Speech by MEC for Health and Social
Development Seaparo Sekoati on Healthy
Lifestyle Awareness Campaign
Date 05 July 2008
Venue Musina Local Municipality (Lesley
Manyathela Stadium)
Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Vhembe District
Municipality
Mayor of Musina Local Municipality
Councilors
Traditional leaders
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Dumelang, Absheni, Ndimatsheloni
It gives me great honour to speak at this
very important occasion, which is aimed at
both creating public awareness on the
healthy lifestyle, galvanizing society in
the fight against our life style and
engaging physical exercises. I am pleased to
witness this turnout today. This indicates
that you recognise the magnitude and the
extent of the problem and the need to
intensify our efforts in building a healthy
society. It is also an expression of your
commitment and affirms your determination to
work in partnership with government to
implement programmes aimed at developing our
communities.
Programme Director, I know of course that
the word healthy life style may be abstract
to many, but I regard it as a way of living
that lowers the risk of being seriously ill
or dying early. So health is not just about
avoiding diseases, it is also about
physical, mental and social wellbeing. When
healthy lifestyle is adopted, a more
positive role model is provided for other
people in the family, particularly children.
This campaign seeks to change people‘s
behaviour and improve people’s health in
order to live healthier, longer lives. Not
all diseases are preventable, but large
proportion of deaths, particularly those
from coronary heart disease and lung cancer
can be avoided
The Healthy lifestyle 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. Whatever your age physical
activity plays an important part in your
health and well being. Some people think it
is only sportsmen and women who need to
build physical activity into their lives.
Everyone needs to keep their bodies well in
order to be healthy. This of course will
ensure that you have stamina, strength and
suppleness and we make your bones, joints
and muscles and especially your heart will
actually stay younger if you keep them busy.
If you are not physically active, you
increase your health risks in many ways,
which include amongst others, coronary heart
disease, strokes, high blood pressure,
breathlessness, flabby body, stiff joints,
poor posture and overweight. I therefore
plead with all of you to continue
participating in the fruitful physical
activity.
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 which is part of our
Apex Priority continue to undermine health
of many of our people. In turning the tide
against this apex priority we need to
implement the National Strategic Plan on HIV
and Aids and sport check our provincial
strategy regarding this pandemic, and this
will ensure that with time-bound benchmarks
of progress, these bold targets continue to
reflect the commitment of Government to
combating HIV, AIDS and STIs, recognising
that less ambitious targets will not turn
the tide of the epidemic. Reaching these
targets will require intense collective
effort by every one. It will equally require
individual behavioural change and
responsibility from all of us. 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. A re
ithateng!
If we can do just these five things, regular
physical activity, practice safe, eat
healthy and nutritious food and do not smoke
or abuse alcohol and drugs
Ill health affects the productivity of every
sector of the industry, and about 1,2
million working days are lost annually in
this country from diseases. This is an
ongoing effort to ensure that we become
vigilant to have healthy and active
citizenry, to contribute to the aspirations
of our mandate of this second decade of
freedom.
We have to eat a 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
Programme Director, our theme for this event
is " Take care of your health” But, we must
not forget the problems of alcohol abuse and
the incidents of trauma and violence
associated with high levels of drinking.
Allow me, to illustrate the work we have
done to discourage substance abuse. The
government has implemented a number of
strategies to reduce smoking prevalence in
the country. As I speak, the majority of our
public places are smoke-free and those that
do not adhere to our regulations will be
prosecuted. Government has sent Tobacco
Product Amendment Bill to parliament, which
will strengthen tobacco control and
significantly increase the fines for
violation of our regulations. The proposed
penalties in the Tobacco Product Amendment
Bill are comparable to those of other Acts.
For example, the fine for selling liquor to
a person less than 18 years is R1 million or
five-years in prison. Also government has
approved the regulations relating to the
labelling and Advertising of Alcohol
Beverages and we expect them to be gazetted
for public comment soon. The regulations
will tighten the existing loopholes
currently being exploited by the industry.
Abuse of tobacco, drugs and alcohol is
causing an immense human suffering. It
affects our economy, disrupts families and
it is a threat to our security. Its negative
impact is eroding many of the gains we have
made. Collective action is required to
counter the escalating incidences of
tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse.
The National Cancer Registry estimates that
tobacco use is responsible for about eight
percent of all deaths in South Africa;
alcohol alone is estimated to have
contributed seven percent of the total
burden from death and disability in this
country. We are also seeing a growing link
between drinking and engagement in high-risk
sexual behaviour, such as having multiple
sexual partners.
WHO estimates that at least one in ten
deaths worldwide is caused by tobacco use.
However Programme Director what is
encouraging though is, the report on global
tobacco control efforts released by the WHO
in February 2008, 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.
This report endorses the work that we
continue to do, and we are conscious that we
need to double our efforts on the work we
do, to improve the living conditions of our
people. This will be done in the context of
‘business unsual.’
Low-income households spend about four
percent of their total expenditure on
cigarettes and alcohol. We cannot continue
like this. We need the involvement of
everyone to instil responsible behaviour in
our communities. Issuing of licenses for
liquor outlets should be done responsibly
and not target or recruit young people by
suggesting that smoking or drinking is cool,
or is associated with success.
I am certain that our goal of a better
health for all can be achieved much sooner.
I wish to call on all of people 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.
Thank you
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