Health is wealth: From Negligence to Emergency

The only time we romanticize the statement "health is wealth" is when we are faced with health challenges. Other times we casually say it to justify "rest." People who truly understand the statement are those on sick beds battling with sicknesses, not because they were reckless, but because it comes to a point where nothing matters if one's health is at stake. People may worry about fame, money, luxury, and fashion, but their attention suddenly switches if one's body becomes ill, and that's because to chase other desires, we need to be healthy first. Unfortunately, people consider health when it's a little bit late.

It doesn't require much to be healthy; a simple lifestyle like washing our hands before and after meals, having good rest, eating good food and washed fruits, and daily exercise add up to good health. But it's unfortunate that I rarely do those simple things. This negligence comes from the belief that one is healthy and the fact that, though having not observed certain hygiene, one still feels strong. There's a saying that goes "disease no dey kill African man," portraying that Africans are immune to disease and thus could survive whatever impacts from bacteria and fungi. Often, as humans, we don't know the value of health until it's gone; this is where the problem lies.

Image generated using Gemini AI

One strategy of a sales representative is that they sell you fear—what happens negatively if you don't have certain products. The same would work for health and hygiene orientation. People rarely take note of benefits, but once they're introduced to the danger of not doing a thing, they tend to avoid becoming victims. So most health seminars and orientations should focus more on the dangers and negative impacts of poor hygiene rather than the benefits of it.

Personally, I'm reluctant when it comes to my health, even though I'm a health practitioner. I could deliberately eat food because I find it attractive, even when I know I shouldn't. I find exercise a bit stressful and may choose to ignore certain hygiene practices—not because I'm not aware of the danger, but because I, or we, have learned to only respond in emergencies, and that's a wrong habit. In such a case, constant reminders about hygiene and the impact of poor hygiene on our health would keep us alerted. Imagine newspapers, TV shows, billboards, and social media handles all talking about our personal hygiene daily; it would make a change. But aside from this, change comes with deliberate effort.

Change starts with us doing the simple things: taking our bath, washing our clothes, keeping our surroundings clean, and eating good food. It's one step at a time.