Common Diseases in Our Communities 

  There is no day that I'll regret ever attending  any meeting at Open Dreams Centre Yaounde (www.open-dreams.org )

Today, the 23rd of January 2020 was yet another interesting encounter with Dr. Jacqueline Shaka . Who presented on the Common Diseases in our Communities. I learnt a lot of health principles and interesting facts. The lessons were divided into two classes of Common Diseases;  NCDs and STDs. 

Non-communicable Diseases ( NCDs)  are diseases that are not transmitted through sexual contact. Examples include Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes etc. These are the most common diseases in our Cameroonian society.  Secondly,  Sexually Transmitted Diseases ( STD) which are gotten through Sexual encounter with an infected person like HIV /AIDS

I didn't really know much about Diabetes, Hypertension and Obesity until I attended this meeting  and went searching for more information online. Shocking enough is the W.H.O reports about NCDs. According to W.H.O's  2018 10 facts about NCDs, "Noncommunicable diseases,  are by far the leading cause of death in the world, representing 63% of all annual deaths. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill more than 36 million people each year. Some 80% of all NCD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries ( https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/noncommunicable_diseases/en/"  retrieved 23/01/2020, 21:00) 

  I also learnt that as an adult , frequent checkup can help a lot, may be once or twice in a month or two.  Also, Frequent bodily exercises can help reduce the rate of hypertension,  obesity  and diabetes as well as we consciously reduce the amount of sugar we take in daily.  Into the bargain was the fact that one needs to know his/her Body Mass Index ( BMI) measured by  Weight Divided by (height squared) i.e. W/h2 and the answer indicating good health ranges from 18-- 25. Thus, figures out of this range indicate unhealthiness.

On STDs

 The most interesting  discussion to me was that on STDs. It was shocking to know that in Cameroon and Africa in general,  greater portion of youths from 12-23 years old are infected with HIV /AIDS and so many of them are dying daily. Some die in ignorance,  others in fear, some out of shame,  many because of religious reasons as religious experience in Africa won't suprise us as a Preacher would  tell some of his members ( who are HIV patients)  to only pray and not take drugs while others  die  confusion.  

Another lesson was that unprotected sex is rampant and SeX Education is scarcely encouraged. Most  parents  here in Cameroon hardly talk with their children on  Sex Education. 

          However, most the youths today shy away from sex Education talks or they simply avoid having any discussion leading to the topic. They don't always go for checkup, even though many dont use preservatives during sex.   In effect,  so many of them struggle a lot in fear and shame.

 Just a reminder,  if a girl gets an unplanned pregnancy, it may alter the entire course of her life. 

I really suggest  we have to do more and bring in Sex education in the Secondary school curriculum even as a compulsory subject. It will help a lot and go a long way to reduce the spread of STDs and unwanted Pregnancies.

 Muchuo Clifford -
African Experience - Spark the Change