The Truth In 'Disease No Dey Kill African Man'
"Disease no dey kill African man" (an African phase that means disease does not kill a man from Africa) is a very common saying in Nigeria. However, I believe that whoever invented this phrase has done more harm than good. It may have been true some years ago when we consider some factors. The story is changing dramatically and it is not good.
Back in the days when we still have the African culture, the diseases common were communicable diseases. But health experts claim that since there were no official documents on it, we cannot say exactly to what extent it affected Africans. Stories from our fore fathers who witness part of the 21st century claim that disease were not common then as compared to now.
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However, one can actually false such claims as we hear more of diseases from modern communication system. The ebola saga may not have been heard by many if not for modern communication technology. It is believed that if there were communication system then, the African man would have known that there were more diseases in the past than how he used to perceive it. Also to most Africans, any disease is cause by tiny microbes. Little did they know of non communicable diseases. So they may not have known about diseases like cancer, etc. There was no distinction then. There is one thing both Africans and foreign countries have agreed on. There is a gradual shift from communicable disease to non communicable diseases and this trend is worldwide. According to world health organisation (W.H.O), non communicable disease is now the leading cause of death worldwide. We can learn something from this trend using the African continent.
The wife on the other hand prepares a meal for the whole family. She and the chdren eats and set foot for the farm. They join the man and together they cultivate what they have. The man set aside time to eat. Along the line, they harvest fruits and other vegetables they eat in the farm. They all go back home before noon to avoid the scouching heat of the sun. In some cases, the woman goes to the scream to get water for the family. The adult children join her. They get home, mother prepares the food and everyone eats. The rest of the day will be spent on playing with family and friends around the neighbours. They are all active.
A typical food of an African is made of vegetables. Animal food is rare and only found during celebrations. Only hunters eat meat often that others. Freshly prepared food is very common. Immune system is strong because children from infancy have been exposed to dirty environment. And children that could survive it have natural immunity against many diseases. Most diseases are communicable diseases which can be handled by herbal preparations. Herbal treatment achieve high result of efficacy. In most communities, signs and symptoms of a disease that is dangerous can lead to banishing of such persons to the forest where they in most cases die. This helped to curb the spread of infectious diseases. This is when disease no dey kill African man. However, we are seeing a different thing entirely.
A typical man wakes up early in the morning, jumps into a warm bath and off to work in an air conditioned vehicle. Gets to work drinking some form of processed coffee that only God knows the preservative used. Order his secretary to buy some processed food around the corner from one very big popular fast food joint. He takes a minute or two to download the over fried food not minding the ingredients or if it meets up to regulation. All this in a confined apartment called office without windows. Even with windows, they will never be opened for some natural air to come in. Gets back into the car and straight home he goes. Did you check the time? That should be about 9 pm. He buys another snack from his neighbours because he cannot cook. And if he has a wife, she may even come home late because she had a hectic day at work.
As for the children, they go to school early. They come back to me an empty house. The next thing they do is to sit in front of their favourite gadgets until mommy and daddy comes back.
No natural food, no strong immune system because the children have been passed through a screened upbringing avoiding anything that have to do with dirt, no friends except for the play station at home or the cable television, etc.
And yet this same man keep telling the world disease no dey kill African man. What nonsense? You are no longer an African man. You are black in colour doing exactly what the white man does. So anything that can happen to him in terms of disease will happen to you. Now here is where I got a problem with the black man claiming disease have no effect on him.
The white man with all his sedentary lifestyle knows the risk he exposes himself to. That is why they keep going for medical checkup every now and then. But unfortunately, the African man copied the lifestyle of the white but failed to copy the part that have to do with medical checkup.
There have been a steady rise in death over the years. As population increases, the number of death is going up. But the number of death in a particular number of persons is decreasing. For example, it has been shown that the number of death that occur among 1000 persons is decreasing. Death cause by communicable disease is decreasing in Africa at a very slow pace.
Read Also: The Effect Of Religious Beliefs On The Health Of Patients
Disease caused by non communicable disease is going up more in africa. Unlike the European countries where they have advance health care system to manage most of them, the health care system in Africa is still a big joke. This makes disease in Africa a very big problem.
We need to help these ones change their mindset on issues like this. They need to visit the hospital regularly for medical checkup. Because of our new lifestyle, disease dey kill African man now.
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Back in the days when we still have the African culture, the diseases common were communicable diseases. But health experts claim that since there were no official documents on it, we cannot say exactly to what extent it affected Africans. Stories from our fore fathers who witness part of the 21st century claim that disease were not common then as compared to now.
Read Also: The Proper Time To Start Treatment When Signs And Symptoms Begins
However, one can actually false such claims as we hear more of diseases from modern communication system. The ebola saga may not have been heard by many if not for modern communication technology. It is believed that if there were communication system then, the African man would have known that there were more diseases in the past than how he used to perceive it. Also to most Africans, any disease is cause by tiny microbes. Little did they know of non communicable diseases. So they may not have known about diseases like cancer, etc. There was no distinction then. There is one thing both Africans and foreign countries have agreed on. There is a gradual shift from communicable disease to non communicable diseases and this trend is worldwide. According to world health organisation (W.H.O), non communicable disease is now the leading cause of death worldwide. We can learn something from this trend using the African continent.
Africa Before The Dent Of Civilization
An African man wakes up very early in the morning so also is the wife. The children may be allowed to rest a little bit more. The man goes straight to his. farm He check his trap if a hunter or fisher man. He goes straight to his farm for those with farmland to cultivate it. In most cases, they combine different agricultural practice to feed the home. |
| An afriAfr man |
A typical food of an African is made of vegetables. Animal food is rare and only found during celebrations. Only hunters eat meat often that others. Freshly prepared food is very common. Immune system is strong because children from infancy have been exposed to dirty environment. And children that could survive it have natural immunity against many diseases. Most diseases are communicable diseases which can be handled by herbal preparations. Herbal treatment achieve high result of efficacy. In most communities, signs and symptoms of a disease that is dangerous can lead to banishing of such persons to the forest where they in most cases die. This helped to curb the spread of infectious diseases. This is when disease no dey kill African man. However, we are seeing a different thing entirely.
Modern African Society
Modern African man is gradually adopting the lifestyle of his civilised colonial master. They sold to us how healthy their lifestyle is. We took everything they say hook line and sinker without editing and filtering out the bad leaving only the good. At the end, we have lost out of the benefit of living in the African continent.A typical man wakes up early in the morning, jumps into a warm bath and off to work in an air conditioned vehicle. Gets to work drinking some form of processed coffee that only God knows the preservative used. Order his secretary to buy some processed food around the corner from one very big popular fast food joint. He takes a minute or two to download the over fried food not minding the ingredients or if it meets up to regulation. All this in a confined apartment called office without windows. Even with windows, they will never be opened for some natural air to come in. Gets back into the car and straight home he goes. Did you check the time? That should be about 9 pm. He buys another snack from his neighbours because he cannot cook. And if he has a wife, she may even come home late because she had a hectic day at work.
As for the children, they go to school early. They come back to me an empty house. The next thing they do is to sit in front of their favourite gadgets until mommy and daddy comes back.
No natural food, no strong immune system because the children have been passed through a screened upbringing avoiding anything that have to do with dirt, no friends except for the play station at home or the cable television, etc.
And yet this same man keep telling the world disease no dey kill African man. What nonsense? You are no longer an African man. You are black in colour doing exactly what the white man does. So anything that can happen to him in terms of disease will happen to you. Now here is where I got a problem with the black man claiming disease have no effect on him.
The white man with all his sedentary lifestyle knows the risk he exposes himself to. That is why they keep going for medical checkup every now and then. But unfortunately, the African man copied the lifestyle of the white but failed to copy the part that have to do with medical checkup.
There have been a steady rise in death over the years. As population increases, the number of death is going up. But the number of death in a particular number of persons is decreasing. For example, it has been shown that the number of death that occur among 1000 persons is decreasing. Death cause by communicable disease is decreasing in Africa at a very slow pace.
Read Also: The Effect Of Religious Beliefs On The Health Of Patients
Disease caused by non communicable disease is going up more in africa. Unlike the European countries where they have advance health care system to manage most of them, the health care system in Africa is still a big joke. This makes disease in Africa a very big problem.
Solution
If we accept that Africa is disease prone, there will be an increase in health. Some person boast that they have not visited the hospital for more than 10 years now or have not taken any drugs for more than 5 years now. They believe that means they are healthy. Unfortunately most of these people are secretly enduring some signs and symptoms just to back up their claims that disease is not for Africa. They never comply with drugs prescribed because they believe it is a waste of time and resources. They don't see theirselves becoming victims of modern disease, a name they have coined for non communicable disease.We need to help these ones change their mindset on issues like this. They need to visit the hospital regularly for medical checkup. Because of our new lifestyle, disease dey kill African man now.
Share On Social Media With Family And Friends To Show You Care!
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