PREVENTION IS EQUALLY VITAL

Health Minister Hon. Morris Toiraena, in his Speech from the Throne to Parliament yesterday, emphasised that “prevention is equally vital” and reaffirmed that preventive healthcare remains a top priority for the Ministry in its commitment to building a healthier nation.

Hon. Toiraena said a healthy country is not built only in hospitals. It is built through clean water, sanitation, nutritious food, safe homes, immunisation, maternal care, disease surveillance, health education and communities that are supported to make healthy choices.

“The Government will increase investment in public health because prevention is kinder, more effective and less costly than waiting until illness becomes severe.  We will strengthen immunisation, nutrition, reproductive health, school health, environmental health and community-based health promotion. We will also continue to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancers”, he said.

He added, these diseases are placing more pressure on families and on the health system.

“They cannot be addressed by clinical services alone. We need healthier diets, more physical activity, reduced tobacco and harmful alcohol use, early screening and treatment, and better public understanding of the risks”, he said.

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