to high risk of contracting the deadly virus. 

Most countries in the world are  trying to invent the vaccine to encounter the virus. To encounter the virus , we just advice everyone to adhere to WHO and MoH protocols, 'prevention is better than treatment '.

2. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 

The solid waste management is a major global problem today These SOLID wastes include healthcare wastes generated from hospitals and other health care activities, plastics, metals and papers. Improper and uncontrolled disposal of this wastes have posed a dangerous threat to the health of the populations through air pollution  when the waste is burned before disinfected  , soil and water pollution.

For instance,  the Alupe area in Busia county whereby there is improper and uncontrolled disposal of untreated SOLID wasted which include plastics, metals and papers 

The community here is at high risk of contracting  dangerous  diseases such  as cholera die to poor WASTE management. This plastics contain harmful chemicals such as bleach acid and oil wastes , this plastics and papers and others SOLID wastes are dumped and burned thus contaminating the area. We advice the relevant  authorities  to come up with proper ways of solid waste management for the benefit of our health hence treatment is expensive than prevention.

3. NUTRITION 

Changes are occurring rapidly in nutrition science . A nutrient of public health concern is the one which is under-consumed by the population and has health risks associated with its underconsuption.

The new nutrition  label  require all the nutrients be listed on the nutrition label. Calcium,  Iron and dietary fiber remain mandatory label nutrients as before . However new in the lineup are potassium  and vitamin D and are replacing vitamin A and C , while A and C are not mandatory but they are still included on the nutrition label. Calcium is most most abundant mineral as it helps in development and maintenance of teeth and bones, constriction and relaxation of blood vessels, muscle contraction, nerve signaling,  blood clotting  and secretion of hormones such as insulin.  

Insufficient calcium levels is associated  with softened or brittle bones , fractures and oosteoporosis. 

Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption  , during  exposure  to sunlight or consumed through  the diet , insufficient  vitamin D carries with it the same risks as insufficient calcium. For products that contain calcium  , either  naturally or through fortification,  manufacturers should pay close attention to the vitamin D content. As consumers become increasingly aware of the relationship between calcium and vitamin D, they will expect their calcium containing foods and beverages to contain  vitamin D  as common  dietary  supplements.The new mandatory nutrition  labeling of vitamin D will put a spotlight  on this important nutrients.

Though health eating maybe trending, we still have alot left to do as manufacturers and consumers  before are all eating  healthy , formulating with careful attention to the nutrients of public health  concern.