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Self–Denial A Major Health Problem

Written by Pio Sioa
Monday, 21 July 2008
Dr. Aisoli Vaai in his new medical clinic at Saleufi Do not expect any sympathies from veteran medical doctor and Member of Parliament, Motuopua’a Dr. Aisoli Vaai, if you blatantly deny you have high blood pressure, diabetes or any of the other common life style diseases. Dr. Vaai hates people who are too macho or try to come across as so, because they are not looking after their health properly. “Self-denial is the worst attitude our people have towards proper personal health care,” Dr. Vaai revealed to Newsline. “You ask if they have been tested for diabetes, high blood pressure and they start denying straight away they are affected. “Sometimes you can see signs of uremia in the face of a person sitting in front of you, yet when you ask, they pretend there is nothing wrong with them.” Dr. Vaai believes very seriously that this kind of attitude has to change. “You are your own worst enemy if you do not admit to your condition while it is still treatable. “By the time the signs of damage in your vital organs show up, the chances of prescribed treatment working, are not as promising if they were applied much earlier. “Livers and kidneys are very durable organs, they will take as much as they could before the damages show up. When the symptoms starts to show in the body, it means two thirds of those organs are already damaged.” Dr. Vaai points a strong accusing finger at the middle aged group as the most difficult one that needs an attitude overhaul for they own good and family as well. Medical predictions for the current decade, 2008 – 2018 estimates up to 400 cases of renal failure by the end of the 10-year period, and that is a major worry that attention to proper personal health care can address. The dialysis unit at Motootua is currently catering for 42 regular cases of dialysis. Health is a longtime concern for Dr. Vaai, even after switching to a political career, where he is serving his first term as representative for the Vaisigano No. 2 electorate. “Medicine is a kind of profession you can never get away from. You can still find some of the old men still practicing because they would rather be out there helping, than sitting around enjoying retirement. “When I go to my constituency at Sataua, I always put aside my free time to help out at the district hospital there…it’s just something that your profession builds in you.” Dr. Vaai has joined the growing trend by members of the profession in Apia to set up private practices, by starting up his clinic at the Chan Mow building, alongside the Niu Pharmacy at Saleufi. The location offer patients a unique service where patients can simply walk next door to get prescription medicine or enquire to the nearby doctor for a proper health check and advise on the proper medicine to take. “Private medical practitioners are responsible for checking on people’s health, the national hospital is there only for emergency treatment or the admission of patients for needed treatments.” Dr. Vaai however sympathizes with the doctors working the outpatient shift, because of the workload they are made to carry. “The rule is that you must at least spend 15 minutes with the patient. As a doctor you need to know more about your patient so you can have an understanding that will help provide a better and effective service. “Private practitioners can offer a better service in that area. It is frustrating when you’re one of two or three doctors at the outpatient trying to care for 200 waiting patients who are becoming increasingly grumpy because of the long wait.” Comments (2) Subscribe to this comment's feed Eating hot dogs and hamburgers is not the way written by Eating for Health, July 25, 2008 You are what you eat. Why should the hospitals pay for your cost, if you decide to eat until your tired, but not eat until your full? Why all the disease when our natural indegenous diet suffice our grandfathers and grandmothers? We ate from the sea, from the mauga for taro and banana. For sweets we had a little sugar (not to much) and a sweet young coconut. Go back to the diets of our old ones. They were more healty and less disease. Somebody study this--- be the advocates.! written by Vaavaai ma Matau, July 30, 2008 yes, and i think being healthy should start from the doctors, nurses and all the medical professionals. how many slim, and helathy built doctors you see around, or nurses within the normal BMI range..ahem! not many!! maybe they should be the first to walk thier long sermons on staying healthy.! Write comment Name Email Title Comment
Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 July 2008 )

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