22 February 2008, Port Shepstone
Programme Director
MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Ms Pergy Nkonyeni
Mayor of Ugu District Municipality
Councillors present here today
Amakhosi who are with us today
Our sponsors and government officials
Ladies and gentlemen
It is very encouraging to see so many of you taking time to come and join us in celebrating the achievements we have made over the past few years in the promotion of healthy lifestyles among all of our people. I am indeed delighted to be here with you to celebrate the achievements that we have made since 2004 when we started with the Healthy Lifestyle campaign.
This campaign is designed to respond to the major challenges facing the health sector. You know that many people get sick and die from three main problems. The first are non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, various forms of cancer and cardio-vascular diseases. Most of these diseases develop because of the way we live and the type of food we eat.
There are also communicable diseases such as TB, HV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. As the term indicates, unsafe sex exposes us to STIs while TB can be prevented by amongst others things, covering your mouth when you cough and opening our windows to allow fresh air.
There is also violence and trauma. Many of the injuries we deal with in hospitals arise from road accidents, shootings and stabbings that involve high consumption of alcohol.
We realised that all these three major causes of ill-health and death in our country are preventable. What is critical is to ensure that each and every person understand the health implications choices we make about our lives.
It was within this context that we started the Healthy Lifestyle Campaign that you hear about on TV and in radios. The campaign encourages regular physical activity, at least 30 minutes five times a week. We encourage all sorts of activities ranging from jogging for those who are physically able to do so, walking, dancing and even include household chores such as sweeping the yard and gardening.
We have to eat healthy and nutritious diet with at least five fruits and vegetables a day. Knowing that food prices are increasing, we encourage people to grow their own vegetables and fruits. We have donated garden implements and seeds to various schools, clinics, hospitals and communities in general as part of encouraging people to appreciate the value of self-grown vegetable.
Another issue that I wish to address myself to regarding nutrition is the problem of fast food. It is worrying the extent to which our love for food stuffs such as burgers, fried chips accompanied by fizzy drinks has developed over the years.
We have had discussions with the fast food outlets to engage them around how they can improve the food that they sell to the people. One of the things we suggested was the addition of more nutritious food options in their menus so that people are given a better option. We have also called on them through draft regulations to desist from the practice of using toys for children as part of promoting and marketing certain food products. We are going to continue with this engagement until there is change in as far as this matter is concerned.
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, smoking continues to be another factor that undermines the health of our people. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that at least one in ten deaths worldwide is caused by tobacco use. What is encouraging though is the report on global tobacco control efforts released by the World Health Organisation this month which indicates that consumption of cigarette in South Africa has declined dramatically.
The report indicates that consumption decreased from close to 2 billion packs of cigarettes in 1990 to 1.3 billion in 2005. 40% of the decrease was attributable to smokers quitting because of significant increase in prices of cigarettes. The largest decrease was among young people and low-wage earners who reduced smoking most when prices increased.
The report acknowledges progress that South Africa has made in enforcement of bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship relating to tobacco and in protecting people from tobacco smoke through maintaining smoke-free environments. South Africa is also found to be doing well in providing counseling and treatment for tobacco dependence and in allocation of resources for tobacco prevention.
On alcohol, I am glad to announce that 12 months from now every container of an alcoholic beverage should, by law, contain health messages highlighting the negative effects of alcohol consumption.
The regulations we have put out under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act require that the health messages be visible and may include the following examples:
* Alcohol reduces driving ability, don't drink and drive
* Don't drink and walk on the road,
* Alcohol is a major cause of violence and crime
* Drinking during pregnancy can be harmful to your unborn baby
The regulations also prohibits the use of words such as "health", "healthy" or other words or symbols claiming that the alcoholic beverage has health properties. Any person who contravenes the provisions of these regulations shall be liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period of up to five years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen, let me now come to another issue which is critically important when it comes to healthy lifestyles and the prevention of diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS continue to undermine health of many of our people.
We need to take responsibility for our sexual behaviour. We call on people to abstain from sex, be faithful to their partners and use condoms. We call on our young people in particular to delay their involvement in sexual activities for as long as it is possible. This will protect you from STIs and HIV and AIDS as well as premature dangerous pregnancies. ASIZITHANDE!
If we can do just these five things:
* Regular physical activity
* Eat healthy and nutritious food
* Practice safe sex
* Do not smoke or abuse alcohol and drugs
I am certain that our goal of a better health for all can be achieved much sooner.
I wish to call on all South Africans to work with us in ensuring that the Healthy Lifestyles campaign continues to be successful. Let us continue to do more and regular physical exercises so that we improve our own health as individuals. Equally important, let us mind the food that we and our children eat. Instead of having a glass of fizzy drink after your meal, perhaps you should consider drinking water instead, it is easily accessible and healthy.
In conclusion, Programme Director, allow to acknowledge and thank our partners for their kind support and assistance in making sure that this initiative is a success.
* CANSA
* Bonitas Medical Scheme
* Diabetes Action
* The Heart Foundation
* Ikhambi Pharmaceuticals
* Pfizer Laboratories
* Roche
* Soul City
* Virgin Active
All of these partners has contributed materially to making this day the success that we intended it to be. Programme Director, ladies and gentlemen let us celebrate the Healthy Lifestyles Day.
Thank you very much.