Sunday September 7, 2008
Healing the nation
ART OF HEALING
By Dr AMIR FARID ISAHAK
There are many aspects to look into when we talk about the health of our nation.
LAST week, we celebrated our 51st Merdeka, so it is appropriate that I write about the health of the nation, in the broadest sense.
I used to take care of pregnant mothers and deliver babies. Now my work is mostly concerned with keeping people young and healthy (and slim and beautiful), and promoting natural (including qigong) and nutritional therapies to complement modern medicine.
The dawn of our 51st Merdeka sees us facing many health challenges. After 30 years as a doctor, I am interested to know how Malaysians fare when we compare some health parameters with those of other nations. Fortunately, a comparative study has been done, using various sources such as UNICEF, UNHDR, WHO, CIA World Factbook and others (refer www.nationmaster.com). Below are some of the statistics. Where there are several sources, I have taken the latest data. (Figures have been rounded up to the nearest 0.5.)
Health indicators
- Life expectancy at birth (years) – 73 (Best – Andorra, 83.5)
- Life expectancy at birth (female) – 76 (Best – Japan, 85.5)
- Life expectancy at birth (male) – 70 (Best – Andorra, 80.5)
- Healthy life expectancy (years) – 63 (Best – Japan, 75)
- 65 (Best – Japan, 78)
- Healthy life expectancy (males) – 62 (Best – Japan, 72)
- Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) – 17 (Best – Singapore, 2.5)
- Infant mortality rate (Female) – (Best – Singapore, 2.0)
- Infant mortality rate (Male) – 19 (Best – Singapore, 2.5)
- Maternal mortality rate (per 100,000) – 41 (Best – Greece, 1)
- Smokers (%) – 26.5 (Worst – Nauru, 54)
- Smokers (females) – 3.5 (Worst – Nauru, 47)
- Physicians (per 1,000 population) – 1 (Best – Cuba, 6)
- Total expenditure on health (%of GDP) – 4 (Best – USA, 15)
Physical health
Although our life expectancy has steadily risen over the years, we are still 10 years short of the best countries. The same applies to healthy life expectancy, that is, living without any major disease.
Throughout the world, females have always outlived males, and this is even evident in infancy, when already more male infants die. In fact, in the womb, male foetuses die more often than female ones.
At conception, there are more males (perhaps 110 per 100 females), but at birth the ratio is already down to 105 per 100 females. Throughout infancy, childhood and teenage years, the ratio narrows until it becomes 1:1 during the most fertile reproductive ages (15-35).
Thereafter the ratio reverses in favour of women. Of course if the women choose to live unhealthy lifestyles (for example, smoke like the men do), the gap will become less obvious as they also start to die young. Unfortunately, this is the trend we are seeing as our women feel the need to be “emancipated” and smoking is somehow seen as one of those things they can choose to do,
Over two-thirds of our people above 40 years have one or more of these health problems – heart disease, hypertension, stroke, abnormal lipids, cancer, diabetes, obesity, lung disease, liver diseases, kidney disease, diseases of the alimentary system, and arthritis. About three quarter are on some form of regular medication.
That means, overall, we are an unhealthy nation.
While heart disease remains the top cause of death from chronic diseases, cancer is catching up fast, having taken over from stroke as number two since 2000. In some years, deaths from septicaemia actually outnumber deaths from heart disease. Malaysians also die too frequently from accidents, which has remained the fifth highest cause of death for many years.
With the more affluent lifestyle as we progress to developed nation status, comes the plague of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancers. While we certainly want to progress, we need not inherit such “collateral damage” as well. There is no reason why we cannot progress yet remain healthy as well.
We certainly need to do more for our health. Our government has been proactive in many ways. Our Health Ministry has launched numerous campaigns with various themes to improve the health of the nation. The Malaysian Health Promotion Board was established to see that all parties concerned work with synergy, with support and incentives from the government. Yet there is so much more we can do, and should do, as the statistics show.
In the WHO overall health performance, we are not even in the top 20 list (France is at the top). Our health expenditure (as % of GDP) can be further increased as a sign of increased priority given to health. Even Cambodia spends 12% of GDP on health.
The number of physicians (per 1,000 population) we have is only 1/6th that of Cuba. San Marino, a very small nation, actually has 47 physicians per 1,000 population, but I have not included it as that is disproportionately high.
Religion and race
We are a nation of believers, and the first principle of our Rukunegara is Belief in God. Thus religion plays an important part in our lives. We also have an official religion – Islam, as enshrined in our Constitution, while all other religions can be freely practised.
Some may argue that the Constitution only says that Islam is the religion of the Federation. Since the constitution is an official document, then that makes Islam the official religion.
I have to point this out because there have been many arguments and conflicts over such issues that continue to divide us. If we cannot even agree on the terms that bind our co-existence, we will forever be quarrelling.
What matters most is that the government, being a Muslim-majority coalition, should abide by Islamic principles which include justice, fairness, welfare, equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities, accountability, and other values required by God.
If the secular communities are guided by such principles of good governance as determined by humans, then we as believers should be even more stringent in our standards, as we also have God to answer to. If the government is fair to all, then we need not fear disunity. However, what is fair means different things to different groups.
Religious issues have hit the headlines many times. We dispute over conversions, reversions (often involving Islam), houses of worship and even over the right to call God as Allah. Believe me that these are not easily resolved, as I am involved both as an interfaith leader, and as a Muslim activist.
The government is trying hard to help resolve these wherever possible. Recently the Department of Unity hosted a closed-door no-holds-barred interfaith dialogue. All of us who participated were happy that we could talk about the most sensitive issues.
Even though we could not resolve most of them, it was not surprising, because the Muslims and non-Muslims obviously have different ideas about how we should move forward. The Muslims are adamant that the constitution bestows special rights and privileges to them while most non-Muslims interpret Islam only as a “ceremonial” official religion and should not have special rights.
If the Muslims, who are the majority, have been good Muslims in all spheres of life – in the neighbourhood, at work, as government servants and as governing politicians, then there will be no apprehension on the part of the non-Muslim fellow citizens. Nobody will complain if they get what is due to them, regardless of who is governing.
Unfortunately, the Muslims here are lagging behind in many areas. Even though Islam stresses on learning, knowledge, hard work, faith and virtues, the Muslims here (in general) seem to fail in all these aspects. Hence they have to depend on government help and subsidies. The only way they can recover their integrity, worth, competitiveness and dignity is to return to the wise teachings of their religion.
There are also efforts to forge harmony among the religious leaders. When the leaders are friendly, they can influence their followers not to fight. In May, I was with the leaders of the six major religions here on an interfaith educational visit to China. In October, I will be leading them to attend the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace in Manila.
Hopefully, being together on such journeys will strengthen our bonds such that we can be instrumental in ensuring peace among religions at home.
While race and religion are two separate matters, in Malaysia, the two are intricately entwined. The Malays are almost exclusively Muslims. In fact, by our constitution, the Malay is defined as being a Muslim. Often issues that start off as non-racial and non-religious problems insidiously evolve into racial and/or religious conflicts.
In Malaysia, so many issues have to be looked into in this complex interrelation between race, religion, politics and economy. We must certainly improve the health of our relationships and build trust between the races and religions.
Politics, governance and economy
I am not a politician, but like most Malaysians, I cannot help but get caught in the recent “exciting” political events, the outcome of which will affect us all.
After the political “tsunami” of March 8, 2008, it is obvious that Malaysians have finally woken up to demand true democracy, fairness, justice, accountability, transparency, zero corruption, efficiency in government services, peace and security for us to live happily in harmony. More so in this difficult economic climate, when there is a smaller cake to be divided among us all.
We have to start somewhere. We are a very rich nation, with rich natural resources, and even richer human capital.
Unfortunately, much has been wasted or lost to other countries (through emigration).
If we get ourselves on the right track again, we can still hope for a brighter future. If the ACA actions are any indication, we are getting “healthier” in these areas. There is hope for Malaysia. Merdeka!
- Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. He is a qigong master and founder of SuperQigong. For further information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my.
The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
Source:
RSS
