People around the world mark April 7 as Health Day. This day makes everyone think about staying healthy and the big problems many face. Gambians deal with many health issues daily. These range from catching sicknesses to long-lasting body problems. The day pushes us to fix the ways people learn about health care and how they reach doctors when sick.
Numbers from WHO tell us that in 2019, body problems caused 37% of deaths in The Gambia. Diseases like malaria, TB, and HIV hurt many Gambians. Heart troubles, breathing problems, cancer, and diabetes harm just as many. Dr. Touray works at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. He says high blood pressure and sugar illnesses keep rising fast in the country. These health issues stay quiet until they cause big troubles like heart attacks or kidney failure.
Bad food choices, sitting all day, and stress make these problems worse. The doctor points out that health teams have tried hard to help more sick people. Yet they still struggle with a growing number of illnesses. Big hospitals feel crushed by patients who could have stayed healthy with early help. Dr. Touray believes The Gambia must go back to its 1980s ways. Back then, the world praised how the country took care of basic health needs.
Your daily habits affect whether you might face high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, or stroke. Teaching health facts at schools, jobs, and towns helps fight these problems. When health workers focus on stopping illness before it starts, more people learn good habits early. Bad roads to health care block many from feeling better. Money problems, fear, and wrong beliefs about doctors stop sick people from asking for help. Rural areas lack working health spots, which forces sick people to wait until very sick before seeking help.
Dr. Touray asks all Gambians to care more about staying healthy. He says to eat good foods and move your body each day. Handle stress wisely and stay away from smoke or drinks with alcohol. Know how your body works by visiting doctors even when you feel fine. Making these small changes helps you live longer and feel better every day. Health Day reminds us all to pay attention to these simple but powerful steps toward a happier life.
Numbers from WHO tell us that in 2019, body problems caused 37% of deaths in The Gambia. Diseases like malaria, TB, and HIV hurt many Gambians. Heart troubles, breathing problems, cancer, and diabetes harm just as many. Dr. Touray works at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital. He says high blood pressure and sugar illnesses keep rising fast in the country. These health issues stay quiet until they cause big troubles like heart attacks or kidney failure.
Bad food choices, sitting all day, and stress make these problems worse. The doctor points out that health teams have tried hard to help more sick people. Yet they still struggle with a growing number of illnesses. Big hospitals feel crushed by patients who could have stayed healthy with early help. Dr. Touray believes The Gambia must go back to its 1980s ways. Back then, the world praised how the country took care of basic health needs.
Your daily habits affect whether you might face high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, or stroke. Teaching health facts at schools, jobs, and towns helps fight these problems. When health workers focus on stopping illness before it starts, more people learn good habits early. Bad roads to health care block many from feeling better. Money problems, fear, and wrong beliefs about doctors stop sick people from asking for help. Rural areas lack working health spots, which forces sick people to wait until very sick before seeking help.
Dr. Touray asks all Gambians to care more about staying healthy. He says to eat good foods and move your body each day. Handle stress wisely and stay away from smoke or drinks with alcohol. Know how your body works by visiting doctors even when you feel fine. Making these small changes helps you live longer and feel better every day. Health Day reminds us all to pay attention to these simple but powerful steps toward a happier life.
