Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Bahrain has a selection of clinics for a myriad of health concerns. The technical and financial responsibility of which resides with the Bahrain Ministry of Health.
The total government budget for health is around 7.4 per cent and total health expenditure as a percentage of Gross National Product is around 3.3 per cent.
This all adds up to more than 29 beds per 10,000 Barhraini residents. This is on par with Australia but behind Britain who have approximately 39 beds per 10,000. The American Mission Hospital is one of the oldest in Bahrain and has been operating since 1903!
A steeper and steeper population growth has placed pressure on the healthcare system and paved the way for more hospitals and indeed medical practitioners and specialists to call Bahrain 'home'. There are over 20 hospitals and clinics in Bahrain today, and nearly 19 physicians for every10,000 people.
Recently, I was in a traffic accident and was taken by ambulance (which turned up in five minutes) to the nearest hospital. The service was good, the nurses were gentle, and all my questions were answered. Not bad!
As a population, we have little to worry about if we get sick or injured it seems. However, expatriates need to be aware that Bahrain is considering a five-stage plan to make private health care compulsory for all expatriate workers by the year 2013.
And, as you read this, Bahrain is considering making all employers of expatriates responsible for health care of its employees, rather than have them strain 'the system'. It will be a 'user pays' system and most would agree that that is fair.
What we should be worried about is how to prevent needing a lot of these services in the first place. What I'm getting at, is that Bahrain is getting fatter and suffers from a list of respiratory illnesses due to smoking sheesha and cigarettes.
In one article, a whopping 42 per cent of girls under the age of 18 in Bahrain are overweight or obese. The same can be said for about 30 per cent of boys in Bahrain. Children who are fat often grow into fat adults. As I was scanning online for information for this article, I came across a headline that read 'Bahrain is sitting on an obesity timebomb'.
Obesity has been desribed as the curse of the affluent. But with so much information on health care and so many resources available to lose weight, other social commentators might call it the gift of laziness? What do you think?
Either way (and keep in mind that thyroid problems and other diseases contribute to significant weight gain and not just eating too much and sitting around all day) it is time we all stopped talking about it and actually DID something about it.
It is not only costing this country money, it is literally costing us our lives. It is no longer appropriate to comment on the cute chubby child, or the funny fat man with the big belly. These two characters are extremely unhealthy and their body should not be a source of amusement.
The recommended levels of body fat for women is between 15 and 25 per cent. For men, it is between five and 18 per cent. There is no test for body fat that is 100 per cent accurate.
A skin fold test by a qualified doctor or fitness leader will give you an excellent measurement. And, to measure cholesterol, which is the amount of low density lipids that live in your blood stream and can clog your arteries, you will need a blood test from your doctor. But take a look in the mirror. Excess fat is obvious. Measure your waist and hips and if your waist is much bigger, you probably have a weight issue.
The Bahraini population is suffering from a list of related health problems related to excess body fat including bowel cancer and other cancers, diabetes type II, heart disease, high blood pressure and its related illnesses, mild to major joint and skin disorders and obesity can even be bad for your mental and emotional health.
The exercise and diet message is simply not getting through to some people. For others, body health issues link up strongly with cultural barriers to health and fitness. The Arab population still steer in the direction that 'fat is good' because it means you are living a luxurious life of self-indulgence and may also be physically stronger than your skinny peers. But fat is not good. Not excess fat, anyway.
Further, the climate and physical geography make outdoor leisure pursuits less than appealing. The hot sun, sand, dust, lack of cycleways, parks and football grounds tend to keep people inside. But what about the gyms? There are plenty to choose from but when it comes to spending, the gym is really at the bottom of the list it seems, if it is on the list at all.
The expat population is often too busy for exercise and the food here is just so delicious and cheap! Hey, I've been there too! I know how that feels.
It's all adding up to disaster! Or is it? It's time to review what you want out of life and how long you want your life to be. I have written before about how to get motivated and how to stick to your goals and what exercises and foods may best suit your needs. It is really time, Bahrain, to put it all into action!
Write down what your health and fitness goals are. This is a tangible reminder to yourself and shows that you have taken the first step to committing to a new and healthier you. Read this and my other articles for information and write down the parts that suit you.
Finally, get to a doctor and a caring and qualified fitness leader for further advice and some well-earned tender loving care!
While it is reassuring that we live in a great country with a reasonably good health care system, why actually use it if you don't have to? Wouldn't you rather be living your life than watching it from the sidelines? I know I would.
Good luck everyone. And keep the emails coming in!
